Сlip layer to "outer glow"

Question

I have a folder that contains many strings. This folder has layer effects applied:

• Color overlay (bright yellow)
• Stroke (black)
• outer glow (can be any color, currently white.)

I want to clip a layer with a pattern to the outer glow of the layer effect applied to the folder. basically, I want the Outer glow not to be a solid color, but to have an image/pattern overlayed.

How can this be done?

I found one way that works but is a bit of a hassle and the result is not perfect:

I convert the whole folder to a smart object (layer effect is applied INSIDE the smart object) then I clip the layer with the pattern to the smart object and use blend if to apply it only to the bright white outer glow.

It's not perfect because the font itself is quite bright and it has some fringing around the outer stroke. Also, if possible, I would like to avoid converting to smart object..

Answer 1

Kind of thinking out loud...

Duplicate the group with effects..

With the duplicate group highlighted, choose Layer > layer Style > Create Layers

You'll then have a layer for ever style applied.

Hold Command/Ctrl and click the thumbnail in the Layers Panel for the Outer Glow to load a selection based upon its transparency.

Delete all the style layers and the duplicate, create a new layer and add a mask based upon the selection of the Outer Glow layer.

Result is a layer matching the size and drop off of the outer glow but you are free to add whatever you want to the actual layer.

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Now.. if you need the glow to dynamically change, well that may be a conundrum in itself. :)

Answer 2

If I've understood this question correctly, I think it would be possible to do this non-destructively by combining two layer effects, a Stroke and Outer glow.

Set up the stroke like this: Use a pattern as the fill-type, make sure you choose "Overprint", and set the blend mode to "Lighten".

Then add an Outer Glow effect, and the pattern will merge with the glow.