Adding a color glow in Adobe Illustrator CS6 can be a creative way to enhance and highlight specific elements in your designs. Whether you’re working on digital illustrations, logos, or graphic designs, incorporating a color glow can add depth and visual interest to your artwork.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to add a color glow in Adobe Illustrator CS6:
Step 1: Open your file
Begin by opening your Illustrator file or creating a new one. Ensure that the element you want to add a color glow to is selected and ready for modification.
Step 2: Duplicate the object
To maintain the original object and its colors, it’s best to duplicate the object before adding the color glow. Select the object, then go to Edit > Copy and Edit > Paste in Front. You will now have two identical objects, one on top of the other.
Step 3: Expand appearance
With the duplicated object selected, go to Object > Expand Appearance. This step is important as it converts any effects applied to the object into editable shapes, making it easier to apply the color glow.
Step 4: Apply Gaussian Blur
With the duplicated and expanded object still selected, go to Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Adjust the radius of the blur to control the intensity of the glow. Preview the changes to ensure it achieves the desired effect, then click OK.
Step 5: Change the blending mode
Now, change the blending mode of the duplicated object to Screen or Overlay, depending on the effect you’re trying to achieve. These blending modes allow the underlying colors to show through, creating a glowing effect.
Step 6: Adjust the color
To add a specific color to the glow, you can use the Appearance panel to add a new fill color to the duplicated object. This way, you can experiment with different colors and opacities to achieve the desired look.
Step 7: Final adjustments
With the color glow in place, you can continue to make adjustments by tweaking the opacity, blur radius, or even adding additional layers of glow to create a more complex and dynamic effect.
Adding a color glow in Adobe Illustrator CS6 can be a fun and effective way to make your designs stand out. By following these steps, you can easily add depth, dimension, and visual interest to your artwork, allowing you to create eye-catching and impactful designs. So, next time you’re in need of a little extra flair, consider incorporating a color glow to take your designs to the next level.
