COOL GLOW SFFECTS

In this Gimp tutorial we will create a cool glow effect, with a bit of spacey feel to it. This kind of glow effect is pretty quick and easy to create, and definitively useful to know.

FINAL PREVIEW

STEEP 1

Create a new image size 1024×768 with a black background.
Create a new layer and name it “gradient”.
Then select the Blend tool, set the gradient to “Deep Sea”, reverse the gradient, and set the shape to “Radial”.
Now create a gradient from the bottom left corner to the top right corner like this:

Add a layer mask to the gradient layer. (Right click on the layer, select Add layer mask, set it to White (full opacity))
Now set the gradient to “Default” (Yes there is actually a gradient named Default). It should still be reversed and shape set to “Radial”.
Make sure you have the mask selected, then create a gradient from the bottom left corner to the top right corner.
Our image should look like this now:

STEEP 2 We need some brushes, the ones we’re going to use can be found here. (opens in a new window) The brushes are created by the wonderful Hawksmont.
If you don’t know how to install a brush, have a look here. (opens in a new window)

STEEP 3

Create a new layer, name it “small brush”.
Now choose the Brush tool, set the scale to 0.5, and set the color to white (ffffff).
Choose the brush called “glow1_brushes_by_hawksmont.abr-003″.
Now paint that brush once in the bottom left corner, somewhat outside the image. See image below:

Duplicate the layer named “small brush”. (click the duplicate button in the layer dialog).
There will now be a layer named “small brush copy” in the layer dialog. Change the mode of that layer to “Overlay”.
Next, go to Colors -> Colorize. Set Hue to 200, Saturation to 100, and lightness to -50.

STEEP 4

Create a new layer and name it “large brush”.
Set the mode to “Overlay”.
Select the Brush tool, set the scale to 1.
Choose the brush called “glow1_brushes_by_hawksmont.abr-001″.
Paint that brush once in the bottom left corner, with some of the brush outside the image.

STEEP 5 Create a new layer and name it “stripes”.
We’re going to use a little trick here, select the Brush tool.
Set the scale to 0.8, and choose the brush called “glow1_brushes_by_hawksmont.abr-004″.
Now paint that brush once like showed in the image below:

Go to Filters -> Blur -> Motion Blur
If you have a slow computer, untick the box that says preview.
Set length to 200, and angle to 135.
Then click OK.
This will take a minute or two on most computers.

The image should look like this afterwards:

Now change the layer mode to “Overlay”.

STEEP 6

If you think the glow is too intense, you can reduce the brightness of the layer named “small brush”.
To do that, select the layer in the layer dialog, then go to Colors -> Brightness-Contrast.
Here you can reduce the brightness, I reduced it by 35, but it’s up to you how much you want to reduce (or increase it). You can safely reduce it all the way to -60 if you want to.

STEEP 7

We’re actually finished, but I thought the image was a little large, so I cropped it.
To do that, choose the Rectangle Select tool, draw a rectangle selection around the part of the image you want to keep. Then go to Image -> Crop to Selection.
The final image looks like this: