kissmygoat
789
14
2
Take you sword base image (blatantly stolen from a google image search in this case)
Create an orange to yellow gradient layer over the top lined up with your sword
Set the blend mode of the gradient to linier light and drop the opacity to where you are happy (this is 79% opacity on this image)
add a layer mask to the gradient layer to mask off just the area of your sword you want to be all hot and glowing
The sword is looking a little flat so let's bring it back up by duplicating the sword layer, whacking on the top of the image, setting the blend mode to multiply and droppping the opacity down a bit (80% opacity in this image)
paint in a bit of white glow near the tip with a soft brush, set the blend mode to screen and drop the opacity to where you like it (77% opacity in this case)
Let's add some castle wall to the background
Finally, duplicate your gradient layer, set the blend mode to linear light, apply a nice fat gausian blur and set the opacity to something you like (mine is set to 79% here).
Quick and dirty glowing sword done.
Hexrowe
Speaking as a hobby blacksmith, some notes! Because glowing hot metal itself radiates light, there are _no visible shadows_ on it. In addition, thinner material gets hotter quicker, so the sharper and more prominent an edge is, the brighter it will glow. This does indeed cause a visual flattening effect, or even a sort of negative depth effect, but that's _true to life_ and negating it like you do in #5 makes this look _less_ real. :)
DingleberryForrest
This is exactly the type of incredibly-niche-yet-perfect-valid type bullshit I come to Imgur for. Never change FYMD
Hexrowe
PS. Also, steel glowing bright yellow is at welding temperature, all sticky and gross and just barely holding it together, while literally white hot steel is already beyond its melting point...
Shaddak
another option