January 25, 2009
By: Dexter
Category: GIMP, Tutorial
Here is a small tutorial which will tell you how to create a sphere using GIMP. Ok so here we go.
- Start with a small blank gimp canvas. Around 300×300 px
- Using the Elliptical Select Tool , select a circular region. To select a circular region, in the options of the Elliptical select tool, Fixed — Aspect Ratio, this will allow you to do a circular select. See IMAGE 1..
- Now select a color for your sphere. I have chosen a dark green.
- Next select the Blend Tool ( IMAGE 2) for gradient fill. In this select the Shape as Radial. See IMAGE 2.
- Change the direction of the gradient by clicking the check box next to the gradient. See IMAGE 2
- In the selected circular area, select a point in it using the gradient tool and drag it diagonally. See IMAGE 3.
Try out different starting points for the gradient fill. You will get different effect for the sphere.
- You sphere should be ready now. See IMAGE 4.
- To make it look a more real, drop a perspective shadow to it using the shadow filter. Filters — Light and Shadow — Perspective. You will probably need to change the angle according to your requirements so that the shadow falls opposite to the light, i.e the bright area on the sphere. See Image 5.
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 IMAGE 01: Circular selection  IMAGE 02: Blend Tool and its options  IMAGE 03: Blend Fill from inside out  IMAGE 04: After the blend fill the image looks like a sphere.  IMAGE 05: Final sphere with shadow. |
Nice work simple but a nice cool outcome
1Thanks.. the main aim putting simple these tutorials is that people can actually get a hand on with gimp and also how gradients can be used to get 3D effect.
2Apart form this it will be later useful if people want to get into writing script-fu to do the same stuff
Yes, thanks for the tut. I’m new to Gimp & graphic design. I read a book on Gimp, but it just tells (briefly) what all the buttons are for — good knowledge but not very practical. Simple tutorials like this are a big help in learning to actually use it for something. Even though I will probably never use this glowing orb, I still learned some useful techniques.
3Thanks
Thanks Steve.
4that was my main aim about putting up these tutorials. I had been using gimp for some time, though i am not an expert. But would love to share the stuff I have been doing.