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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.
then wat do i do? wat do you mean like smear or swirl or w/e
