Hello all and welcome to another tutorial. This time I will be sharing my process of creating Magical Light Trail Effects. But first, let's explore how to make objects glow.

Drawing your Trail on Vector Layer

This is the image I will be using to demonstrate my process. Now, it's time to add our magical trail to make this image look more exciting.

First, create a new Vector Layer by going to Layer > New Layer > Vector Layer. You can achieve this effect using a normal Raster Layer, however, a Vector Layer makes creating this effect and others like it much easier.

 

Then use the [G-pen] sub tool to draw your trail anywhere on the canvas and in any shape you want.

Edit Vector Line using the Correct Line Tool

Now, choose the [Correct Line] tool from the [Tools] palette. This tool allows us to edit our vector line in many helpful ways.

 

 

With the [Correct line] tool still selected, go to the [Sub Tool] palette and you will see all the functions you can perform on your vector line.

 

They are:

 

Control point

Pinch vector line

Simplify vector line

Connect vector line

Adjust line width

Redraw vector line

Redraw vector line width

If you select the [Control Point] sub tool from the palette, then go to it's [Tool Property] palette, you will find additional functions that you can perform on the control points of your vector line.

 

These functions are:

 

Move control point

Add control point

Delete control point

Switch corner

Adjust line width

Adjust opacity

Split line

 

 

Now that we know where to find the various tools, it is time to modify our vector line. The first modification would be to simplify the vector line. This makes the vector line easier to work with by removing some of its control point. To find the [Simplify vector line] sub tool ensure the [Correct Line] tool is selected, then look into its [Sub Tool] palette and you should see it. You can adjust the settings to your liking using the [Tool Property] palette, like the size of brush or the strenght of the simplification. Then, go over your vector line as many times as you think you need with the brush until there are fewer control points. To see how many control points are in your vector line, click the [Control Point] sub tool that is located above the [Simplify vector line] sub tool, then click on the vector line and you should see the control points. You can toggle between the two sub tools until you have the desired amount of control points.

 

Now that your control points have been reduced, you will notice that the shape of your line is probably disfigured. No worries, we will fix this using the features available under the [Control Point] sub tool.

 

With the [Control Point] sub tool selected, go to the [Tool Property] palette and you will see the functions that you can carry out on your vector line.

 

Click the 'Move control points' option to move a control point by clicking on it and dragging it to where you want.

 

Click the 'Add control point' option to add a control point at the spot that you click at on your vector line.

 

Click the 'Delete control point' option to delete a control point by clicking on it on the vector line.

 

Use these to get your vector line looking smooth.

Now, it's time to add some thickness to our vector line. To do this, go to the [Adjust line width] sub tool in the [Correct line] sub tool palette. Go to its tool property palette and you will see sliders for different functions such as 'Thicken' and 'Narrow' that we can perform on our vector line. You can also adjust the size of the brush if you feel it is too small or too big.

Click the 'Thicken' option to make the vector line thicker the further away it is from its light source by dragging over it with the brush. Additionally, use the 'Narrow' option to make the vector line thiner the closer it is to its light source. If the shape of your line gets disfigured during this process, you can always go back and fix them using the [Control point] sub tool.

 

When you're done, duplicate this layer by going to Layer > Duplicate Layer, then hide the layer by clicking the eye icon at this layer in the [Layers Palette]. For now, we will be working with the visible layer.

Change Brush Shape of Vector Line

Now, we are going to use another useful vector feature which is to change the brush shape of your vector line. While you are still on your vector layer, go to the [Operation] tool from the [Tools] palette. Go to its [Sub tool] palette and select the [Object] sub tool. Then go to its [Tool Property] palette and you will see some changes that you can apply to your vector line.

 

You can change the Color, Brush Size and, the one that we are most interested in, the 'Brush Shape'. Click the drop down arrow beside Brush Shape and you will see a list of brushes with interesting shapes. If you click one, your vector line brush shape will change to the one you selected.

Adding Brushes to Presets

But what if the brush you desire is not in the list provided? Not to worry, I will show you how to add brushes and delete brushes in the list. First, select the brush you want, then go to it's [Tool Property] palette and click the 'wrench icon' found at the bottom. A dialogue box will pop up with some headings. Look for the 'Brush Shape' heading and click it. Then click the 'Add to Presets' botton and your current brush will be added to the list of presets below it. Remember to click the save bottom before closing the dialogue box.

 

Now, when you go back to the [Tool Property] of the [Object] sub tool, you will see this brush now in the list of brushes when you click the drop-down arrow beside 'Brush Shape'.

 

Click on the brush from the presets and your vector line will be changed so that it is made using the shape of this selected brush. Your vector line probably looks weird as do mines, but we are going to make some changes so that it looks more like a magical light trail.

Modifying the Brush Settings for the Trail Effect

Once again, go to the [Tool Property] palette for the [Object] sub tool, then click the wrench shaped icon at the bottom of the palette. A dialogue box will pop up with all the wonderful changes we can do to our vector line.

 

The first change is to adjust the spacing between our shapes as they are too spaced out. Click the 'Stroke' option and use the slider under the heading 'Gap' to adjust the spacing to your liking.

Next, click the 'Spraying Effect' option and ensure the little check box is also checked. Now, adjust the particle size, particle density and spray deviation to one you are comfortable with.

And finally, go to the 'Color Jitter' option and also click on the check box here too. Now you can use the sliders to change the degree to which the hue, saturation and luminosity changes for your brush shapes. Use these settings to make your trail look magical.

 

When you are done, just close the dialogue box as the changes have already been made and saved.

Finishing Touches

Remember that duplicate layer with our initial trail on it that we hide? Well, now is the time to use it. It will be used to add that colored glow to our trail. Go ahead and unhide this layer by clicking the eye icon on it in the [Layers] palette. Now that this layer is visible, we are going to change the brush shape for this one also, but to the brush shape of the airbrush instead.

 

With the layer selected, go to the [Tool Property] palette of the [Object] sub tool, and click the drop down arrow beside the heading 'Brush Shape' and select the 'Airbrush' from the list. If you are not pleased with the way it looks, click the wrench shaped icon at the bottom of the palette and a dialogue box will pop up that allows you to make changes. Click the 'Brush Tip' heading this time, and adjust the 'Hardness', 'Thickness' and 'Brush density' options until you are satisfied.

 

Now close the dialogue box and click on the colored box beside the heading 'Main color' that is found near the top of the palette. A dialogue box will pop up where you choose the color you want your glow to be and click the 'OK' button. Then, set the blending mode of this layer to 'Add Glow'. You can then create a new raster layer with its blending mode set to 'Add Glow' also and add some distinct stars in some areas and to add different colors like I added to the end of the trail near the ball.

 

 

This is the end of my tutorial and I hope you found it helpful. This tutorial is part of a series so stay tuned for the rest of Magic FX tutorials.