How to Add Neon Effects in Illustrator?

Creating a vibrant neon effect in Adobe Illustrator involves combining bright colors, defined strokes, and a characteristic glow. One common method for achieving the glow component involves using the Gaussian Blur effect on a stroke.

Creating a Neon Glow Effect

Based on a helpful reference, you can create the essential glowing part of a neon effect by applying a blur to your path's stroke. Follow these steps:

Select Your Path: Start with the line or shape you want to make look like neon.
Set Stroke Properties: Apply a stroke to the path and choose a bright, saturated color. Set a substantial stroke thickness. The reference suggests using 40 points as a starting point for a noticeable glow.
Apply the Blur Effect:
- Locate the Effect button within the Appearance panel or go to the main Effect menu at the top.
- Choose the Blur category from the dropdown options.
- Select Gaussian Blur.
- In the Gaussian Blur dialog box, adjust the Blur Radius. The reference specifies 22 pixels as an example value. You can preview the effect to find the radius that works best for your design and desired glow intensity.
Click OK to apply the Gaussian Blur.

This process applies a soft, diffused blur to the stroke, creating the illusion of light radiating from the path, which is the hallmark of a neon glow.

Table Summary of Glow Steps

Step	Action	Example Value (from reference)
1. Select Path	Choose your line or shape.	N/A
2. Set Stroke	Apply color & thickness.	40 Points
3. Apply Effect	Click `Effect` button/menu.	N/A
4. Choose Blur	Select `Blur` category.	N/A
5. Select Gaussian	Choose `Gaussian Blur`.	N/A
6. Set Radius	Define the glow spread.	22 Pixels

Completing the Neon Look

While the Gaussian Blur creates the glow, a complete neon effect often requires more than just a blurred stroke. To enhance realism and visual impact:

Inner Stroke: Consider adding a thinner, brighter stroke on top of the blurred stroke (using the Appearance panel). This represents the actual glowing tube and provides a core highlight.
Multiple Glows: Sometimes, duplicating the blurred stroke layer in the Appearance panel and applying slightly different blur radii can create a richer, more layered glow effect.
Color Choice: Use highly saturated colors. Neon colors often have a slight vibrancy shift when glowing, which can be simulated with subtle color adjustments or gradients.
Background: A dark background often makes the neon effect pop more effectively.

By combining these techniques with the core blur effect, you can create compelling and realistic neon designs in Adobe Illustrator.