"The time has come," The Walrus said, "To talk of many things: of shoes, and ships, and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings, of why the sea is boiling hot, and whether pigs have wings..."

Now, contrary to what you may suspect, that bit of manic wandering is not entirely without purpose, as these are the lines that usually come to mind when I begin to play with the myriad possibilities that can be achieved within "The Glow Effect."

Instructions will be given for all five styles shown below, but we'll start with the original "Green Glow" effect (shown in the title), which is at the core of all the others.

Don't be alarmed at the seeming length of the instructions-- the techniques are not complicated, but I believe in providing details. And for those who may wish to have these details readily available when it's time to try them out, a printer-friendly, bandwidth-benign, text-only page is also available. Keyboard enthusiasts, and those inclined in that direction, will note that the keyboard commands (when available) are provided to the right of the instructions.

Effect: GREEN GLOW:

1. Create a New File, 24-bit RGB, 300x100 pixels, 72dpi, WHITE background.

2. Click on your Text Tool and choose a font from your pull-down text menu. For the purpose of this exercise I've chosen "Arnold Bocklin," provided in the Corel 8 font bundle. Set the font size for 96. The color, at this point, is unimportant.

3. Type the word "Glow." Click on the Object Picker Tool, and the text will become an object.

4. Click on the "Align Objects" button, and choose "To Center of Document."

5. Click the "Create Mask" button. (Ctrl M)

6. Hit the "Delete" key to remove the text. You should now have an empty mask, in the shape of the word "Glow."

7. Click on Effects/3D Effects/Glass.

8. After creating the following settings you'll be saving them as a preset. They are at the core of every effect variation that will be illustrated and described on this page, and the preset will allow you to access them instantaneously.

Bevel Width: 14
Smoothness: 30
Refraction: 70
Opacity: 50
Drop Off: Mesa
Brightness: 65
Sharpness: 40
Direction: 120
Angle: 50

After the settings are in place, click on the Plus Sign ("+") to the right of the Style name. Save the new Preset as "Glow," and click on "OK." to return to the Glass screen.

9. Click on the Preview button. The word "Glow" will appear as it does here in the preview window.. Click on "OK." Your text will now be green, with its "glow" edge extending beyond the boundaries of the mask.

10. Using your RIGHT mouse button, click on WHITE (R:255 G:255 B:255) in your on-screen Color Palette, making it your Fill Color.

11. Click on Edit/Fill. The preview in your Edit Fill and Transparency screen will show your text with a white fill. Click "OK." Your text will now be white with a soft green glow.

12. Click on the "Create Object: Cut Selection" button. (Ctrl Shift Up Arrow)

13. Click on Object/Drop Shadow. Create the following settings, and then save them as a Preset:

Shadow: Flat
Direction: 0 Degrees
Offset: 1 Pixel
Opacity: 80
Color: Black
Feather Width: 7
Direction: Middle
Edges: Curved

When the settings are in place, click on the Plus Sign (+) to the right of the Presets list. Give the Preset the name "Glass Text" and click on "OK" to save it.

14. In the Dropshadow Window, click on OK to apply the new shadow.

15. Click on Objects/Combine/All Objects With Background. (Ctrl Shift DnArrow) And with that, you have achieved the final image!

Don't forget that the "Glow," "Fill," and "Dropshadow" colors in this effect can be anything you like, with results ranging from the subtle to the astonishing-- let your imagination out to play, and see what you can create!

No, there's nothing enigmatic about them-- they're actually pretty straightforward, and a lot of fun to explore. Using many of the same steps given for the "Green Glow" effect-- to which we will now refer as the "Basic Instructions"-- it's possible to create any number of variations on this theme. You'll be surprised to discover all the things you can do. But to get you started, we'll offer a few here-- beginning with the "Cut Metal" effect.

Effect: CUT METAL:

1. Follow steps 1 through 7 in the Basic Instructions.

3. Click on the drop down Color Chart and access the RGB settings to replace the default color with SKY BLUE. (R:0 - G:204 - B:255). Once the new color has been chosen, click "OK." Your text will now be sky blue, with color spilling over beyond the borders of the mask.

4. With the mask still in place, click on the "Create Object: Cut Selection" button. (Ctrl Shift UpArrow)

5. Click on Object/Dropshadow.

6. From the list of Presets, choose "Glass Text," which you created in the previous exercise. Click "OK" to add the Dropshadow.

7. Click on Object/Combine/Combine All Objects With Background. (Ctrl Shift DnArrow)

8. Click on Effects/Sharpen/Directional Sharpen. Adjust the setting to 50%, and click "OK."

And that's all there is to it!

Effect: SOFT:

1. Begin by following Basic Instructions steps 1 through 7.

2. In the pop-up Glass screen, use the drop-down arrow and vertical slider bar at the Style setting to choose your previously created Preset "Glow."

3. Click on the drop down Color Chart and access the RGB settings to replace the default color with BLUE PURPLE. (R:153 - G:0 - B:255). Once the new color has been chosen, click "OK." Your text will now be purple, with color spilling over beyond the borders of the mask.

4. Click on Mask/Invert. (Ctrl I)

5. Click on the "Create Object: Cut Selection" button. (Ctrl Shift UpArrow).

6. Click on Object/Dropshadow. You will be creating a new Preset. (NOTE: You'll save yourself considerable frustration by placing a check in the "Relative Values" box prior to creating the other settings.)

Shadow: Flat
Direction: 0 Degrees
Offset: 1%
Opacity: 80
Color: WHITE
Feather Width: 2%
Direction: Outside
Edges: Curved
Relative Values: Checked

7. Click on OK to apply the new Dropshadow.

And just like that, you have a softly glowing, gently rounded image.

Effect: SATIN PILLOW:

1. Follow all the instructions for the "Soft" effect exactly as given, with the following exception: After choosing the Preset "Glow" in the Glass Settings screen, click on the drop down Color Chart and access the RGB settings to replace the default color with PINK. (R: 255 - G: 153 - B: 204) Once the new color has been chosen, click "OK." Your text will now be a soft pink, with color spilling over beyond the borders of the mask.

2. After adding the Dropshadow listed in Step 6 of the "Soft" instructions, click on Object/Combine/Combine All Objects With Background. (Ctrl Shift DnArrow)

3. Click on Effects/Sharpen/Find Edges. The Level should be 30, and the Edge Type should be Soft.

And that's it! When creating this effect, keep in mind that, regardless of the color you choose, the final effect will always be a pastel. The "Find Edges" command does not nicely lend itself to darker effects-- if you doubt me on this, try it for yourself.

As a general rule, when going for the "Satin" effect it's best to remain within the following ranges for your "Find Edge" settings: Dark Colors:15-30, Medium Colors:20-45, and Light Colors:40-80. Remember, too, that color can be misleading-- the actual tonal value of a color may be substantially higher or lower than the one at which it's likely to be visually assessed, so don't be afraid to experiment with the settings to find the one that's the most effective with the color you've chosen.

Achieving success with "Heavy Glass" is dependent upon one essential rule: of the two colors that will be combined, both must belong to the same basic family, and the first must be substantially lighter than the second.

So, although you're welcome to experiment with the possibilities of combining Purple and Orange, or anything else you may fancy, this effect is best achieved if you stick with combinations along the lines of Powder Blue/Navy Blue, Pale Yellow/Deep Yellow, Faded Pink/Neon Red, and so on. That said, have fun with it!

Effect: HEAVY GLASS:

1. Begin by following Basic Instructions steps 1 through 7.

2. In the pop-up Glass screen, use the drop-down arrow and vertical slider bar at the Style setting to choose your previously created Preset "Glow."

3. Click on the drop down Color Chart and access the RGB settings to replace the default color with "MARTIAN GREEN" (R:153 - G:204 - B:51). Once the new color has been chosen, click "OK." Your text will now be yellow-green, with color spilling over beyond the borders of the mask.

4. You will be using this mask again, so now is the time to save it as an alpha channel. Click on Mask/Save/Save As Channel. When the "Save" screen comes up, save the mask as "Glass."

5. After the mask has been saved, click on Mask/Invert. (Ctrl I)

6. Click on the "Create Object: Cut Selection" button. (Ctrl Shift UpArrow)

7. Click on Objects/Dropshadow. From the Presets option list at the bottom of the screen, choose the "Glow-Text-Rounded" preset you created for the "Soft" effect. You will, however, be changing the shadow color from WHITE to FOREST GREEN. (R:0 - G:102 - B:51). Click on the drop-down Color Chart and choose "Other" to access the RGB settings. Once you've adjusted the settings, click "OK" to return to the Dropshadow screen.

8. Click "OK" to apply the new Dropshadow.

9. Click on Objects/Combine/All Objects With Background. (Ctrl Shift DnArrow)

10. Click on Mask/Load/Glass.

11. Click on Effects/3D Effects/Glass. Your Preset, "Glow" -- which you will use again now-- is still in place, althought the Style Box will read "Last Used." Click on the drop down Color Chart and access the RGB settings to replace the default color with "WHITE" (R:255 - G;255 - B:255). Once the new color has been chosen, click "OK to apply the "Glow" preset.

NOTE: Regardless of the color combinations you choose to use in the future when creating this effect, always use WHITE at this point in the process.)

12. Click on the "Create Object: Cut Selection" button. (Ctrl Shift UpArrow) Do NOT invert the mask prior to creating the object.

13. Click on Object/Dropshadow.

You will once again be using the "Glow-Text" Preset from step 7, including the FOREST GREEN dropshadow color. You will, however, need to make one adjustment: broaden the Feather Width from 2% to 4%.

Once that is done, click "OK" to apply the new Dropshadow.

14. Click on Object/Combine/All Objects With Background. (Ctrl Shift DnArrow)

16. Final Step: Click on Effects/Sharpen/Unsharp Mask. Set the Percentage at 100, the Radius at 20, and the Threshold at 0. Then click on "OK."

And you've done it! Now, sit back and admire your handiwork, or try the same effect with some other Color/Font combinations, or move on to the next effect-- it's one I think you'll like.

Effect: LIGHT:

1. Follow steps 1 through 7 in the Basic Instructions, but with the following alterations: Type the word "Light" and, prior to clicking on the Object Picker Tool, adjust the Horizontal Character/Line Spacing to +5. You'll need the extra space between the characters. Continue with the other steps as previously described.

2. You will be creating a new Preset for your Glass settings. Adjust the settings to correspond with the following list:

Bevel Width: 9
Smoothness: 73
Refraction: 94
Opacity: 53
Drop Off: Mesa
Brightness: 75
Sharpness: 50
Direction: 135
Angle: 50

After the settings are in place, click on the Plus Sign ("+") to the right of the Style name. Save the new Preset as "Light" and click on "OK." to return to the Glass screen.

Click on "OK" to apply the Preset.

3. Click on Effects/3D Effects/Glass.

4. You will be re-applying the Light Preset, but with a new color. Click on the drop down Color Chart and access the RGB settings to replace the default color with PEACH (R=238 - G=156 - B=104). Once the new color has been chosen, click "OK to apply the Preset.

5. The text mask will still be in place and, since you will be using it again, this is the time to save it as an alpha channel. Click on Mask/Save/Save As Channel. When the "Save" screen comes up, save the mask as "Light."

6. Click on the "Create Object: Cut Selection" button. (Ctrl Shift UpArrow)

7. Click on Objects/Dropshadow. From the Presets option list at the bottom of the screen, choose the "Glow-Text-Rounded" preset you created for the "Soft" effect. Prior to applying the dropshadow you will need to make two adjustments: First, change the Feather Width from 2% to 4%. Then change the Dropshadow color to PALE YELLOW (R=255 G=255 B=204) -- click on the drop-down Color Chart and choose "Other" to access the RGB settings. Once you've adjusted the settings, click "OK" to return to the Dropshadow screen. Click "OK" to apply the Dropshadow.

8. Click on Objects/Combine/All Objects With Background. (Ctrl Shift DnArrow)

9. Click on Mask/Load/Light

10. Click on Mask/Invert. (Ctrl I)

11. Click on the "Create Object: Cut Selection" button. (Ctrl Shift UpArrow)

12. Click on Object/Dropshadow. The settings are already in place, as you will re-apply exactly the same dropshadow that you used in Step 7. The resulting image will look decidedly fuzzy, but don't become discouraged-- all is proceeding as it should.

13. Click on Objects/Combine/All Objects With Background. (Ctrl Shift DnArrow)

14. Click on Mask/Load/Light

15. Click on Effects/3D Effects/Glass (I told you that this would take some effort!)

16. You will be re-applying the Light Preset, using the PEACH color from the last application in Step 4. As the settings will all still be in place, just click on "OK" to apply the Preset.

17. Click on Mask/Invert. (Ctrl I)

18. Click on the "Create Object: Cut Selection" button. (Ctrl Shift UpArrow)

19. Click on Object/Dropshadow. Leave the settings as they are, and click on "OK"-- you are re-applying the same dropshadow you used in steps 7 and 12. (But I promise, this is the last time!)

20. Click on Objects/Combine/All Objects With Background. (Ctrl Shift DnArrow)

21. Click on Mask/Load/Light

22. Click on Effects/3D Effects/Glass (We're almost finished...)

23. You will be re-applying the Light Preset, but this time click on the drop down Color Chart and access the RGB settings to replace the default color with PALE YELLOW. (R=255 G=255 B=204) Once the new color has been chosen, click "OK to apply the Preset.

24. Click on Mask/Remove. (Ctrl Shift R)

25. Click on Effects/Sharpen/Unsharp Mask. Set the Percentage at 100, the Radius at 20, and the Threshold at 0. Then click on "OK."

Congratulations-- the effect is complete!

For future reference, it should be noted that this is another of those effects that is best realized when the colors combined are contrasting but compatible, and the tonal values significantly differ. Another aspect to consider is that, although we've made use of a decorative font for this particular exercise, the Light Effect can wonderfully enliven the plainest of fonts-- try it sometime with Futura Md BT, and see what interesting things happen. (But always remember to provide some extra space between the characters, so they'll have the necessary room to grow!)

And the shortcut? Well, you can go directly from Step 1 (which covers Steps 1 through 7 in the Basic Instructons) to Step 16, and continue on from there. In this simplified version, you begin with the Peach glass, add one dropshadow, apply a Pale Yellow glass overlay, and sharpen-- that's it! The results are unquestionably similar to those achieved with the more-involved method, but they don't quite equal the depth, intensity, and texture that comes from the buildup of layers. Try the two methods side-by-side, and see which one you prefer.