Question :

I have added an “Outer Glow” effect to my vector drawing in Adobe Illustrator, but I have since altered the design of the drawing, and now I want to delete (or edit) the Outer Glow effect, but I can’t find the way to do so… What should I do ?

Answer :

“Outer Glow”, “Inner Glow”, “Drop Shadow” and “Feather” are some of the options of the “Stylize” feature in Adobe Illustrator’s “Filters” menu (on the top menu bar). They add effects that could previously only be created using Photoshop (because they are non-standard vector effects, they appear to be pixel-effects).

—- CREATE —-

To add an “Outer Glow” (or any other “Stylize”) effect to your vector drawing :

– select the objects you want to create the effect on

– go to the “Filters” (in the top menu bar) –> “Stylize” –> “Outer Glow” (or any other)

– in the window that appears, check “Preview”, adjust the settings (e.g. change the effect color) and press “OK” if you like the outcome

– Done.

—- EDIT —-

To edit an “Outer Glow” (or any other “Stylize”) effect that’s in a vector drawing :

– make sure the “Appearance” panel is visible (to do so, go to “Window” in the top menu bar and make sure there’s a check mark in front of “Appearance”)

– select the objects you want ot edit in your drawing

– look in the “Appearance” panel, there you should see the effect you want to edit listed (e.g. “Outer Glow”) with the indication “fx” behind it

– if you do not see the effect listed in the “Appearance” panel, you have probably selcted a Group of drawing elements, that does not have the effect applied the same way to all of them… to fix that, just ungroup the elements and select only the ones you need (again) until the effect appears in the list of the “Appearance” panel

– then double click on the effect’s name listed in the “Appearance” panel, and a window will popup in which you can adjust the filter’s settings

– Done. (but remember to re-group the drawing’s elements)

—- DELETE —-

To delete an “Outer Glow” (or any other “Stylize”) effect that’s in a vector drawing :

– make sure the “Appearance” panel is visible (to do so, go to “Window” in the top menu bar and make sure there’s a check mark in front of “Appearance”)

– in your drawing, select the objects you want delete the effect from

– look in the “Appearance” panel, there you should see the effect you want to edit listed (e.g. “Outer Glow”) with the indication “fx” behind it

– if you do not see the effect listed in the “Appearance” panel, you have probably selcted a Group of drawing elements, that does not have the effect applied the same way to all of them… to fix that, just ungroup the elements and select only the ones you need (again) until the effect appears in the list of the “Appearance” panel

– then click-and-drag the effect’s name listed in the “Appearance” panel onto the small Trash icon that is on the bottom of the “Appearance” panel

– Done. (but remember to re-group the drawing’s elements)