Choose how edges are detected
Detect edges with 6 Edge Source options (Luminance, Alpha, Red, Green, Blue, Max RGB) and 3 Edge Operator types, and use Edge Side to set whether the glow sits inside, outside, or centered on the edge.
EssentialAlso in ProGPU
TMCEdge Glow
A neon-line glow that lights up only the outlines
Creates a neon outline that glows along the edges of a shape. Because the glow is based on the edges rather than on brightness, you can control the line's position and thickness directly.
Key features
A gradient that repeats along the edge
Use Gradient (A-B) in Color Mode together with Gradient Loops to repeat colors along the edge.
Neon that flickers without keyframes
Pulse Rate (Hz), 4 Pulse Wave shapes, Flicker, Strobe Rate (Hz), and Strobe Duty in Animation make the neon flicker without any keyframes.
4 Look Presets and the Show view
Start from one of 4 Look Presets (Neon, Energy, Subtle, Outline), and set Show to Edge Map to see the detection result.
Quick start
Follow these steps in order the first time.
- Apply Effect › TMC › TMC Edge Glow to a logo or character layer.
- Choose Neon or Outline in Look Preset.
- Set the amount and thickness of the lines with Edge Threshold and Edge Thickness, and choose which side the glow sits on with Edge Side.
- Refine the spread and the brightness of the center with Glow Radius, Core Size, and Core Intensity in Glow Shape, and set the color in Color.
Parameter guide
Listed in the same order as the Effect Controls panel.
Effect Controls · TMC Edge GlowClick a group to expand it
Basic parameters2
Look Preset
Pop-up menu that applies a ready-made look (Neon/Energy/Subtle/Outline) in one step
4 presets
Show
Diagnostic pop-up menu for choosing what to display (Final/Glow Only/Edge Map)
FinalGlow OnlyEdge Map
Edge8
Enable Edge Glow
Checkbox that turns the whole effect on and off
Edge Source
Pop-up menu for choosing which channel edges are detected in
LuminanceAlphaRedGreenBlueMax RGB
Edge Operator
Pop-up menu for choosing the derivative kernel used to find edges (Cross/Sobel/Scharr)
Cross (soft)SobelScharr (fine)
Edge Detect
Edge Threshold
Soft Knee
Width over which the threshold rolls off in a soft knee instead of a hard cut
Highlights Only
Edge Thickness
Amount to grow (+) or shrink (-) the detected edge band
Glow Shape6
Glow Radius
Core Size
Size of the bright core at the center of the glow
Core Intensity
Brightness multiplier for the core at the center of the glow
Aspect (H/V)
Chromatic
Glow Gamma
Color6
Color Mode
SourceTintGradient (A-B)
Color A / Tint
One color, used as the single tint in Tint mode and as the A color in Gradient mode
Color B
Gradient Loops
Brightness
Saturation
Composite6
Edge Side
Pop-up menu for placing the glow centered on the edge, outside it, or inside it
CenteredOuterInner
Blend Mode
How the effect is blended with the original
AddScreenLightenNormalOverlayColor DodgeSoft LightHard Light
Opacity
Under Source
Cast on Background
Premultiply
Animation9
Pulse Rate (Hz)
How many times per second the glow brightness pulses up and down (0 = off)
Pulse Depth
How deeply the pulse modulates brightness
Pulse Wave
Shape of the pulse wave (Sine/Triangle/Square/Saw)
SineTriangleSquareSaw
Flicker
How much the brightness flickers irregularly
Flicker Speed
How fast the flicker changes
Flicker Seed
Changes the flicker pattern.
Strobe Rate (Hz)
How many times per second the glow strobes off and on (0 = off)
Strobe Duty
Fraction of each cycle the glow stays on
Intensity (drivable)
Glow strength multiplier set aside for driving with expressions or keyframes (100% = no change)
Other parameters1
Strength
Practical tips
- If you're not sure where the lines are being detected, switch Show to Edge Map to check.
- To let the glow spread onto the background, raise Cast on Background in Composite. It casts light even where alpha is 0.
- On live-action footage, set Edge Source to Luminance or Max RGB to get lines along the boundaries of shapes.
Where to use it
- Neon-sign style logos and titles
- An energy line running around a character's silhouette
- Cyberpunk-style UI and HUD decorations
Pairs well with
Technical notes
- Supports 8 · 16 · 32 bpc float, SmartFX, and Multi-Frame Rendering.
- GPU acceleration uses OpenCL on Windows and Metal on macOS, and switches to the CPU where it isn't available.
Included in both Essential and Pro
Start with Essential for $99, or get all 25 with Pro for $199.