How to Add Highlights and Shine to Letters
Quick answer: Choose one light source, usually top left. Add a short white curved line on the upper left inside edge of each letter and a small dot nearby. Keep all highlights facing the same way, and add a darker tone on the opposite side for depth.
Highlights are the small white marks that make letters look glossy and round. They take seconds to add and change the whole feel of a piece.
Pick one light source
Decide where the light comes from before you add anything. Top left is the convention. Every highlight should then sit on the side of the letter facing that light.
Types of highlights
- Shine lines: a short curved stroke that follows the inside edge of a letter.
- Dots: one or two small dots next to the shine line.
- Sparkles: four-point stars, used sparingly, on one or two letters.
- Inner line: a thin light line running inside the whole outline.
Add shadow on the other side
Highlights look stronger with shadow opposite them. Darken the lower right side of each letter with a deeper shade of the fill. On bubble letters, this makes the shapes look inflated.
Common mistakes
- Highlights pointing in different directions.
- Highlights that are too long and look like stripes.
- Sparkles on every letter.
Tools for digital highlights
White gel pens work on paper. For digital lettering, the bubble letter generator includes shine options you can turn on and off to compare.