✩ Soft Glow Effect

 ✩Soft Glow Magic in Ibis Paint X

Hey everyone, Nai’s here! Today, I’m sharing a little trick to create that soft, glowing effect in your art. Just a heads-up, this isn’t my artwork, it’s a piece I found on Pinterest. The illustration is inspired by the “alien stage” concept, its actually music videos with story inside it and its sooo good. In this artwork is one of the characters Luka, my fav!. The glowing effect really brings that healing, ethereal vibe, like the character is bathed in the last light of a setting sun after going through something intense.

If you’ve ever wanted to create this magical, glowing effect in Ibis Paint X, here’s a simple guide to get you started!

How to Add a Soft Glow Effect

1. Duplicate Your Line Art & Blur It

• Start by duplicating your line art layer.
• Apply a slight Gaussian Blur (found under the “Filter” menu).
• Lower the opacity a little so it blends smoothly with the original.

2. Use the “Add” Blending Mode

• Create a new layer above your artwork.
• Change the blending mode to Add (or Screen for a softer effect).
• Use a soft airbrush to paint the areas where you want the light to shine brightest—think hair, skin highlights, or a background glow.

3. Color Dodge for Extra Shine

• For more intense highlights, try using the Color Dodge blending mode.
• Pick a pale yellow or white and gently brush over the brightest areas to make them pop.

4. Softening with Overlay Layers

• If the glow looks a bit too harsh, add a new layer and set it to Overlay.
• Pick a warm, soft color and lightly paint over the glowing areas to blend it into the scene more naturally.

5. Final Touches: Light Particles & Dust

• To add a dreamy touch, use a scatter brush or soft dot brush to create little light specks around the glowing areas.
• Lower the opacity so they blend seamlessly into the artwork.

And that’s it! A simple, effective way to add a soft, glowing effect to your illustrations. This technique works especially well for dreamy, fantasy-like portraits, and helps create that magical, atmospheric lighting.

Give it a try and let me know how it turns out! Happy drawing! Oh also don’t forget to watch Alien Stage by Vivinos and Qmeng on YouTube!