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Difficulty: 
GIMP version: 2.4 rc2
Category: Special FX
Author: devvv
Steps: 14
Needed time: ca. 15 min
Hits: 44701
Downloads for this tutorial:
- Blue planet (118 kB)
- Moon (optional) (51 kB)
Others from this category:

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Current version: 2.4.6
Dev. version: 2.5.1
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Tutorial: Planet in a wireframe model
Written by devvv (07 Sep 2007 12:15 PM)
You'll see these so-called wireframe models mostly in the 3d-sector of computer graphics. They just look pretty cool when they're faded into the real looking object. The problem is that you cannot use any 3d coordinates in image manipulation programs such as GIMP. In this How To I will show you how to make such an effect by using a planet that is being faded into a wireframe-globe.
- Create a new File: 600x600px. Background shall be black.
- Layer / Transparency / Add alpha channel
click to enlarge - Filter / Render / Pattern / Checkerboard: 20px.

click to enlarge - We're making a nice grid from the chessboard now: Filter / Edge-Detect / Edge. Use the Sobel-Algorithm, Amount: 2, and Smear. (that yould be all on by default).
Optional you could have used Render / Pattern / Grid. But for this tutorial we don't need a pattern that is such detailed.
click to enlarge - Now choose Filter / Map / Bumpmap. As bumpmap choose the same layer you're just working on.
Map-Type: linear
Compensate for darkening: checked!
Azimuth: 0
Elevation: 90
Depth: 6
The remaining options set to 0.
click to enlarge - Now choose Filter / Map / Map Object:
SETTINGS:
Map to: Sphere
Transparent background: checked.
Enable antialiasing
LIGHT:
No light
MATERIAL:
Intensity
----------
Ambient: 0.3
Diffuse: 1
Reflectivity
----------
Diffuse: 0.5
Specular: 0
Highlight: 27
In the orientation tab use these values:
Position: 0,5 | 0,5 | 0
Rotation: -1,5 | 70 | 45
After applying you should get this result:
click to enlarge - The wireframe cannot be seen so clearly, so we're enhancing the contrast now.
Colors / Colorize: 195 / 100 / 20
After that go to Colors / Brightness & Contrast: 60 / 70
click to enlarge - Goto Colors / Color to transparency and choose black as color.
Create a new layer, move it to the total bottom in the layers dialog and fill it black. Name that layer: "BG".
click to enlarge - Choose the wireframe layer. Goto Layer / Duplicate.
Name the top layer "Wireframe front". The one below name "Wireframe back". The layers should look like this now:
click to enlarge - Activate the "Wireframe back" layer and set the transparency to 50%.
Activate the Flip-Tool now (SHIFT+F). Hold down CTRL and click in the image to flip the layer vertically.
Now you should get the impression of a transparent 3d-wireframe-sphere.
click to enlarge - Now we're doing the earth-part. Save the image of your choice (top right) - Earth or Moon.
Choose File / Open as layer and use the file you downloaded to open it as a seperate layer.
click to enlarge - - Layer / Scale Layer: 301x301. Move the earth / moon exactly above the the wireframe.
After that change the layer order so that the earth is between the two wireframes.
click to enlarge - We're almost done. Set the layer mode of the "Wireframe front"-layer to Screen.
We're applying a layer mask now for all layers to get a nice gradient. Right click each layer in the layers dialog (except the background-layer) and choose "add layer mask".
click to enlarge - Select the standard preset colors by pressing D (Black and White). Choose the gradient tool (L) and be sure to make the gradient in the mask from left to right.
For the earth-layer-mask drag the gradient from top right to the bottom left third of the image.
click to enlarge - We're done! Voila ;)

click to enlarge

This work is licensed under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Austria.
Discussion / comment this tutorial
Post your own comments, questions or hints here. The author and other users will see your posting and can answer to it. Of course, you can also ask in the chat.
Newer comments are displayed first!
From: devvv (16 Jun 2008 12:44 AM) – Send a private message
if you use the moon you have to adjust the values - the tutorial is focused on the earth ;)
From: DemonicBlaze (16 Jun 2008 12:32 AM) – Send a private message
For the moon--on step 11, when you scale the layer to 301x301..it makes the moon too small for the wireframe. Did I miss something there?
From: devvv (06 Apr 2008 04:08 PM) – Send a private message
only administrators (like me and redforce) can put up tutorials into our database. if you want to submit one please email me the result picture to team@gimpusers.com. our quality standards are pretty high though =)
From: Beaniebaby2468 (06 Apr 2008 03:44 PM) – Send a private message
Thanks, bu I meant, How do you actually put one up?
From: devvv (05 Apr 2008 03:35 PM) – Send a private message
first i try something by myself - play around. when i like the result ill try to reproduce it in form of a tutorial ;)
From: Beaniebaby2468 (04 Apr 2008 11:32 PM) – Send a private message
Awesome! Thanks! I REALLY loved this tutorial... Just curious, how do you make a tutorial?
From: Jason (01 Jan 2008 02:51 AM)
I have a problem.
After the Bumpmap, I try to do the Map to object, but the result is just a transparent layer.
I have re-read the tutorial twice to check every passage, and I've done everything right. What's the problem?
From: redforce (22 Oct 2007 04:15 PM) – Send a private message
Sir/Mam, here it is, Sir/Mam!
From: Traveosa (22 Oct 2007 10:40 AM) – Send a private message
No planet to download. Atleast i can't find one. Anyone have any ideas?
From: PhotoMan (14 Oct 2007 11:46 AM)
Where do I find Color to transparency with GIMP 2.2?
From: Black Jack (29 Sep 2007 02:01 PM)
And switching to the GIMP was the best choice you ever made ;-)
From: Nano (18 Sep 2007 02:27 AM)
1 point, if after you flip Wireframe back vertically you also flip it horizontally it'll make the lines line up for a better effect. Great tutorial.
From: Photoshop Tutorials (13 Sep 2007 03:50 AM)
Awesome tutorial, whenever I saw such useful GIMP tutorials on net, they force me to use GIMP instead of PS.
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