How to Create Glowing Elegant Lines

Dec 17th in Motion Graphics by Haley Saner
In this tutorial you'll be creating elegant glowing lines using shape layers within After Effects. We'll create a few basic arc layers and then stylize them by using the find edges effect, glows, and blending modes. I enjoy this technique and you can easily adapt this concept to many different shapes to create some stunning looks.
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Author: Haley Saner

I’m a motion designer always looking for new and exciting jobs. I also try and contribute to the Go Mediazine and Arsenal as much I can and recently put out a new animated series. I’ve also written some articles for the nice folks at Computer Arts Magazine.

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Requirements: Adobe After Effects.

Instructions: Click the bottom-right button to view tutorial full-screen. Click screen to pause, click again to play.

Please note: due to the way it was recorded this tutorial cannot be hosted in HD. In future Haley's tutorials will be in High Definition. Because some parts of the interface are difficult to read, you'll need to pay extra attention to Haley's narration. We hope you enjoy this great tutorial!

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User Comments

( ADD YOURS )
  1. PG

    VertigoSFX December 17th

    Haha I love you guys. I’ve been wanting to learn how to do simplistic style things like this for the longest time and there are so few good tutorial sites out there to show it well. This is great, very simple but extremely good looking and effective.

    I’m so excited about AETUTS :)

    ( Reply )
  2. PG

    MEGAFATBOY December 17th

    Epic. I can’t wait to finish this one.

    ( Reply )
  3. PG

    Alex2665 December 17th

    Thanks for the tutorial, but the quality of the video, is very bad.. It’s hard to see where you choose what, but the sound quality is good :)

    ( Reply )
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    Fredro December 17th

    Nice tut! The quality of the video is a bit hard to see at full-screen (compared to Lloyd’s 1st tutorial here) but still awesome. Is there any way you can add in the text effect at the end too?

    ( Reply )
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    loswl December 17th

    I don’t know? the resolution on this tutorial is very poor compared to the first tutorial, everything looks very blurred and it’s hard to follow along..I was looking forward to learning the technique :o (

    ( Reply )
  6. PG

    Evan Riley December 17th

    It is a great tutorial, besides the video quality, I all i had to do was listen carefully and try to point out where he was pointing, thanks for tutorial

    ( Reply )
  7. PG

    Serigo December 17th

    Ha ha anyone find the background music… interesting..

    ( Reply )
  8. PG

    Anonymous December 17th

    “AEtoots” made me lol.

    ( Reply )
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    insic December 17th

    nice effect. i just finish the first tutorial and its awesome. i have to do this also.

    ( Reply )
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      keiler July 29th

      you’re really…….. wow,,, I dont what to say

      ( Reply )
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    TPN December 17th

    Nice

    ( Reply )
  11. PG

    ben December 17th

    annoying musica and poor resolution bad combo…

    ( Reply )
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      chris November 19th

      shutt up..

      ( Reply )
  12. PG

    Alberto December 17th

    What is the video player you are using?

    ( Reply )
  13. PG

    Andrew Pryde December 18th

    Really nice. Will follow it through tonight!

    Andrew

    ( Reply )
  14. PG

    xylon December 18th

    Cool tutorial, thanks =D

    ( Reply )
  15. PG

    Stefan December 18th

    Nice tutorial but very low resolution the previous for trapcode form was awesome quality, but this one isn’t that high quality :(

    ( Reply )
  16. PG

    Alwi December 18th

    Thank you for the tut, but the resolution on this tutorial is very poor

    ( Reply )
  17. PG

    OpenSourceHunter December 18th

    I like this kind of fx, thanks i will try it :D

    greetz
    http://www.opensourcehunter.com/

    ( Reply )
  18. PG

    BogDinamita December 18th

    man I am really excited about this site. I hope you don’t go PLUS too haha :P

    ( Reply )
  19. PG

    Ben December 18th

    What a horrible quality. Fullscreen looksrubbish here. Ow, never use that annoying music again. Nice tut tho. :-)

    ( Reply )
  20. PG

    Skellie December 18th

    Hey guys, we definitely understand about the video quality issue. This tut was recorded before we adopted Viddyou to host our tuts, and it was recorded in a resolution that won’t display in HD on the service. All our screencasts from now on will be in HD, so please bear with us.

    Thanks everyone!

    ( Reply )
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    Jullian P. December 18th

    It’s a nice tutorial, also let’s wait for a Full HD version.

    Good Job Guys.

    ( Reply )
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    loswl December 18th

    Thanks for the explanation Skellie, looking forward to what is coming on the site, thanks so far ;o)

    ( Reply )
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    DKumar M. December 18th

    Nice tutorial Haley, But can you improve the resolution issue in your further posts.

    Thank You,

    Cheers
    http://www.instantshift.com

    ( Reply )
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    Holy December 18th

    Hello! Congratulations, this tuto is very good.
    ***
    Meus parabéns. Sou do Brasil e acompanhava o PSDTUTS. Quando vi que lançaram o AETUTS eu fiquei louco.. hehehe. Adoro o AE.

    ( Reply )
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    JoNuggs December 18th

    I’m thrilled at the new site but I would ask that, if the resolution becomes a problem again, please slow down and explain a little bit more what you are doing. I’ve followed the tutorial very closely and my results look rather dissimilar.

    Other than that it’s a great tutorial and I look forward to more!

    ( Reply )
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    Zepho December 18th

    It would be much more pleasing if the tutorials were NOT in video format. Many firewalls in Canada block videos like this one. Also, I have been wanting to learn AE for a long time and just bought it last week and have next to NO idea how to use it. Would there be any chance of having a beginners Beginner tutorial?

    ( Reply )
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    Ben December 18th

    Dude the music sucks so bad on this please don’t ever put on silly background music it is annoying, otheriwse its a nice tut

    ( Reply )
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      voodoolady43 April 21st

      Ben, don’t you have anything nice to say. Have you noticed almost all of your comments are negative. I think this was a cool tutorial. Its doesn’t look easy to put together. Be patient. Lets see what you have? Peace dude.

      ( Reply )
  28. PG

    Josh Drake December 18th

    Wow, the video quality is bad, but the result it really nice. Thanks!

    ( Reply )
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    Richard N December 18th

    The first tutorial was simply excellent and I wouldn’t have expected anything less from an Envato site, but this one just doesn’t seem too overly impressive, especially from someone with Haley’s skills.

    Nevertheless looking forward to another great tutorial site!

    ( Reply )
  30. PG

    Bryan Grajales December 18th

    Uuuu Thats Mad Coool……!

    I’m Gonna Try it…

    I can’t believe I love this website more than PSDTUTS…

    ( Reply )
  31. PG

    Jullian P. December 18th

    Olá!

    Também sou do Brasil, penso que deveriam haver mais BR’s aqui. hehe

    The quality of the video has been updated?

    ( Reply )
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    AdrianMG December 18th

    Simple & cool man, just need more quality at video recording :(

    ( Reply )
  33. PG

    gk December 18th

    wow i’m only 13, and i’m psyched!
    I love after effects

    ( Reply )
  34. PG

    Leonardo Miranda December 18th

    Low HD Video =(

    ( Reply )
  35. PG

    Jamie P. December 18th

    What’s with the soundtrack?

    ( Reply )
  36. PG

    chill December 18th

    please no music in future tutorials. it’s distracting.

    love your work for gomedia!

    thanks!

    ( Reply )
  37. PG

    bleeding ear December 19th

    pls no bg music next time

    ( Reply )
  38. PG

    Daltur December 19th

    Tutorial is awsome, but please please dont put anymore of background music, it totally destroys your tutorial!

    ( Reply )
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    Jer December 19th

    Agreed, the music is awful. Any music for a tutorial is a bad idea, but you managed to choose the worst music ever made.

    Otherwise, good subject. This site is going to be great (as long as this guy’s music is kept as far away as possible).

    ( Reply )
  40. PG

    chasly December 19th

    Here’s my result, I’m impatient to see more tutorials:

    http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=IrxezksAD4A

    ( Reply )
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    snailsnail December 19th

    I wanted to love the tutorial, but the poor quality and distracting music, coupled with long gaps of just fiddling and no real progress, and a poor explanation of what was being done made it really very difficult to follow.

    I’m afraid I got bored half way through. Hoping for better next time though

    ( Reply )
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    Andrey December 20th

    o!!! i like it!

    ( Reply )
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    Joey Baker December 20th

    Thanks for the tutorial, but I’d certainly drop the music and up the quality of the video. Also missed having the keyboard shortcuts displayed.

    ( Reply )
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    tim stotz December 20th

    I liked the tutorial, and LOVED the music…but found it a bit distracting, especially in a tut where we needed to listen to him because of the low rez. I look forward to seeing others tuts in higher rez.

    And, I honestly really dug the music. Who is it?

    ( Reply )
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    L'@rtiFici3r December 21st

    Hi guys, thanks for these two awsome tutorials.

    I’m a beginner and I got a question. I got After Effect CS3 version (on MAC) and I don’t have the plugins you use like Fine Edges or Glow.

    Is it normal ? Is there a website where I can download them ?

    Thank you for your future response.

    ( Reply )
  46. PG

    Frank December 22nd

    nice…but quality is really bad. cant read anything?

    ( Reply )
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    leviakran design December 22nd

    video resolution sucks!

    ( Reply )
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    lourod December 22nd

    really cool, i enjoy this new proyect of envato! they’re nice guys!

    ( Reply )
  49. PG

    Nate December 22nd

    AWESOME! Just wish it was HD.

    ( Reply )
  50. PG

    dude December 23rd

    tute= great
    music = crap

    ( Reply )
  51. PG

    sdsdsd December 26th

    The abstract music is incredibly distracting.

    ( Reply )
  52. PG

    Thomas December 29th

    Hi! love youre tuts, but how on earth did you change the start point in the shape layer? cant find it in my AE….

    ( Reply )
  53. PG

    Sam December 29th

    Ugh, I can’t even get this to look right. The lines I drew way back when with the pen tool don’t look like yours in the end.

    When you finalized yours the lines kind of faded down the coming of the arc… while mine continue out through the whole thing. So when I go to flip it at the end, it just looks weird. A bit hard to explain too.

    Could you just upload the .aep file?

    ( Reply )
  54. PG

    cameron December 30th

    Loved this tutorial but might be better without the BG music

    ( Reply )
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    Dude Man December 30th

    Thanks for the Tut !

    ( Reply )
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    xROMMELx December 31st

    My first project in AECS4, xD

    ( Reply )
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    boogle362 January 1st

    Music is excellent. Zappa I believe. Could only be Zappa I’m sure. Pleasant change of pace from the all the other tutorial presenters and their often times lame attempts at humor. I guess the detractors would prefer the Jonas Brothers but you stick to your guns. Good Tut.

    ( Reply )
  58. PG

    Jonathan Clegg January 7th

    im all for the jazz my man

    ( Reply )
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    John Dickinson January 8th

    That was hilarious. I was so focussed on the music I have no idea what the tutorial was about.

    ( Reply )
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    Jacob T January 10th

    That’s the most funky tutorial I’ve seen for a long time. Pretty nice stuff to learn. Props for the tunes…

    Keep up the good work…

    ( Reply )
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    chris January 11th

    wow SUGOiii Na

    i like it its totally awesome

    SAlamat sa tutorials

    ( Reply )
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    GeminiArt January 13th

    nice tutorial and great effects

    thanks

    ( Reply )
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    chicago website design January 24th

    The music was funny. Any chance of offering a low quality and high quality videos in the future?

    ( Reply )
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    narta February 18th

    video zappa fan heheehehehe

    ( Reply )
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    John February 19th

    Thanks, that tutorial was very useful! It made me think more about the techniques I use.. I wasn’t too sure about the music though! I prefer to play my own music in the bkground when I watch through tutorials..
    Thanks again for the tut though!

    ( Reply )
  66. PG

    learner February 19th

    Great tuts.
    Btw, to those who want to do a little more with after effects, I recommend this website, if you don’t know it already:
    http://www.videocopilot.net

    great free after effects tuts

    ( Reply )
  67. PG

    Mike March 5th

    Like the tutorial but please kill the music next time. Not sure what it adds?

    ( Reply )
  68. PG

    Adyos March 6th

    Haha i feel like in SF movies when i watching this. Cool tutorial.

    ( Reply )
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    andrew March 19th

    wheres the video???

    ( Reply )
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    Jordan April 7th

    Great tutorial, but I’d like to toss in one more vote for leaving out the music in the future. It’s… shapes…

    ( Reply )
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    CgBaran Tuts April 22nd

    Fantastic work

    ( Reply )
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    kuunami May 16th

    Good tutorial. Whats up with the creepy background music though?

    ( Reply )
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    kyd May 22nd

    so good~

    ( Reply )
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    Dirk June 3rd

    the result is nice, but you have to explain a lot more. there are times where you just tweak the sliders and say nothing. honestly i’d like some background info why you’re using this or that effect and what you’re actually doing.
    in other words: explain more, please

    ( Reply )
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    Pam June 12th

    Is it just me or does the video guit at about 1.15 in?
    Would like to see it all

    ( Reply )
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    emkaythree June 20th

    Thank you for this tutorial.

    mfg emkaythree

    ( Reply )
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    rehmat hadi July 18th

    no matter what would be the quality of video,i appreciate the work as it
    has a great learning items

    ( Reply )
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    me July 24th

    your music is annoying.

    ( Reply )
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    execor August 25th

    What if i dont have Gradient Fill?? Help me!

    ( Reply )
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    WINRY August 27th

    WHERE CAN WE FIND THE ” find edges” effect PLEASE!!!!! HELP ME ..

    ( Reply )
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    Falsh September 10th

    I really don’t understand what you do at 5:00 with the CC Toner…can you explain better plz ?

    ( Reply )
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    Brian November 8th

    Wow Great tut only the music where can i get it? Its so nice for my commercial

    ( Reply )
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    November 8th