Amazing Starfield Tutorial (and an image I made using it)

[Sage Hazzard]

http://gallery.artofgregmartin.com/

Go here to check out this guy's work if nothing else. The dude is amazing. He does everything in Photoshop, with the aid of a Tablet (it allows you to "draw" on your image, using a little pen"). I don't have either but I still followed one of the tutorials he put up, converting it for Paintshop, and made some nifty stuff. The resident Photoshop gurus here should be able to shame me, but I'm the first here to do it. Remember that! ;)

Ignore this next part if you don't give a darn about my ramblings and want to get to the cool tutorial I've posted. I won't mind. You'll probably be better off. :lol

Now, my image (that I made a wallpaper) looks a little unrealistic. I went for a stylized version. Especially since I know squat about real stars and how they look (damn you light pollution!!), forget my knowledge how they look in the vastness of space and all the possibilities of how they could look out there. I also have no ability to make planets(because he tutorial has some heavy Photoshop only stuff), so it's a bit star heavy(obviously).

Also, I want to add this is not a little filter effect where you plug in the number of stars you want and presto "instant, computer formulatic, randomized pixels that look sort of like stars!" This is total human custimization. All you do that has to do with a filter is the "add noise" part. That's just to save on the tediousness of making a bunch of specks. You then distort the stars, erase them, clone them, and do whatever you want with them.... Yes, I did go a little power crazy after this, commanding the RL sky to beckon to my call.... ;)

Okay, here's my crappy rendition. I named it "Eternity". Not because it is endless or anything. I just stared at it for a while and plugged in something that seemed right. It's only in 800x600 (like I expect anyone to actually use it), sorry.

Alright then, I know what's going to happen, all you wacky wizards will come in and make me look like a chump, minutes after you glanced at the tutorial and mastered it instantly. But that's cool, I posted this to see what others could come up with. So please do. :)

[Dae Jinn]

holy crapping...swears!

That's amazing!!! :D

I'd use it, you silly! It looks incredible! :D

[Force Master Hunter]

I know that tutorial, I'm using it now as a wallpaper :)

Theres one where you add planets as well that's ridiculously good.

[Force Master Hunter]

I'll add it is also a well done and easily understood tutorial. It is commended to ya all.

[Vega Van-Derveld]

(took the link out since it wasn't wanting to upload, attaching pic a few posts down *pointpoint*)

That was fun!

[Droo]

I haven't had a crack at it or anything but "Genesis Unveiled" makes a gorgeous wallpaper.

[Crystal]

Here's my attempt

http://www.fhost.org/x/leeloo/mystars.jpg

:x

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Good grief, those are all amazing. :eek

[Vega Van-Derveld]

Here we go, since it isn't wanting to upload :)

It's a damn nifty tutorial, that's for sure.

[William Belargic]

HOME! ^_^

[Nevlonniel]

My very own attempt of the planet where Nevlonniel is from...

(minus the Orcs, Humans, and Undead... OH MY! :D)

[Morgan Evanar]

Less, more subtle lenseflares, kids. =p

[Charley]

If you like that, then you'll LOVE <a href=http://www.fark.com>this</a>.

[imported_Marcus]

:rolleyes Fark sucks.

And now seriously, you want to get 0wnd with PS goodness, check out Kiwi Colin at http://www.photoshopcafe.com. He and some of the other coffee addicts on the forum are awesome, helpful and can show some amazing work.

[Charley]

Originally posted by Marcus
:rolleyes Fark sucks.

OMG THE HELL YOU SAY?!?!!!!1!

[Ryla Relvinian]

Where does one get this software? It isn't up on the site... *whimper* Can someone hook me up here?

[Dae Jinn]

I think you can get a trial version on adobe.com


My version is too old. I spent at least an hour working on it (and modifying the directions, since half of the options don't exist in PS 3.0 :x) and it looked like crap. :cry

[Crystal]

Yeah, http://www.adobe.com for the trial..

Why don't you get the trial Dae? You could have used it to make this :)


Originally posted by Morgan Evanar
Less, more subtle lenseflares, kids. =p

:uhoh

I tried.. but that red one on mine REALLY looks like a lenseflare.



I really need more tutorial sites.. I like them :)

[Dae Jinn]

JMK from the BO forum *was* sending me some Adobe stuff, but I haven't talked to him about it in a while. I can do most of the stuff in tutorials (like the ones on photoshopcafe) but I don't have half the options of PS7 apparently.

edit -- tried to DL the trial version, and IE crashed >_< Gayness.

[Sage Hazzard]

That Greg Martin is amazing... boy. I'm so tempted to rip some of his pics for sig BGs. He wants to be asked though. I might just do that, actually...

Oooh, fun, some more tutorial sites! Of course none of them will work fully on my Paintshop. And the ones I do convert, to make them applicable to my only software, will be of lesser quality. Still though, I'm checking those out. :D

Ryla: I thought you had Photoshop(well, I assumed because of your cooler than Paintshop graphics)? All this stuff is done in Photoshop. Just wanted to make that clear, in case. :)

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Better ask him Sage, because he'll probably notice all the hits on his site from here...and then if he catches you you'll be in beeeg trubble! :)

[Ryla Relvinian]

Whaddya think, folks? :) (I modified the directions a bit.)

[Dasquian Belargic]

purty! :D

[Sage Hazzard]

As with everyone else here who has tried their hand, that is a very good job Ryla. :) And hey everyone, this guy had lots of practice. He gets paid for that stuff(as you can see, he sells his posters.). Go to Zazzle.com and you should see one of his pics being used as a ad for their poster service. Actually, everyone who likes to design stuff should check out zazzle.com. You can create an account, make graphics, upload them, and allow them to make t-shirts and stuff using them. Then you get a cut. I haven't done it personally but it seems intriguing. :)

You know, I actually think my starfields would look better without the BIG stars, represented by lens flares. Hmm...

LD: True... Yeah. I'll ask if I decide to do that. I'll probably even include a little "image is copywrited by Greg Martin" so he gets his proper respect. :)

[Lilaena De'Ville]

All these planets look the same. ;)

Very nice everyone! :D

[Dae Jinn]

Hmmm, well, I have the trial for PS7. And...I don't like it. You can't Undo without a key-board shortcut, when I'm used to right-clicking. :x

Anyways, I suppose I'll have to practice with it. My planet didn't look like anyone elses, because it had a white ring around the outside ^_^; Oopsy. But my star field is nice :D

<img src=http://sw-fans.net/forum/attachment.php?s=&postid=564352>

[Force Master Hunter]

I've already used my starfield in a sig I made for Tony Maxwell. Nice it was

[Lady Vader]

Less, more subtle lenseflares, kids. =p

*pouts* But I like lens flares. *pouts somemore for good messure*

[Dasquian Belargic]

I don't like the flares in PS7. You can't choose the exact course of the light and which way to point it :\

[William Belargic]

That's why you have PS 5.5

Er, PS 5.5 DID allow you to change which way it pointed, didn't it?

[Dasquian Belargic]

I don't know. I think I've only ever had 6 and 7

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: feels dumb for not understanding any of this :: :(

[Lady Vader]

Ok, ok... I have conceded to not so much lens flare...

Better? :)

[ReaperFett]

Welcome to Oddballica :D

[Ryla Relvinian]

LD: I like your widdle bitty planet/moon thingie. Tis verra nice. :)

Fett: Nice! I like it!

As for flares, I used 65% brightness and the 105MM Prime. Then I ran it through the color adjuster to give them a faint magenta tint.

I also doubled the planet layer and tinted it blue (for oceans) and then erased the parts where an ocean wouldn't be. I did the same, in brown, for the tips of the mountains. :D

[Dasquian Belargic]

I tried getting the oceans and means and whatnot but it wasn't wanting to do it (not my fault! tools not th workman) ^_^;

Nice one, Fett

[Lady Vader]

LD: I like your widdle bitty planet/moon thingie. Tis verra nice. :)

LD?! LV!! Don't pass up my work to my twin! :p

[ReaperFett]

The sith try to confuse us, 85% of them start with the letter L ;)




And because of the planet tutorial, I FINALLY FOUND THE FILL TOOL! :D

[Lady Vader]

Except that LD isn't a Sith... she's a Dark Jedi. :p

[Dasquian Belargic]

Fett is right! LW, LV, LD! ai ai...


And because of the planet tutorial, I FINALLY FOUND THE FILL TOOL!

Took you long enough eh ;)

[ReaperFett]

Whenever I asked people where it was, they didn't know! :)

[Crystal]

I couldn't find the fill tool till I used it on that either ^_^;

And.. the lenseflares are another one of the reasons I refer PSP sometimes =/

[Kitty McQuade]

:: pouts and feels left out :: :(

[Dasquian Belargic]

awww :) ;; huggles kitty ;;

[ReaperFett]

Ahh, Oddballica :D

[Shawn]

Originally posted by Lady Vader
Better? :) MUCH. Looks very nice now.

I'm almost certain that you can angle the lens flares in PS7, but don't ask me how: I avoid using lens flares like the plague.

[ReaperFett]

I found just clicking around on the positioning screen would move it round, so I just trialed and errored until it was right.

[Zasz Grimm]

Originally posted by ReaperFett
Attachment: oddballicainspace.jpg


awsum BG for my computer.

;)

[ReaperFett]

See it as a birthday present :)

I added some extra bits for yours too

[Zasz Grimm]

I love how crystal clear it is in the one you sent me. The planet, etc. It's perfect for my icons. Really, it is. Plus the family likes it.

Thanks again, dooder.

[ReaperFett]

np, I aim to please.







(That's it, make it sound like I knew what I was doing:))

[ReaperFett]

Not space, but I played with some smoke and rain effects, hows it look? :)

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Cool...but now I want a picture of Arya kicking Sanis' booty. :D

[Charley]

Like that would ever happen.

[ReaperFett]

I'll give it a shot after my current one :)

[ReaperFett]

Here we go :)

[Xazor Elessar]

http://www.boomspeed.com/xazor/Edencopy.jpg



My attempt.... :D

[Charley]

Less lens flares. Also, not-so-harsh on the planet outer glows.

[Zasz Grimm]

Originally posted by Xazor Elessar
http://www.boomspeed.com/xazor/Edencopy.jpg



My attempt.... :D

I like the surrounding planet's/ moons. Very nice work. :thumbup

[Xazor Elessar]

Yeah Charley -- I see that it got a little bright, but the only thing is, is that I had to modify the directions a bit and when I was finished, the rim of the planet and the moons looked rigid and pixelated so I put the outer glow on (without any way to control how much glow there is) and it turned out the way it did. I guess four lens flares are a bit much -- I thought they were pretty, though. :mneh

Zaszoo -- thanks! :D I really really like how it turned out. It took me a long time to get it just so, but I like it. Actually, I don't think I want to change it really. May touch up the things Charley mentioned, but otherwise, I'm pretty impressed with my abilities to do this. :D It sucked working off of PS 6 when all the while he was in PS7 lingo mode. :grumble Linear Dodge? :grumble I don't even have that option on mine. :lol

[Mandalore]

You have lots of control with glow...from what color, to its opacity, to concentration, spread, etc. I'd choke it down to maybe 2 pixels and make it fairly diffuse, IMO.

[Xazor Elessar]

I can't seem to find that option on PS 6. It says on the screen caps that he took that PS 7 has it -- but I wasn't able to find it on mine. I really don't think I have it. :\

[Mandalore]

I can't remember if it does. It's been over a year since I used PS6, and can't remember.

[Xazor Elessar]

I don't think so -- because the option that the tutorial told me to use to fix all of that, I didn't have. :\

Maybe I just can't find it on there but it really exists. :huh Beats the frell out of me. I thought I could do it because I know they need to be a little dimmer, but the only way I could do that was to make 'em smaller.

I'll keep searching through the program, but really, I don't think they had that option yet.

[Crystal]

Gah. I can't make mine look all pretty like everyone elses' :cry

[Vega Van-Derveld]

Originally posted by ReaperFett
Here we go :)

haha :D nice one.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Sanis put a huge fricken hole in Oddball! That can't be right. :eek

[Kale]

Joined the party late. Very cool tutorial. I haven't tried the planet yet, but I whipped this up based on the starfield... Did some of my own improvisation as well. I call it...

Big Ol' Starfield. (http://www.freewebs.com/stormfyre/myart/bigolstarfield1.htm)

Hope you like.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Niiiice. :)

[Peter McCoy]

This is the first ever image I've made with Photoshop. I think I've done well with that fact alone. Yay Me! :)

Thanks go to Fett for answering my questions, even when the answers were obvious to him :)

I call it The Three Kings.

[ReaperFett]

Thanks go to Fett for answering my questions, even when the answers were obvious to him
It's funny though, because you ask things like "How do you add a layer", and I think "Cripes, obvious! Let's see...............*has to open PS7* ah yeah, I remember". I know where it is, I just can't explain it :D

[Lilaena De'Ville]

http://panic.hopto.org/swf/lilly/neverendingstory.jpg my first attempt

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

dang, i need to pay attention more ^_^;

all yalls work is superb! im loving it!

[Zasz Grimm]

i tried to lens flare it and space dust it, but i made it look horrible. i'll give it another attempt tomorrow.

http://www.boomspeed.com/grimmshadow/starfield1copy.jpg

(Horrible, I know.)

:|

[Lilaena De'Ville]

ok I edited my first attempt so if you looked at it before, it looks slightly altered now.

[imported_Eve]

With the planets - if you duplicate the layer, change the color (either with hue and saturation or color balance), then use the lasso tool to cut out pieces, you can make continents. Changing the color gradient in your layer properties can give you some depth and nice color effects. I'd wipe out the pattern, and use another.

You can define your own pattern so the texture of the planet continents are different. All these plants are gaseous looking. Maybe even another pattern for clouds. I can explain later if anyone cares.

For rings, I'd make an oval, fill it with clouds (in a solid color). Select the layer by pressing the control key and the layer at the same time. Contract the seletion by 2 pixels, move the selection up 1 px (because the ring is thicker in front then back) and cut. Then, either slightly gaussian blur or motion blur the rings so they're not such a thick line. Go to layer properties and add a slight outer glow (and maybe an inner glow). Place the ring where you want to, and cut the part which should be behind the planet, any way you want (lasso, etc.)

I haven't tried this, but I'd imagine it would work.

[ReaperFett]

I would try that continent idea, but don't think it'd fit my vision of the planet. May try other textures though.


Holly, yours is awsome. Love that light effect.


Zasz, the problem with that one is you can instantly see the eraser lines. Take the picture and zoom out a few times, and they are harder to see. Or, put something there, like a planet :)

[Dasquian Belargic]

I agree with Fett. Yours looks fabulous, lolly.

*gets the Neverending Story themetune in her head :D*

[Crystal]

What's wrong with mine? It doesn't look nearly as good as everyone else's and I followed the same thing.. Did I miss something? =/

[ReaperFett]

Show it. Can't help otherwise :)

[Crystal]

I posted a link to it earlier in the thread.. but here :)

http://www.fhost.org/x/leeloo/mystars.jpg


Everyone else's is so bright and pretty and stuff. . mine's missing.. something.

[ReaperFett]

It looks fine. Not as good as some, but not BAD per se.

[Ali Storm]

*points*

here mine, it sucks, and I was wondering, Sage, would I be able to use your starfield for a sig?

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Ali yours is pretty good! :)

[Zasz Grimm]

Nick, your starfield has been replaced by anothers! guess who's!

:p

[ReaperFett]

I KNEW you'd replace it! I told you that you would! :)

[Ali Storm]

Thank LD, I also took a crack at making this (and another char. of mine's) homeworld.



Tis okay, I just couldn't figure out what he was saying about layering the effects!

[Lilaena De'Ville]

I've noticed a slight problem with some people's planets...and its that they're not perfect circles. :) But it looks good otherwise. :)

[Teleran Balades]

Never mind

[Charley]

Originally posted by Teleran Balades
Never mind


<img src=http://www.sw-fans.net/photopost/data/504/1156threadnecro.jpg>

[Morgan Evanar]

Originally posted by Lilaena De'Ville
I've noticed a slight problem with some people's planets...and its that they're not perfect circles. :) But it looks good otherwise. :) Thats because they're probably running the bastard child resolution 1280x1024.