Pen Tool - Neon Lights

Open Photoshop, i'm using CS3 but as far as i can tell all the controls and stuff are the same as CS2.

1) Make a new image at 300 X 300px, make sure the color mode is set to RGB Color and click OK.

2) Select the Gradient tool [SCREEN SHOT] and create a dark blue gradient, the colours i've used are #000450 and #00067b. Click and drag from the top of the image to the bottom to add the gradient. [SCREEN SHOT]

NOTE: If you have never used the pen tool before i suggest you read my 'Pen Tool Basics' tutorial before you go to the next step.

3) Select the Pen tool [SCREEN SHOT], and have your settings like mine [SCREEN SHOT]. I'm going to create a simple heart shape, you can make a different shape if you want but if you're doing a heart too then make a shape like this [SCREEN SHOT] IMPORTANT DO NOT close the path, we'll do that after we've completed the shape =]

4) Select the Convert point Tool [SCREEN SHOT], to shape and curve the heart, take your time with this part so you get it right, it doesn't need to be 100% symmetrical. Hopefully you end up with something like this [SCREEN SHOT]

5) Close the path by selecting the pen tool again and clicking on the starting point.

6) Make a new layer (Shift + CTRL + N) -> OK). Select the brush tool and select a 5px brush with the hardness set to 0, select a very pale colour, i'm using #fff0f6. Select the Pen Tool again and right click on the image with our heart on and go to 'Stroke Path', from the list select Brush and click OK, you should get this [SCREEN SHOT]

7) Right click on the new layer and go to 'Blending Options' click Outer Glow and have your settings like mine [SCREEN SHOT] and click ok, delete the path by selecting the pen tool -> right clicking the image and go to 'Delete Path' and you should get this [SCREEN SHOT].

And that's it! Try experimenting with different shapes, colours and settings =] here's something else i tried....