Photoshop High Key Glow Effect Tutorial

High Key Glow Effect In Photoshop

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Step 5: Duplicate "Layer 1"

To make the glow effect even more intense, let's duplicate "Layer 1". Once again either go up to the Layer menu, choose New, and then choose Layer via Copy, or simply press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+J (Win) / Command+J (Mac). We can see in the Layers panel that we now have a copy of "Layer 1, which Photoshop has creatively named "Layer 1 copy", sitting directly above the original. Notice that the new layer's blend mode has also been copied and is already set to Screen for us:

Duplicating a layer in Photoshop. Image © 2009 Photoshop Essentials.com.
Since no selection was active this time, the entire layer was copied.

And if we look in the document window, we can see that the glow now appears even brighter, although in my case at least, it's becoming too bright in some areas:

The glow effect is now more intense. Image © 2009 Photoshop Essentials.com.
The glow effect may now be a little too intense in some areas.

Step 6: Combine The Two Highlights Layers Into A Layer Group

To control exactly which parts of the image are affected by the glow effect, as well as the intensity of the effect in different areas, we can use a layer mask. Since my document contains two separate layers for the highlights ("Layer 1" and "Layer 1 copy"), I'm going to control both of them at once by combining the two layers into a layer group and then adding a layer mask directly to the group.

First, we need to select the layers that we want to group together. At the moment, I have the top layer, "Layer 1 copy", selected. To select "Layer 1" below it as well, I'll hold down my Shift key and click on "Layer 1" in the Layers panel. This will select both layers at once. We can see in the Layers panel that both layers are now highlighted in blue, which means they're both selected:

Selecting multiple layers at once in Photoshop CS4. Image © 2008 Photoshop Essentials.com.
The ability to select multiple layers at once was first introduced in Photoshop CS2.

To group them together, go up to the Layer menu in the Menu Bar and choose Group Layers:

Grouping layers in Photoshop CS4. Image © 2009 Photoshop Essentials.com.
Go to Layer > Group Layers.

You can also use the faster keyboard shortcut for grouping layers, Ctrl+G (Win) / Command+G (Mac). Either way tells Photoshop to combine the two layers into a layer group, and we can see in the Layers panel that a layer group named "Group 1" appears. Both highlights layers are now inside the group:

A layer group in Photoshop CS4. Image © 2009 Photoshop Essentials.com.
Click on the triangle icon to twirl a layer group open or closed, revealing or hiding the layers inside it.

Step 7: Add A Layer Mask To The Layer Group

Now that both layers are inside the layer group, let's add a layer mask to the group by clicking on the Layer Mask icon at the bottom of the Layers panel. You'll see a white-filled layer mask thumbnail appear to the left of the group's name:

Adding a layer mask to a layer group in Photoshop CS4. Image © 2009 Photoshop Essentials.com.
Adding a mask to a layer group allows us to mask all of the layers inside the group at once.

Step 8: Select The Brush Tool

We're going to paint with black on the layer mask to hide the glow effect from certain areas of the image, which means we'll need Photoshop's Brush Tool to paint with. Select the Brush Tool from the Tools panel, or press the letter B on your keyboard to select it with the shortcut:

Selecting the Brush Tool in Photoshop. Image © 2009 Photoshop Essentials.com.
Adding a mask to a layer group allows us to mask all of the layers inside the group at once.

Step 9: Set Your Foreground Color To Black

Photoshop paints using whichever color you currently have selected as your Foreground color. You can see what your current Foreground color is by looking at the Foreground color swatch near the bottom of the Tools panel. We want to paint with black, so if your color swatch is set to anything other than black, press the letter D on your keyboard, which will set your Foreground color to white (the default Foreground color whenever a layer mask is selected), then press the letter X to switch it to black:

Setting the Foreground color to black in Photoshop. Image © 2009 Photoshop Essentials.com.
The default Foreground (black) and Background (white) colors are reversed when a layer mask is selected.

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