Glow effect is not visible

Symptoms

If one or more of these match what you are seeing, you are on the right page.

• •The glow settings are configured but nothing changes
• •The glow is visible on a dark background and invisible on a light one
• •The glow reads as a flat colored border rather than light
• •The glow appears inside the shape instead of around it

Causes and fixes

Ordered from most to least likely. Work down the list — each cause is paired with what to do about it.

1. 1

   The glow color has too little contrast with the background.

   Glow is additive light in effect. A bright glow color against a dark background gives the strongest result; a pale glow on a pale background will not read.

2. 2

   The blend mode is Normal.

   Normal produces a flat colored halo. Set the glow blend mode to Screen or Add for a luminous light effect.

3. 3

   Spread and blur radius are both at zero.

   Spread controls how far the glow extends before the blur begins, and blur radius controls the softness of the falloff. Both at zero leaves nothing to see.

4. 4

   An inner glow is configured instead of an outer glow.

   Inner glow emanates from the shape boundary inwards, simulating edge lighting. Use Outer Glow for a halo outside the shape.

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