Use Color Dodge to brighten your graphics.
Photoshop has many different ways of blending layers. Different blending modes determine how the pixels on one layer effect the pixels on other layers beneath it.
The NORMAL blending method simply filters the pixels on one layer onto the other layers, shifting the pixels closer to the top layer's color.
Different blending modes are available right under the LAYERS tab.
Color Dodge, depending on the opacity and
lightness of the pixel, brightens and saturates the
underlying pixels.
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The NORMAL
layer looks dull and de-saturated, while the COLOR DODGED
layer whoops the monkey's ass.
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The above
pictures both have layers with COLOR DODGE blending.
Blurring the layer makes a nice gradient from brightness
to the background pixels. Use this effect to give your
imagery a sweet GLOWING effect.
More Tutorials: 
