I can't provide images of the final result, as Photobucket keeps uploading it as most of the photo being gray, instead of the full photo.

We will be making a supernova with shock waves spreading out from the center. The finished effect will look like the last picture I show you but with waves.

To get this effect, start out with a new image. With the bucket tool fill it black.
*optional: use the Filters>noise>HSV scatter and sparkle to make stars, if you want.
Now make a new layer, but make it transparent.

Next open up a new image.

Fill it with a colorful gradient. I prefer 'Tropical Colors'.

Go back to the first image. In the transparent layer, go to Filters>Render>Nature>Flame.

In the gradient box at the bottom, select the tile that should say something like Untitled 2. It should be the one with the gradient fill.

Now doodle with the flame until you get something resembling a nebula. There might be a bit less in the middle, for example. I like to fiddle with Swirl, Spherical, and Horseshoe. My final result is almost always with Spherical.

Apply the flame and see if you like it. You can get one of these if you used a reddish-orange gradient in the flame.






Anyway, now that you have your 'nebula', add another transparent layer.

Go to Filters>Light Effects>Supernova. Make the radius just large enough so it will fit inside the nebula with room to spare. Make sure it is in the exact center of your image.

You can choose the color and spokes, I prefer a greenish-yellow color and a bit of random hue.

Now you should have a supernova on top of all the other layers, making the nebula seem to glow. It should look a bit like this:



Now for the tricky step. In the nebula layer, use the ellipse select to select a circle around the nebula.

Go to Select>Invert. Now everything in that layer but what's inside the cirle is selected.

*you may need to scale your image to a smaller size for this next step.*
Go to Filters>Distort>Waves.

Set the wavelength high, so there are only one or two waves in the image. There should not be any waves in the area inside your circle.

set the amplitude somewhat low, so the picture won't look like ripples in colorful soup. make sure the waves are still visible.

Play with the phase until you get what you want.

Apply the phase, and see if you like what you got.
*If you scaled the image down for those steps, scale it back to the original size now.*

You can play with it more if you want, but this is where I stopped.

What exactly do you mean by "Now doodle with the flame until you get something resembling a nebula."?

EDIT: Nevermind, I got it now.

i cant get it to work looks like crap and its only one color every time i try :

EDIT: nvm i kinda got it
EDIT2:Results not too good :

oh wow...wow....

dang work...cant have gimp....its not like there is a license to deal with...


...grumble...grumble.... :c: :c: :c:

the result looks really nice - i am going to try this when i have time

i dont understand how you changed the colour from red/orange to green for the nebula

For the greenish colors, you need your gradient set to 'Tropical Colors, and then when you open the flame dialogue, set it to 'Custom Gradient'. And I have found that it is easier and better if you increase the size of the flame. And on second thought, scratch the shock waves. They don't look too good on mine either.

I made a few more that came out allittle better and are nice for a background they got reseized cuz they were way too big


photobucket was being gay :

Wow, monkey, the one in the middle is amazing. Seeing that has inspired me to make one of my own!

i am so confused when i go to render>flame or fire it comes out like this then wat do i do? wat do you mean like smear or swirl or w/e

Thanks :w:
I tried so many times and those looked the best : :w: and ive got the middle one as the background on my computer right now, it looks sick lol


try not to put all the things so high like the brightness and every thing else try and put them lower and it should look alot better

Wow, rarefy, looks like you really got the shock waves to work for you.

I get how to do the tut but when i do the flame the flame is very blury. please help soon so i can finish the tut. :s:

Hey, ive been using GIMP for about a week now, getting on ok so i thought id tackle this... really helpfull, learned some fantastic tricks thanks :w:

Heres what i got.... not quite what was planned but the principal is there all the same :l:

might help if i learnt how to put pics up properly as well lol

How do I "doodle"?