#process snapshot

Process snapshot!

I love this trick for getting just a little edge colour on complicated shapes using clipping mask, layer mask, and gaussian blur! These steps are for Photoshop but a similar principle should work in most programs.

The object whose edges you're highlighting needs to be on its own layer.

Create a new layer above your Main Layer. Select the new layer, then click and drag THE MAIN LAYER to the [+] sign at the bottom right of your layers palette. This will give your new layer a layer mask matching your Main Layer's shape. Select the layer mask and reverse it using ctrl+I on your keyboard (or by going to Image > Adjustments > Invert).

Fill your new layer with a bright colour, then apply the layer mask.

Make your new layer a clipping mask above your Main Layer. The colour will alllllmost disappear - this is where Gaussian Blur comes in!

With your new layer still selected, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and adjust the slider until you have the amount of blur you want. Apply the blur!

Last step: use Image > Adjustments or layer opacity to adjust your edge colour until it's just right.

Process snapshot!

Here is a look at something I've been doing a lot lately: keeping my major compositional elements on their own layers.

When doing a digital painting, I put the background, midground, foreground and fine detail on their own layers. Then I use a clipping mask to paint over one element at a time. I can turn the clipping layer on and off to check my progress, then merge it into the element layer once I'm happy.