Glowing Neon Icons: Design Bold Icons with This JSON Prompt
Want to create icons that radiate power, security, and digital presence? The Glowing Neon Icons prompt is your new secret weapon.
This style is designed for maximum clarity and impact - icons that look like they belong in high-end cybersecurity dashboards, dark-mode UIs, or futuristic SaaS platforms.
Here's what it delivers:
- Thick, luminous outlines
- Bold monochrome glow (typically in electric blue)
- Smooth, high-contrast edges
- Clean 3D depth with soft shadow underlays
- Perfectly centered compositions with transparent backgrounds
- An unmistakable feeling of tech-grade security
Take a look at what this style creates:
That image? Generated using this single JSON prompt. Just swap out the icon type and you're ready to go.
JSON Prompt
Here's the full JSON prompt to generate your own glowing neon icons:
Create image of a [icon] in vibrant [color] following the JSON style guide below
{
"profile_name": "glowing tech icon - 3D shield aesthetic",
"profile_author": "Robert DeVore - robertdevore.com",
"style_manifesto": "Every object should be rendered with a sleek, modern, and high-tech look. Emphasize a semi-transparent glossy material with internal glow, edge lighting, and soft reflections. Backgrounds must be dark with subtle circuit board patterns. All lighting must feel realistic and stylized, giving a premium digital aesthetic. Use soft shadows and ambient occlusion for depth. The final look should appear futuristic, professional, and suitable for security, AI, or tech branding.",
"color_control": {
"primary_color": "variable",
"glow_color": "same as primary_color with stronger saturation and bloom",
"background_color": "#0A0A0A",
"accent_lighting": "lighter tone of primary_color",
"material_finish": "semi-gloss or glassy"
},
"object_design": {
"object_type": "variable",
"example_type": "shield",
"shape_language": "geometric, clean, beveled edges",
"material": "translucent crystal, colored acrylic, or futuristic glass",
"edge_detail": "beveled or chamfered, glowing rim with bloom",
"depth": "moderate extrusion to emphasize 3D form"
},
"glow_effects": {
"intensity": "medium to strong",
"radius": "surrounds object softly",
"source": "inner rim + underside reflections",
"bloom": "high, especially at corners or bevels",
"gradient_fade": "visible glow that fades outward gradually"
},
"lighting": {
"key_light": {
"position": "top-left or top-front",
"color": "white or soft blue",
"intensity": "medium"
},
"rim_light": {
"position": "backside or edge-aligned",
"color": "primary_color glow",
"intensity": "high",
"use_for": "highlight object silhouette"
},
"ambient_light": {
"color": "#111111",
"intensity": "low",
"purpose": "basic environmental depth"
}
},
"background": {
"type": "dark tech backdrop",
"pattern": "circuit board traces",
"pattern_color": "#1A1A1A",
"glow_map": "very subtle, only visible around object",
"depth_effect": "slight vignette to pull focus to center"
},
"camera_settings": {
"angle": "3/4 view or front-facing (customizable)",
"zoom": "close-up for clarity and emphasis",
"focus": "centered on object",
"depth_of_field": "slight, background softly blurred"
},
"render_quality": {
"resolution": "at least 2048x2048 for asset generation",
"anti_aliasing": "enabled",
"reflections": "subtle but present on floor/surrounding surfaces",
"shadows": "soft drop shadow under object"
},
"examples": [
{
"object_type": "lock",
"primary_color": "#00FFAA",
"description": "A glowing cyan lock icon with transparent material and a neon outline, floating over a dark circuit background."
},
{
"object_type": "shield",
"primary_color": "#AA00FF",
"description": "The original shield icon in purple tones, glowing underneath with glassy material and a tech-style background."
},
{
"object_type": "gear",
"primary_color": "#FF6F00",
"description": "An orange gear icon with bevels lit by intense edge lighting, glowing with amber tones against a black tech grid."
},
{
"object_type": "cloud",
"primary_color": "#3399FF",
"description": "A translucent tech-style blue cloud with inner light diffusion, glowing on a sleek dark AI grid."
}
],
"variations": {
"material_variants": ["glassy", "frosted", "holographic"],
"lighting_scenarios": ["rim-lit", "under-lit", "top-light"],
"background_modes": ["grid circuit", "matrix code rain", "hex tile tech"],
"color_modes": ["monotone neon", "dual-tone glow", "gradient inner core"]
},
"usage_notes": {
"avoid": [
"flat 2D styles",
"harsh shadows with no soft blending",
"low-res backgrounds",
"objects with no glow or bevels"
],
"recommended_for": [
"security tech branding",
"AI dashboards",
"SaaS product visuals",
"crypto interfaces",
"gamified UI badges"
]
},
"prompt_template": {
"base_prompt": "A futuristic 3D {object_type} icon made of {material} with a glowing {primary_color} neon rim, set on a dark circuit board background, dramatic lighting from above, soft shadows, and subtle reflections.",
"variables": {
"object_type": "shield, lock, gear, brain, cloud, server, checkmark",
"material": "translucent glass, glossy acrylic, glowing crystal",
"primary_color": "hex or named color value"
},
"optional_modifiers": [
"isometric view",
"front-facing",
"futuristic sci-fi glow",
"cyberpunk-inspired palette",
"rendered in ultra detail"
]
}
}
How to Use It
- Swap
[icon]with your desired icon name - like Shield, User, Key, Email, or Firewall. - Paste the JSON into your image generation tool.
- Adjust primary/accent color if needed (for example, neon green for access, red for alert).
- Generate - and get instantly usable, transparent-background icons.
Why It Works
This prompt is built for style control. Every element - from contour depth to lighting bloom - is defined with precision. That means:
- 🔁 Reusable style across multiple icons (great for UI consistency)
- 🧠 Instantly communicates function and theme at a glance
- 🛡️ Visually strong for dark-mode apps, security products, or trust-building branding
Use it to build a full icon set, or just to give your product that cyber-secure edge.