Next, apply the Brightness- Contrast- Intensity filter with the settings shown in the figure (Alt+I,A,B).

Reduce the mask by 3 pixels and then feather the mask (Alt+K,E) 1 pixel wide, Direction inside, Edges linear. Adjust the Tone Curve (Alt+I,A,T) as shown in the figure below.

Reload mask channel Alpha 2, reduce the mask by 4 pixels, and then feather the mask 1 pixel wide, Direction middle, Edges linear. Adjust the Tone Curve as shown in the figure below.

Reload mask channel Alpha2 and expand the mask by 3 pixels (Alt+K,H,X).

Save this new selection as Alpha 3, and with Preserve Image turned off, create an object from the mask.Turn off visibility for the new object and unlock the background.Then fill the background with Black.

Load mask channel Alpha3 and expand it 1 pixel. Feather the mask 12 pixels wide, Direction average, Edges linear. Feather the mask 10 pixels wide, Direction inside, Edges curved. Fill the selection with medium gray (R145, G145, B145).  With Preserve Image turnedoff, create an object from the mask and then turn off visibility for thisnew object. Fill the background with Black.

Lock the middle ("Glow") object, load mask channel Alpha 2 and reduce the mask by 2 pixels. Feather the mask 1 pixel wide, Direction outside, Edges linear and adjust the Tone Curve as shown in the figure below.  Remove the mask (Ctrl+D).

From the Object roll-up, switch to Layer mode, and select the middle layer. Turn off visibility for both the top and background layers. Click in the middle column of the Object roll-up so the pencil icon is next to the middle object. Apply the Brightness- Contrast-Intensity filter with the settings shown in the figure below.

Switch back to Multi mode and turn on visibility for the top two layers, leaving the background invisible. Turn off the recorder, save the recording as a CSC file, and take a breather.

Now in Color

You now have the basis for the neon, and your recording is perfect so you won't have to do that again. Now it's time for the fun stuff : Color!

Make the top ("Neon") and background layers invisible and apply a Color Hue adjustment (Alt+I,A,H) to the middle ("Glow") layer. Start clicking the color buttons, keeping count of how many times you click on each. Pink neon, for instance, takes 10 clicks on red and 10 clicks on magenta. OK out of this dialog.

Turn off visibility for the middle object and turn it on for the top object. Repeat the Color Hue adjustment, using the same number of clicks. OK out again, and turn on visibility for all three layers.

The neon has been created as floating layers, giving you many possibilities for backgrounds and other effects. Depending upon the final background you choose, you may want to fine-tune the effect. Possible enhancements include adding a soft, drop shadow to the middle (or "glow") layer or while in Layer mode, using the Custom Color option in the same hue as the neon itself. You may also want to adjust the Color Tone (Alt+I,A,O) options one or two clicks, especially the More Contrast and Lighter options on the top ("neon") layer.

Debbie Cook is a self-employed graphic artist in Brandon, Florida. She is a Corel Certified Instructor, and also provides technical support for Corel Corporation as a C-TECH Support Partner on Corel's Compuserve forum and newsgroups.