[ SLM ] Glowing Zodiac

Glowing Zodiac

An example of a glow effect usage.

Step
00

Start with a new image and add the alpha channel to the background layer (layer dialog, right-click menu, "Add Alpha Channel"). Then draw the black-white bi-linear gradient with the blend tool (tool options, Gradient: Bi-Linear).

Step
01

Create a new layer and apply a linear gradient starting from pure blue (RGB: 0,0,255) and ending with pure red (RGB: 255,0,0).

Step
02

Move up the black-white layer and set its mode to "Value".

Step
03

Now let's create the zodiac circle: from the toolbox "Xtns/Script-Fu/Logos" choose "Text Circle". In the text field put the characters "^_`abcdefghi" and be sure tu use the Wingdings font with a size of 40 pixels.

Step
04

Copy the text layer from the new image and place it on top of the old one.
Hide the text layer (click over the proper "eye" icon in the layer dialog).

Step
05

From the layer dialog choose "alpha to selection" on the text layer then grow the selection of 1 pixel (image window, right-click menu, "Select/Grow").

Step
06

Now use a "Select/Feather" of 20 pixels.

Step
07

Create a new layer and move it under the text layer.
Fill the selection with pure red (RGB: 255,0,0).
Set the layer mode to "Screen".

Step
08

Once again from the text layer use "alpha to selection", grow the new selection of 1 pixel then feather it of 15 pixels.

Step
09

Create a new layer, place it under the text layer.
Fill the selection with yellow (RGB: 255,255,0).
Set the layer mode to "Screen".

For the last time, from the text layer use "alpha to selection", grow the new selection of 1 pixel.

Step
10

Feather it of 5 pixels.

Step
11

Create a new layer, place it right under the text layer.
Fill the selection with white (RGB: 255,255,255).
Set the layer mode to "Screen".

Step
12

This is the result if you show again the text layer.

The glow effect is complete, we can add something else. A planet with some stars could be more interesting than a three colors shading.
Let's do it!

Step
13

Create a new layer and hide all the others (shift-click over the "eye" icon in the layer dialog).
Use the "Solid Noise" ("Filters/Render/Clouds") with an X size of 2.0 for the main texture.

Step
14

Select the "Carribean_Blues" gradient (or a similar one).

Step
15

Use the "Gradient Map" ("Filters/Color/Map") for applying the current gradient to the previously created grayscale texture.

Step
16

Create a new layer over the texture, fill it with pure blue (RGB: 0,0,255) and set its mode to "Color".
Use "Merge Visible Layers" (ctrl-M) from the layers dialog in order to fuse the two layers and creating a planet-like surface.

Step
17

With the "Map Object" plugin ("Filters/Map") apply the texture over a spherical surface. You can change the material or light properties.

Step
18

Move the planet layer right under the red glow. Now you can show all layers (shift-click twice over the "eye" icon in the layers dialog).

Step
19

Choose the "Sparks" animated brush.

Step
20

Create a new transparent layer right over the planet, use the paintbrush tool for painting the stars.

The glowing zodiac is finished.

The original XCF file can be downloaded directly or with the tutorial archive.

Download an archive with the whole tutorial (508Kb).