[Chrios]

Starfield Creating In Gimp!

Ok.

Welcome! This is only my second tutorial :w: But I hope it is very informative and readable to you.

Please, Read on!

As you might know, this tutorial is based on a tutorial that I came across searching randomly on the Internet. The particular tutorial is here:

http://gallery.artof...star_field.html

I seriously recommend taking a look at Greg's Gallery because that man is amazing with a mouse and Photoshop.

This is also a bit like Dome6656's tutorial on space:
http://www.gimptalk....26&f=14#P_16693

And chosen1's:
http://www.gimptalk....569&f=8#P_16301

This tutorial is very sketchy because I just recently transferred it to GIMP.

I think this tutorial requires a skill level of around 3/5.

This is quite a long tutorial so unless you're an incredible speed GIMPer I don't think you will get this done in less than 20 minutes.

Heeeerrrreeee we go!

Part 1:

Create a new Image with a black background (come on, you should at least know how to do that without a picture) and the dimensions of your choosing (I'm using 300x350). Your screen should look like this:



If you forgot the black background part just fill the background with black, you don't have to make a new image.

Create a new, black layer and rename it to "Small Stars".
Lets add some stars by going to Filters>Noise>Scatter RGB



Set the Settings as shown:



Note: It's VERY important that you deselect Independent RGB; otherwise your image will look like a bunch of Christmas Lights.

Edit: Sorry, In that picture i selected independant RGB hehe Also make sure that you move the sliders befor eyou deselect independant RGB

Now I want you to go to (insert Star Wars-y music here): Layer>Colors>Brightness/Contrast.

Now I know that during the whole 1 year I've had GIMP, I have never used Brightness/Contrast. I didn't even know it was there until I saw the Photoshop tutorial. Yes, I know that was completely irrelevant.

Set the Settings to:



Now I want you to Duplicate the “Small Stars" layer, and then rename it to “Large Stars". Go to Layer>Colors>Brightness/Contrast… again, but this time set it to:



Now go to Layer>Colors>Levels. See the Middle row? There should be a box with a black eyedropper next to it, a box in the middle, and a box with a white eyedropper next to it. Set it like so:



Now go to Layer>Colors>Brightness/Contrast again but this time set it to:



Now go to Tools>Transform>Scale. Set BOTH the aspect Ratios to 2.00 BUT don't click Ok. Now grab the little dot, and move it so it's in the middle of the screen (you can go to tool options, and then change the preview to outline to make it easier. You can also maximize the image window.).



Now invert the layer by going to Layer>Colors>Invert. Now go back to levels and set it as following:



Now Invert the image again and resize it using scale so that the layer is just bigger then the canvas (see Picture).



Now change the large stars layer's mode to “Screen".
If you are looking for a freaky hyperspace effect you could stop here. If not, then grab the rotate tool and rotate the layer 180 degrees.

Interval!

Time to take a rest! Stretch those fingers, yawn a bit, scratch those mosquito bites, etc. Looking good? Well it may have a sort of machinery look, but we'll get rid of that soon in Part 2!

Part 2:

Now its time to get creative. Grab a small fuzzy brush and he eraser tool… and start demolishing your stars! Make patterns in the stars, write stuff, and draw circles, whatever. Just make sure u don't completely demolish your stars, but leave more small stars than big ones.



Now that you're done destroying your stars, I want you to Merge all of your layers and grab your “Clone" tool. Change its mode to screen in tool options and Start cloning your stars. Now this is where you can tell your star's story, create clusters and the main patterns in the stars. To use the clone tool you hold ctrl and click where you want to clone from. Then you paint with that part! Pretty neato hey! (you should change your brush to a solid round brush… I suggest Circle (17)).



Now you can create a cool effect and add some color to your stars by duplicating the layer (rename the new layer “Star Glow") then adding a Gaussian Blur to your duplicated layer (set it around 7-5).



Now if your background layer has bold writing your going to have to right click it and click “add Alpha Channel"



Now move your Star Glow layer beneath your background. Now Change the mode of the background layer to screen. If you want your stars to have some color select you star glow layer and go to Layer>Colors>Color Balance. I set mine to a nice blue.

Well Done! You've completed your first realistic Star Field! Here's My Result::




As You can see I have made some extras in my image… Here they are:

1. Space Dust
Grab a grunge brush, set your color to a gray, create a new layer, and brush once or twice on the new layer, then set the opacity of the new layer to around 50! Huzzah!

2. Bigger Stars/Suns
Make another new layer, then make a GFlare/SuperNova on it. Duplicate the layer about 5 times, then resize the layers and move them around until they suit your stars!

Please Post Your Results! Post any tips or typos or errors in my writing!
Happy GIMPing! :w:
Chrios

[evilkitty]

that's a really neat tut. Thanks for sharing :D

[-George-]

Thanks, looks awesome. I shall try it later.

[Chrios]

Lol ty guys :{D. It sure took a while to write hehe...

[manutd93]

very nice and easy to follow :w:

[Kronos]

hey thnx for the tut here is my result it's kina like yous but i plan to make a few changes som other time :h:

[ShadowGaara]

That pretty cool i'll have to do it later but i'll post the results if you like.

[Prowler]

Yikes guys. Okay, the key to this is to be subtle. Supernovae should be controlled. Don't go all willy nilly on it, and it'll look a hell of a lot more realistic.

[Chrios]

That's Exactly right Prowler! Dang your pretty good :P Also try making the clouds behind the stars (or "Glow") Two different colors! To do that:

1. Have your starfield ready but DON'T merge the layers yet!
2. Duplicate the Star Glow Layer.
3. Go Ballistic on one of the layers wit the smudge tool, don't worry if you make a mistake, its all part of learning. Just Ctrl-Z it away! It's A bit hard to explain exactly how to stroke, but try to fill the gaps that you created on one layer with the seond layer, and make the different colors kinda close in color.
4. Mergre layers!


Chrios

[gamer_freak777]

nice, but i hate renderless sigs... or sigs that have space and stars with renders cause everyone says they suck cause therse not like alot of brushing

[Prowler]

Quote

nice, but i hate renderless sigs... or sigs that have space and stars with renders cause everyone says they suck cause therse not like alot of brushing

...which is why you use this in digital art, not just signatures.

[Vernon the III]

Awesome effect! I'm new to gimp and it only took me about 15 minutes (making the planets took longer). Here's what I got.



I'm using it for a DVD cover I'm doing. Any hints would be really helpful :w: !

[Jimmeh]

That was a great tut, i managed to get a fairly decent image. Although to get the stars, i cheated a bit and used the GFlare/Supernova filters directly on the image. Works just as well though.

[Chrios]

Quote

Awesome effect! I'm new to gimp and it only took me about 15 minutes (making the planets took longer). Here's what I got.



I'm using it for a DVD cover I'm doing. Any hints would be really helpful !

Your stars seem to be a bit stroked, try to do shorter strokes with the clone tool. Otherwise great effect with the planets, i really like how you have the moon revolving around the planet, good stuff!

[cooljeba]

great job dude. Nice tut and results. Keep it up! :m:

[yoz-y]

great!!!

i did this and that... added some lights to another layer on the top and the result gives something like

[Vortagern]

I dont get how to do this i do it all invert it goes to white and you need to make the picture BIGGER you cant see the steps you want that may help my problome

[Khamsin]

wow, that was eay enough to follow. I still am a little lost with adding and painting larger stars.
anyway here is my result

yeah it's kind plane, but I learned a new trick ^^

[Lowfire]

Wow nice, i used it to finish up my current sig:



I made that planet before, wich can be seen totaly here:
http://www.gimptalk....th-14080-1.html

[lickdafoot]

this was a great tutorial! i really enjoyed doing this and will probably make more soon! :)