Select the layer you want to apply the effect to in the Layers panel.
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Learn the basics
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Refine and modify selections
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Create masks
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Layer masks
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Layer masks
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Remove objects and fill space
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Remove objects and fill space
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Adjust color
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Color profiles
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Color corrections
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Selective color adjustments
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Color profiles
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Apply painting techniques
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Create and fill with patterns
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Brushes and presets
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Draw shapes and paths
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Text and typography
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Effects and filters
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Add video and animation
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Quick actions
- Blur image backgrounds
- Add duotone effect to images
- Adjust lighting in images
- Apply Charcoal filter to images
- Apply diffuse glow to images
- Woodcut print filter
- Colorize old photographs
- Desaturate image backgrounds to black and white
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- Remove JPEG artifacts from images
Apply diffuse glow to images
Last updated on
Oct 4, 2026
Learn how to use the Diffuse Glow filter or quick actions to add soft, luminous effects in Photoshop.
The Diffuse Glow filter adds a soft, luminous haze to images by enhancing highlights. This technique works well for portraits, romantic scenes, and creative composites that evoke a gentle, ethereal mood. Photoshop offers two methods: a one-click quick action for fast results, or the Filter Gallery for precise control over glow intensity, graininess, and distribution.
Images with distinct highlights or bright areas produce the most visible glow effects. High-contrast images with clear subjects tend to produce the most dramatic results.
Apply diffuse glow using quick actions
Press Ctrl + F (Windows) or Command + F (macOS) to open the Discover panel, or select the search icon in the upper-right corner.
Navigate to Browse > Quick Actions and locate the Diffuse glow filter.
Select Apply to add the glow effect to your image.
The quick action applies preset values optimized for most images. To apply the effect to a different layer, select that layer in the Layers panel and select Refresh in the Discover panel.
Customize diffuse glow settings
Select Filter > Filter Gallery.
In the Filter Gallery dialog, expand the Distort category and select Diffuse Glow.
Adjust the Graininess slider to control the intensity of the glow effect's texture.
Adjust the Glow Amount slider to control how much the highlights spread and soften.
Adjust the Clear Amount slider to balance the glow effect with the original image detail.
Preview your adjustments in the dialog window, and then select OK to apply the effect.
For non-destructive editing, convert your layer to a Smart Object before applying the filter. This allows you to adjust the diffuse glow settings later by double-clicking the filter name in the Layers panel.
To remove the effect completely when using quick actions, select the Revert button in the Discover panel to undo all changes at once. When working with the Filter Gallery, use Edit > Undo or delete the Smart Filter from a Smart Object layer.
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