Bloom effect

A softly bounded layer of light spreads around bright contours.

Visual traits

• bright-area glow
• soft emission
• spread outward from highlights

Expected changes

• Areas around highlights are more likely to look soft
• An impression of emission is more likely to strengthen

Definition

Bloom effect is postprocessing that spreads a soft glow outward from bright areas of an image. The light source itself, subject, capture equipment, time of day, and color grading are separate choices.

In more detail

It gently expands bright edges to strengthen an impression of emission or backlight. It is distinct from raising overall exposure, lens-specific reflections, whole-image color design, and combining images.

Includes

• Soft light spreading around bright areas
• Postprocessing that softens the edge of emission

Excludes

• Whole-image exposure adjustment
• Lens flare
• Whole-image hue or contrast design

What this does not imply

• A particular light source
• lens
• camera
• or subject
• Increased exposure or changed color grading

Variability

Glow radius and strength can be adjusted while retaining the shape of the main highlights.

Usage

• Place glow only around bright areas
• Specify light source and color grading separately

Distinguish similar expressions

• Use lens flare when internal lens reflections are wanted

Typical uses

• Soften highlights in a night scene or luminous object
• Add restrained emission to a backlit edge

Possible failure modes

• Glow is so strong that details disappear
• Areas other than highlights become uniformly blurry