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I don't normally write tutorials and this is quite a complex one. It was very difficult to keep a balance between necessary content and still keep the length down as much as possible. I hope I have achieved this to some extent
Also Thank You ImageShack for free hosting these images
Outcome
This tutorial is really only a workflow map of different processes. It assumes some degree of knowledge and understanding of Gimp. Basically the Spectral Image is made by using a few filters and merging the end products with a background. I'll explain in some detail parts of the processes, but there is simply too much for a detailed step by step description.
Also note that some of the illustrations are from different process streams as it is almost impossible to screen capture events before and after an event.
Prepare the Displacement Map
Find a nice silhouette portrait . I have used here an image from Storm's Stock Pack. and cut out the head silhouette.
The cutout is desaturated, mounted on a black background and the contrast is increased.. Use whatever means you know to do this or use my image. I copied the layer and used multiply mode at 70 % to increase the contrast. Alternatively, use the contrast filter (Color/Contrast).I have added a white column above the head where the vertical lines will show through for the hair waves.
111 Cutting out the silhouette selection 222 Using the quickmask to tidy up the selection and Clone a bit more hair, add to black background 333 Desaturate the selected silhouette, add it to a black background , duplicate and multiply to add contrast , add the white column for the hair. background
Save the image as a layered XCF and as a flattened jpg. Name it something meaningful like Spectral_ImgBump.jpg or use My BumpMap
EDIT It is a good idea to gaussian blur (3 -5) your finished Black and White bump map. This will give a smoother displace map.
Prepare the Vertical Grid
Open a white 640 x 480 Image . Make a grid (Filters/Render/Pattern/Grid). Look at the insets to see my settings to make the grid. Use the Select by Color tool to select the whites between the black lines and use the Blend Tool to fill the whites with a gradient of your choice. I used a colourful one.
Of course you could individually colour the whites in the area of the silhouette if you prefer that instead of the gradient. After the colour fill, select none to get rid of the marching ants and save as a XCF and as a flattened jpg. I named mine MyGrid.jpg
This shows how to do the blend
The Thumbnail shows how to do the bucket fill
Click to enlarge the Bucket fill screenshot
Or use MyGrid
Prepare the spectral face
Using the colour grid and the bump map we use the Displace filter (Filters/Map/Displace)to make a distorted face in colored bars. Using a Layer Mask we only reveal the face and place it on a black background. We use the bump map as the Layer Mask in the grid reveal. There are probably other more elegant ways of using another image's selections, using channels and selections or buffers, (by all means use them if you are familiar with those processes) , but I find the easiest way is to simply copy (Ctl-c and Ctl-V on the selected white Layer Mask. One thing I do is turn off Auto Follow Active Image when cross referencing images in Layer Masks.
The display filter works with a “bump”map ( a black and white image). White to 128 value displace one way and black to 127 value displace the other way. A sudden shift between values have a greater displacement than a gradual shift in values. It is important that the displacement or bump map and the target image are of the exact same dimensions. In this application the vertical shift is set to 0 See the inset for filter settings. Make sure you have the Black and white Bump Map selected in the choices
Click here to Enlarge Adding the Layer Mask. Click on the “Add Layer Mask” button in the Layers, Channels,Paths Dialog on the target (displaced vertical bars, with the face in it).
Click Here to EnlargeOnce you have opened the Layer Mask by making it active (click on Show Layer Mask) it will have a Green border. Now switch the target image to the Bump Map and Select All (Ctl-A) Select to Clipboard (Ctl-C) and paste into the previous target image (the layer Mask )
Click here to Enlarge111 and 222and 333 As you paste the bumpmap you create another layer which is discarded by highlighting the layer and clicking the trashcan.This gives you the Layer Mask with one layer. 444Now create a layer of black underneath
111Click here to Enlarge 222Clickhere to Enlarge 333Click Here to enlarge 444Click Here to Enlarge
Altering the Hair, Using the IWarp Filter
The next image shows my settings for the IWarp filter. I Used a small arc motion to slowly draw out the hair. The comb is cleaned up with a circular painting of black. At this stage You could paint between the lines or really do whatever you like with the final face. You could use a graduated layer mask to "fade" the hair, as long as you end up with a single layer at the end. Don't take any notice of the titles as these were done to illustrate and do not necessarily follow order.
Using the Newsprint Filter and Grid Filter
In the original artwork there were some fine lines that showed through at the edge of the face and hair.
This can be done using the Newsprint filter (Filters\ Distorts\Newsprint).
If you wish you can first select an area around the face and hair. I did not. Alternatively you can use the Grid filter and use a shaped dimpled gradient blend, white centered layer mask in a selection. See the following sequence.
111Enlarge222 Enlarge333 Enlarge444Enlarge
I chose the simple method for this tutorial.
Final Assembly
I used another one of Storm's Stock Pack ( a Hubble Space Image ) as a background. I had to scale it and used the colors/curve tool to give it a bit more red. That is just my personal choice. You of course can do anything you like or choose any other background
Hubble ImageThe final assembly is made up of the Starscape background, which I duplicated and used two simple layer masks to stop the top of the starscapes to show through. The first layer on top of that is the face with the tiny lines and then two more faces without the lines. I have used some simple settings to show the outcome . Of course you are can do lots more if you wish.
And the final outcome
Edit a spelling mistake
