Step 9: Group The Top Three Layers Together

I'm going to finish off my "painterly glow" effect by masking part of it away to reveal the original photo underneath. Since the effect is spread across three layers, the easiest thing to do is group the three layers together and then add a layer mask to the entire group. First, we'll need to select all three layers at once, so click on the top layer in the Layers palette to select it if it isn't selected already. Then hold down your Shift key and click on "Layer 1" directly above the Background layer. This will select both layers as well as the layer in between. You should see all three layers above the Background layer highlighted in blue:

With all three layers selected, go up to the Layer menu and choose Group Layers:

Nothing will seem to have happened to the image in the document window, but we can see in the Layers palette that we now have a layer group named "Group 1". Layer groups are represented by a folder icon, and all three of the layers we selected a moment ago are now inside the folder (the group):

Step 10: Add A Layer Mask To The Group

With the layer group selected, click on the Layer Mask icon at the bottom of the Layers palette. It's the icon that looks like a rectangle with a circle cut out of the middle:

This adds a layer mask to the group. Even though we can't actually see the mask in the document window, we know that the mask has been added because we can see a layer mask preview thumbnail between the folder icon and the group's name in the Layers palette:

Step 11: Select The Gradient Tool

Grab the Gradient Tool from the Tools palette, or simply press the letter G to select it with the keyboard shortcut:

Step 12: Select A Black To White Radial Gradient

With the Gradient Tool selected, the Options Bar at the top of the screen will change to show options for working with gradients. Click on the small down-pointing arrow to the right of the gradient preview area, which opens a gradient selection box, and select the black to white gradient, third gradient from the left, top row:

To the right of the gradient preview area is a series of icons that allow us to choose between different gradient shapes. Click on the Radial Gradient icon, second from the left, to select it:

Step 13: Draw A Radial Gradient On The Layer Mask

Make sure the layer mask preview thumbnail is selected in the Layers palette. You should see a white highlight border around it, indicating that it's selected. If not, click on the thumbnail to select it. Then click and drag out a black to white radial gradient on the layer mask. The spot where you first click will become the center point of the gradient. At this spot, the "painterly glow" effect will be completely hidden from view, allowing the original image on the Background layer below it to show through. As you move away from the center point in all directions, more and more of the glow effect will be visible, becoming 100% visible at the outer edge of the gradient.

In my case, I'm going to click near the center of the image, which will become the center point for the gradient, then I'll drag towards the edge of the flowers to set the gradient's size:

When I release my mouse button, Photoshop draws the gradient on the layer mask. If we look at the mask's preview thumbnail in the Layers palette, we can see the radial gradient that was created:

And here, after masking away part of the effect to allow some of the original image to show through, is my final "painterly glow" effect:

And there we have it!

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