Tools to Make Glass Spheres

Transparent spheres can be created using graphics packages.

Packages which can be used very effectively to make glass spheres include Photoshop, Gimp and Radiance. More basic packages may be harder to use for this effect. This is because they often lack tools that make effective highlights, shading and reflections.

Drawing and Shading

You will most likely use a circle drawing tool to make the basic shape. Polar gradient fill tools allow you to fill the circle with shades of color from light to dark. Placing the darkest color at the edges creates a 3D effect . You can use shadow tools to add even more depth.

Highlights and Reflections

To add highlights you can use tools such as lens flare. Other lighting tools allow you to select the direction, intensity and color of the light. You can use selection tools to brighten a specific part of the image. You can add reflections with a mapping tool, which molds an image over your sphere.

Considerations

The more reflections you put on the outside of the sphere, the more it will hide any background image. This is fine if you just want a glossy sphere but if you have a logo or some text behind your sphere this may become hard to read.

References

• Michael Ott: Glassy Sphere
• IDigitalEmotion.ComMaking Glass Orb The Easy Way
• GUG Gimp User Group: Gimp Tutorial: Crystal Ball
• Josh Grant: Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Functions

Resources

• GIMP: GNU Image Manipulation Program