Neon Text Effect in Photoshop 7.0
The short version
The neon effect is just three layer styles stacked: a thin Stroke for the glass tube, an Inner Glow for the inside brightness, and a strong Outer Glow for the surrounding glow on the wall. Combine with a slightly off-white text colour and a dark background and you have neon. Total time: 10 minutes.
Setup
- New document, 1920×1080 px, 72 dpi.
- Fill the Background with a near-black colour — try #0a0a14 (a slight blue tint reads better than pure black).
- Optional: paste a brick or concrete texture above the background and lower its opacity to 40% for a real-wall feel.
Step 1: Type Your Text
- Press T for the Type tool.
- Pick a script or rounded display font — neon looks most authentic in flowing, single-stroke shapes. Try Pacifico, Lobster, Permanent Marker, or any handwriting-style font.
- Size around 180 pt.
- Colour: a slightly off-white tone — #f0f0ff or #fff8ee. Pure white blows out the glow effect.
- Type a short word: OPEN, NEON, CAFÉ.
- Ctrl+Enter to commit.
Step 2: Add Layer Styles
Double-click the text layer (in empty space beside the layer name) to open Layer Styles.
Stroke (the glass tube)
- Size: 3 px
- Position: Outside
- Fill Type: Color
- Colour: choose your neon — vibrant pink #ff36b6, electric blue #00d4ff, warm orange #ff7a00, or classic neon green #39ff14.
- Opacity: 100%
Inner Glow (interior brightness)
- Blend Mode: Screen
- Opacity: 80%
- Colour: the same neon colour as the Stroke, but slightly lighter (mix in 30% white).
- Source: Edge
- Choke: 0%
- Size: 10 px
Outer Glow (the wall glow)
- Blend Mode: Screen
- Opacity: 70%
- Colour: your neon colour (matching the Stroke).
- Technique: Softer
- Spread: 5%
- Size: 60 px (this is the big visible glow — go larger for more dramatic effect)
Click OK. The text now reads as a glowing neon tube on a dark wall.
Step 3: Add Multiple Glow Layers (Optional but Worth It)
Real neon glows are layered — there is the immediate halo right next to the tube, the medium halo on the wall, and the very wide soft halo that fills the room. To replicate this:
- Right-click the styled text layer in the Layers palette → Copy Layer Style.
- Duplicate the text layer (Ctrl+J).
- Right-click the duplicate → Clear Layer Style.
- Add only an Outer Glow on this duplicate. Size: 150 px. Opacity: 40%. Same colour.
- Move this duplicate below the original styled text layer in the stacking order. Result: a much wider second halo.
Step 4: Add Flicker / Burnout Variations
For a vintage neon look where one letter has burnt out or is fading:
- Select one letter on the original text layer (use the Type tool, double-click the letter to edit).
- Change its colour to a duller version — for pink neon use #aa2a82 instead of #ff36b6.
- Or duplicate the styled text layer, mask out everything except one letter, and lower its opacity to 30%.
Step 5: Add a Subtle Floor Reflection
- Ctrl+Alt+Shift+E to stamp visible.
- Ctrl+J to duplicate.
- Edit → Transform → Flip Vertical. Move below the original.
- Opacity 20%, blending mode Screen.
- Add a layer mask, draw a vertical black-to-white gradient to fade the reflection out toward the bottom.
Save and Export
- Ctrl+Shift+S — save as PSD to keep all layers.
- For social media or web, Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S (Save for Web) → JPEG at quality 80, or PNG-24 with transparency if you need the neon over another background.
Colour Recipes
| Neon | Tube colour | Inner glow | Outer glow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot pink | #ff36b6 | #ffa6dd | #ff36b6 @ 70% |
| Electric blue | #00d4ff | #9ce8ff | #00d4ff @ 70% |
| Classic green | #39ff14 | #aaff8a | #39ff14 @ 60% |
| Warm orange | #ff7a00 | #ffc384 | #ff7a00 @ 70% |
| Cold white | #e8f4ff | #ffffff | #aac7d6 @ 70% |
FAQ
Why does the glow look "fake" or too uniform?
Real neon has a brighter glow close to the tube and a softer glow further away — exactly what the two-layer-glow technique in Step 3 produces. If you skipped Step 3 the effect looks like a single flat halo. Add the second layer.
Can I do this on a coloured background?
Yes but the glow contrast drops. Neon needs a dark surrounding to read as light. If the background is lighter than ~30% brightness the effect looks like a coloured outline rather than a glow.
Why is my Outer Glow not visible?
Check the Blend Mode of the Outer Glow style — it must be Screen or Linear Dodge (Add). Normal mode hides the glow inside other layers above.
