How to Make Shiny Objects in GIMP

Pictures that show only objects with a matte finish can appear dull, in contrast to those with a few shiny objects. You can make shiny objects with just the painting tools of the free image manipulation and creation program GIMP. Since a key phase of this project is visualizing how a light source illuminates an object, observe the shading of actual objects around you. Note that GIMP's Lighting filter may help you shade objects before making them shiny.

Instructions

1. Click the tool palette icon shaped like a paintbrush to enter painting mode, and then click a color from the tool palette's upper color swatch.

2. Drag on the canvas to draw a shape you'd like to represent a 3-D object. For example, draw a circle to represent a sphere. Do not draw only the shape's outline, but fill in the complete shape. Keep the shape simple for your first few projects, because it's easier to visualize how such shapes reflect the light rays that strike it.

3. Draw an arrow off to the side of the shape that indicates the direction of the light you want to illuminate your shiny object. For example, if you want the light source for the sphere to come from your apparent viewpoint but slightly above, draw an arrow that appears to move from your viewpoint toward the circle. The arrow will remind you of the direction of the light rays, and help you determine how directly each portion of your object faces the light's rays.

4. Use the instructions from Step 1 to select a darker shade of the color used for the shape. Paint the object portions that face away from the light rays with this color.

5. Paint the object portions that face toward the light with a lighter shade of your original color, then click the white color from the tool palette's upper color swatch.

6. Paint the object portions that face the light rays most directly with the white color. These portions are called "highlights," and they indicate a shiny object.

7. Click the page icon on the brush gallery below the tool palette to create a new brush, then click the diamond icon to indicate the brush's shape. You'll paint a light sparkle on your object with this new brush.

8. Drag the "Spikes" slider until its label shows a number from 5 to 15 to create the sparkle brush's points.

9. Click the "X" icon in the "New brush" dialog box to complete the new brush, and then click on a few places on your object where light is striking most directly. This action adds light sparkles to your object, which completes the object.

References

• GIMP: Documentation
• "Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter"; James Gurney; 2010