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07 Sep 2007 12:15 PM, by devvv (Bernhard Stockmann)

Planet in a wireframe model

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.

This article has been written using GIMP 2.4 rc2. It's divided into 14 steps and takes about 15 min to complete for an average user. 135597 times read so far. Category: Special FX, required skill: 2 of 5

25 comments have been posted so far.

Available in other languages:

Files you need if you try this tutorial:

  1. 1
    Create a new File: 600x600px. Background shall be black.
    - Layer / Transparency / Add alpha channel
    Screenshot of step 1
    Click to enlarge
  2. 2
    Filter / Render / Pattern / Checkerboard: 20px.
    Screenshot of step 2
    Click to enlarge
  3. 3
    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.
    Screenshot of step 3
    Click to enlarge
  4. 4
    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.
    Screenshot of step 4
    Click to enlarge
  5. 5
    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:
    Screenshot of step 5
    Click to enlarge
  6. 6
    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
    Screenshot of step 6
    Click to enlarge
  7. 7
    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".
    Screenshot of step 7
    Click to enlarge
  8. 8
    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:
    Screenshot of step 8
    Click to enlarge
  9. 9
    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.
    Screenshot of step 9
    Click to enlarge
  10. 10
    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.
    Screenshot of step 10
    Click to enlarge
  11. 11
    - 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.
    Screenshot of step 11
    Click to enlarge
  12. 12
    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".
    Screenshot of step 12
    Click to enlarge
  13. 13
    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.
    Screenshot of step 13
    Click to enlarge
  14. 14
    We're done! Voila ;)
    Screenshot of step 14
    Click to enlarge

This article is licensed under the following license: Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Austria

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Comments are chronologically arranged.

3 rating(s) with 4.0 of 5 stars in average

  1. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Thu Sep 13 03:50:00 2007 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.

  2. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Tue Sep 18 02:27:21 2007 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.

  3. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Sat Sep 29 14:01:46 2007 Black Jack, 29 Sep 2007 02:01 PM

    And switching to the GIMP was the best choice you ever made ;-)

  4. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Sun Oct 14 11:46:07 2007 PhotoMan, 14 Oct 2007 11:46 AM

    Where do I find Color to transparency with GIMP 2.2?

  5. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Mon Oct 22 10:40:30 2007 Traveosa, 22 Oct 2007 10:40 AM

    No planet to download. Atleast i can't find one. Anyone have any ideas?

  6. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Mon Oct 22 16:15:51 2007 redforce, 22 Oct 2007 04:15 PM

    Sir/Mam, here it is, Sir/Mam!

  7. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Tue Jan 1 02:51:35 2008 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?

  8. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Fri Apr 4 23:32:54 2008 Beaniebaby2468, 04 Apr 2008 11:32 PM

    Awesome! Thanks! I REALLY loved this tutorial... Just curious, how do you make a tutorial?

  9. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Sat Apr 5 15:35:32 2008 devvv, 05 Apr 2008 03:35 PM

    first i try something by myself - play around. when i like the result ill try to reproduce it in form of a tutorial ;)

  10. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Sun Apr 6 15:44:08 2008 Beaniebaby2468, 06 Apr 2008 03:44 PM

    Thanks, bu I meant, How do you actually put one up?

  11. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Sun Apr 6 16:08:38 2008 devvv, 06 Apr 2008 04:08 PM

    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 =)

  12. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Mon Jun 16 00:32:21 2008 DemonicBlaze, 16 Jun 2008 12:32 AM

    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?

  13. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Mon Jun 16 00:44:58 2008 devvv, 16 Jun 2008 12:44 AM

    if you use the moon you have to adjust the values - the tutorial is focused on the earth ;)

  14. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Mon Nov 24 23:48:05 2008 corinne, 24 Nov 2008 11:48 PM

    good tutorial, but one thing.
    when it says colors-> colors to transperancy, I can't find it...

  15. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Mon Jun 1 03:48:12 2009 Dazza, 01 Jun 2009 03:48 AM

    Thx for nice tute. Well written and a lot of fun. I do have to agree with Corinne though - I couldn't locate this menu either so just used seelct color and del ;)

  16. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Wed Jul 29 16:57:46 2009 Darlingpresley, 29 Jul 2009 04:57 PM

    colors-> colors to transperancy, I can't find it either.....

  17. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Thu Sep 24 17:19:28 2009 ilkut, 24 Sep 2009 05:19 PM

    woaw it's amazing

  18. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Fri Oct 9 12:44:43 2009 asantechristopher, 09 Oct 2009 12:44 PM

    I want to be a scientist

  19. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Tue Nov 24 20:25:21 2009 patrick k, 24 Nov 2009 08:25 PM

    i love de earth

  20. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Fri Dec 25 09:02:38 2009 sabrina gonzaga, 25 Dec 2009 09:02 AM

    i wish 5 planets will come i love planets

  21. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Fri Dec 25 09:08:00 2009 sweet honesty, 25 Dec 2009 09:08 AM

    i wish aliens will come to be a paranormal experience to the eart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....................................................yeah coolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

  22. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Mon Jan 4 22:31:15 2010 dfuiosi, 04 Jan 2010 10:31 PM

    in newer versions of GIMP, colour to transparency is called "colour to alpha".

  23. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Sat Mar 27 12:32:36 2010 Navya Narang, 27 Mar 2010 12:32 PM

    I haw no comment.ButI cant see photo.

  24. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Mon Jul 26 18:08:20 2010 narendra kumar, 26 Jul 2010 06:08 PM

    great

  25. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/wireframe-planet.html Mon Jul 26 19:06:27 2010 Carmen, 26 Jul 2010 07:06 PM

    Ok so I am using the new Gimp version 2.6.7 and I use Windows XP I can not figure out how to change the transparency on the Background layer to 50% at beginning of step 9, this is very frustrating. Any suggestions on how to do that?

    I love gimp have been using it for some time and now trying to learn how to building 3D images this tutorial is great just missing that one key step I can't find anything else about it anywhere.

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