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GIMP LIGHTSABER TUTORIAL |
First off I would like to say hi and welcome to my tutorial for creating lightsaber
effects in the Gimp 1.2.5. Hi. Now, lets get on to business: If you already
haven't installed the Gimp you want to go to: http://www.gimp.org. Go to:
"GIMP for Windows"(if you're using windows).
Under the category "Getting and Installing the Gimp", click on the link "Jernej Simoncic".
Now when you're on that site, in the column on the left, click on
"Previous stable version"
and install GTK+ for Windows (version 1.3.0-20030717-1).
The GTK+ program allows a windows user to use the Gimp (since the Gimp program is for Linux).
(The GTK+ 1.3.0 can only run Gimp1.2.5, That's the version this
tutorial is written for) Now install The Gimp for Windows
(version 1.2.5-20030729-1).
Once you have everything installed, open the Gimp. Now open up any pic that needs rotoscoping.
 Here's the image I used:(stolen from http://netshow.digital-madman.com)
Under "Layers, Channels and Paths" you want to make a New Transparent
layer, click on the new layer button on the bottom left hand corner. The
transparent layer is what we will draw the blade on.
Now, choose the pen tool ("select region with bezier curves(upper right hand corner)) and draw the blade.
Before you do anything make sure you click on inside of the blade you just
drew, the lines should be pulsating.
To make the transparent blade white, choose the paint bucket tool and fill
the blade with white. To make the blade stop pulsating just right click on the
pic goto select->all.
Another way of drawing a lightsaber core is to use the paint brush tool(select the pixel width in brush selections), click on one end of the lightsaber, hold down the shift key, and lcick on the ohter end.
Now Duplicating the layer(as in photoshop this what will give the blade an evenly dissipating glow), it's the button three buttons to the right from the New Layer Button.
I recommend to duplicate the blade layer 4 times.
I duplicated my layer four time(I have five blade layers total).
Now right click on the image with the blade layer highlighted and go to filters->blur->gaussian
blur RLE.
"Under Layers, Channels and Paths" make sure you have the blurred layers, from top to bottom, in order from least to greatest.
I gave the core layer a blur of two(2).
The next layer I gave a blur of twenty(20)
The third layer I have I gave a blur of forty(40).
The fourth layer I gave a blur of sixty (60).
The fith, and final, layer I gave a blur of eighty (80).
Now, before you compress the layers onto the black background, you must color each layer using the curves option(right click-image colors-curves), and add what colors you want to amke the particular tone you want.
With all the blurs done you now want to make a
new BACKGROUND layer(new layer->background).
With the background layer below the other layers you now want to right click on the core layer(the first layer) and click merge down. Merge the blade layers onto the black background layer.
Now set the lightsaber layer mode to screen.
The lightsaber may look a little too white, if it needs it, add some more color using the color balance: right click-image-colors-color balance.
There you have it, a realistic looking lightsaber done with a FREE and COMPLETELY LEGAL program that's as powerfull, if not more in some way than, Potoshop. Final Note: TWEAK IT. Play around with the Gimp become a master with it and outdo the Linux gods themselves.
May the schwartz be with you.(if you havenet seen Space Balls, you should just hit
yourself with a lightsaber in the face.
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Gimp Lightsaber Tutorial--Extention |
Hello again, this is basically a continuation of my previous lightsaber tutorial. In this tutorial I will, basically, show you how to make the effect of the lightsaber casting a glow on nearby objects. Well lets get started.
Ok, first off you, ofcourse, will have to have everything opened up, the "layers, channels, and paths", and the "brush selection" windows open. Once you've opened up the picture your going to add the effects to, add the lightsaber glows first.
Once that's all done you want to "duplicate" the photo that your working on. The lightsaber(if it were real) would only cast a glow on nearby objects, so you are going to have to completely isolate the person holding the lightsaber and any nearby objects.
The easiest way of doing this is to choose the "select contigious regions" tool(the magic wand). Which will pretty much select any space that are similiar colors(double click on the icon to open the tool options window to adjust the tool properties). Now the magic wand isn't perfect, you will have to use the eraser, but it will certainly make it a lot easier.
After that's done, you'll need to make a "new transparent layer".
Select the paint brush tool to make a perfectly straight line, select a brush size of about 19 or so. On the color pallette (lets say your lightsaber is red, so it's going to cast a red glow) select a pure red color.
Now, with the paint brush, click on one end of the lightsaber prop, in the pic, make sure to hold down the shift key, and click on the other end of the lightsaber prop to make a straight line.
Now, give that layer a blurr of around 20 more than the last blurr layer of your lightsaber glow layer(when you did the lightsaber effects, lets say, the last laer you blurred before merging them together was 80. yu'll want to give this current layer a blurr of, around, 100).
After it's been blurred, set the layer mode to "color". This will effect the image, color wise, a bit. Then duplicate the layer once or twice. Merge the "color" layers together, and then merge that layer with the picture your working on. And there you have.
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