Ducks 2

Ducks 2
Originally uploaded by Katie M 459

Another GIMP experiment. This one was insane.

If memory serves, it went something like this:

• Opened original as layer. Cropped. Duplicated the layer (total layers: 2).


• In top layer, selected the ducks. Made sure alpha channel was set to transparency. Inverted selection and deleted. Used Unsharp Mask with high settings. Set opacity of top level to something low.


• In bottom layer, despeckled. Merged top level down (total layers: 1). Duplicated layer (total layers: 2)


• In bottom layer, created Gaussian blur. Set transparency of top layer to 85%. Merged down (total layers: 1). Duplicate layer (total layers: 2).


• Created new image, same size as this one. Filled horizontally with gradient that has 5 levels to it and finishes where it left off. (Fill at a slight slant, and set the fill to repeat.) Whirl-pinch, with a slight whirl. Save as jpg.


• In original image, open the jpg as layers (it has to be created as a separate image and then loaded as layers for the environmental maps lighting later) (total layers: 3). Moved layer to bottom.


• In top layer, select Filter | Map | Displace. Displacement map is the new layer. X displacement=30, Y displacement=20, Smear.


• Filter | Light and Shadow | Lighting Effects. Environmental map is the gradient image. Experiment with metallic shine and lighting, until we get the effect we want. I think I might have also done a bump map, with itself.
  


• Remove the gradient layer (not needed anymore) (total layers: 2). If the top layer looks good, get rid of the bottom layer as well (total layers: 1).

Border

• Create a new image the same size as this one, filled white. Select rectangle covering exactly the top half of the image. Make a note of exactly how tall the selection is. Fill selection with a gradient that's a little "top heavy" - the top end of the gradient is white. The colored end should go on the outside of the image. Invert selection and do the same thing (so image looks like a symmetrical gradient with blue on the top and bottom).


• Create a new layer, filled with white (total layers: 2). Select a rectangle all along the left side, width of selection = 1/2 height of image (so that the border is even throughout the image). Fill selection with gradient. Do the same on the right side. Set layer type to "Multiply". Merge down. Save two copies of the image as jpg. With one of the copies, go into Brightness/Contrast and make much lighter.


• In original image, open the new jpg (the darker one) as layers, put new layer on top. In top layer, make sure alpha channel is transparency. Select the "picture" area (as opposed to the "frame" area - make sure it's symmetrical - and delete to view the ducks underneath.


• Open the lighter copy of the new jpg as layers, move the new layer to the bottom.


• In top layer, Filter | Light and Shadow | Lighting Effects. Set both the bump map (max height = 1.9) and the environmental map to the newly imported image. Experiment with the lighting (I wound up with two point lights, fairly intense but a long way away) and the material until it's both colorful and not terribly white, and apply.


• If it looks ok, get rid of the bottom (map) layer, and duplicate the border layer twice. Set top layer as multiply - ~30% opacity, next layer as soft glow - ~10% opacity, and bottom border layer as Normal - ~85% opacity. Play around until it looks right, merge them all together and save.

Here is the original (the online version, which was slightly modified in Picasa):