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Post by Tpgettys on Jul 23, 2022 6:24:32 GMT
This is a fun and instructive Neon Sign effect. The following video tutorial for Photoshop Elements will show you how create it. I have also written out the steps for you, but you probably should watch the video at least once. One caution though, it does have steps that are not relevant to the actual effect, so don't worry overly much about duplicating every little detail! The instructions for making the Neon Effect begin about 5 minutes into the video. The first 5 minutes are about making the background layer. The neon effect is more striking if the background is dark. Here are the steps for the background suggested in the video:
- Choose a suitable background image (a stone or brick wall are good choices)
- Duplicate your background (Ctrl-J) and change the blend mode to Multiply or Linear Burn
- On the main menu, Layer | New Fill Layer | Solid Color... and choose black (000000 in the bottom box of the Color Picker)
- Reduce the Opacity to 40% to reveal the background
- Add a vignette to darken the corners: Filter | Correct Camera Distortion (I set the Amount to -90, Midpoint to +40)
Some Fonts you might like to try out: FYI: The numbers suggested in the steps below may need to be adjusted depending on the resolution of your file. - Create a new layer at the top of the layer stack
- In the Color Picker set the foreground color to FFE1FF
- Select a thick font, size 80 pt, leading 100 pt
- Type in your text, then resize, reposition and rotate it as desired
- Once you are satisfied, right-click and choose Simplify Layer
- Select the text (control-click on the text layer thumbnail)
- On the main menu, Select | Modify | Contract... and choose 7 pixels
- Copy the selection to a new layer (Ctrl-J) and name it Highlight
- On the main menu, Filter | Blur | Gaussian Blur... and chose about 2 pixels
- Hide the Highlight layer and select the text layer
- Set the foreground color to FD4AFF and change the text color using the Paint Bucket Tool
- On the main menu, Layer | Layer Style | Style Settings... and click Glow then Outer
- Set the glow Size to 43, the Opacity to 80 and change the color of the glow to FD4AFF
- Unhide the Highlight layer
- Select the text (control-click on the text layer thumbnail)
- On the main menu, Select | Modify | Expand... and choose 34 pixels
- Make a new layer below the text layer and name it Shadow
- Set the foreground color to C102C3 and use the Paint Bucket Tool to fill the expanded text region
- Apply a Gaussian Blur of 60 to the Shadow layer and change the blend mode to Linear Light
Here is my result: Here is my layer stack 
I look forward to seeing your results! Any questions welcome.
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Post by hmca on Jul 23, 2022 15:51:07 GMT
Thanks for this challenge, Tom. I think my focus will be on creating Neon signs for my grandchildren. So in keeping with that idea, here is my first attempt created for one of my grandsons.  |
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Post by Tpgettys on Jul 23, 2022 18:41:31 GMT
Thanks for getting us started Helen! I had to recalibrate for a moment, as my grandson isn't even a year old yet. We didn't start a family until later than most, and since our sons are in their mid-thirties we had given up hope on grand kids.
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VickiD
Established Forum Member
Posts: 718 
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by VickiD on Jul 23, 2022 21:13:02 GMT
I know I should have done this differently, but really wanted to try creating the font effect on a real-life (sort of) background (from Pixabay). I had to do a lot of backtracking for sizing, etc. Looking back, I should have created the font, saved it as a smart object, then resized it in the image. Oh, well, I was way into it when I realized that! Next time!  |
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Post by Tpgettys on Jul 23, 2022 22:27:26 GMT
Nice VickiD , you really got the perspective just right! |
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Post by hmca on Jul 23, 2022 23:25:33 GMT
Like your idea, Vicki....I'd be quite happy with your results.
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Post by hmca on Jul 23, 2022 23:33:51 GMT
Tried another.......Nicollette hasn't competed in two years because of Covid followed by surgery after she broke her big toe. Today she showed her skills at a college showcase.....was so happy to hear that she felt good about how she did. Sooo I used this challenge to text her this.....(changed the color of the highlight as it wasn't showing up right. Old picture....not from today.  Don't think I am getting the lettering right though.......maybe if I try another one in a few days. |
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Post by fotofrank on Jul 24, 2022 1:05:51 GMT
Thanks for this Tom.  |
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VickiD
Established Forum Member
Posts: 718
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by VickiD on Jul 24, 2022 1:29:05 GMT
Tried another.......Nicollette hasn't competed in two years because of Covid followed by surgery after she broke her big toe. Today she showed her skills at a college showcase.....was so happy to hear that she felt good about how she did. Sooo I used this challenge to text her this Helen, I'm so happy that Nicolette is getting back into gymnastics! Feeling good about her performance is worthy of a great text like this one! I'm sure she was thrilled with it.  |
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Post by cats4jan on Jul 24, 2022 2:09:02 GMT
These are so cool. Gotta work on this tomorrow
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Post by Tpgettys on Jul 24, 2022 20:23:26 GMT
For this one I didn't preprocess the background layer, and I used the Overlay blend mode to apply the shadow blur to the background. The font is Neon Tubes 2. (click for full size view)
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Post by hmca on Jul 24, 2022 21:06:51 GMT
I like the look of this one, Tom. Is that our break room?
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Post by Lillias on Jul 25, 2022 19:28:23 GMT
Nice challenge Tom. Image from Rawpixel.  |
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Post by Tpgettys on Jul 26, 2022 22:31:59 GMT
I wanted to note that the neon sign effect can be applied to line art just as easily as text.
While this one didn't work out very well because of the varying thickness of the lines, I am proud of it because I remembered to put a shadow under the cup on the table, and added a gradient on the table top to simulate the reflection of the neon on it.
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Post by hmca on Jul 27, 2022 16:21:20 GMT
Today's attempt......  |
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