If you’ve been digitally creating for a while, you’ve probably used the Outer Glow feature in your software. It’s fantabulous for adding, well, an outer glow. Outer Glows can illuminate, radiate, make elements POP on a page. In other words, Outer Glows are great!

Today I’m going to show you another way to use Outer Glows that has nothing to do with glowing but everything to do with increasing visibility on page. Have you ever had an element just not show up well? But that is *the* element for your page?  Have you ever tried using a dark Outer Glow?

The difference is subtle but it makes all the difference in being able to clearly read the Science 101.

To add your own dark Outer Glow:

  • Click on the fx at the bottom of your Layers Palette
  • Choose Outer Glow
  • Change the Blend Mode to Multiply
  • Change the color to match your background
  • Set your Opacity (mine is 66%)

And that’s it! Let’s do it again with a different background, and a different element. Take note that what’s most important is choosing a color that matches the background for your Outer Glow.

I’m using the Science 101: Cooking Addon by Schwarzwald Designs. This is free for all SUPERsize members! Note that I’m changing the color of my Outer Glow as I move the element to different locations on the background.

 

Finally a comparison of just the element with and without the Outer Glow:

An Outer Glow makes a subtle difference in how an element presents on your page. It can be the difference between a good page and a great page. Give it a try?