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Let's turn katana into a lightsaber using Gimp
If you want to learn how to create a Star Wars-like lightsaber effect, just keep on reading.
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1.
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Open the image in GIMP.
My object of transformation was Tom Cruise's Katana from the movie The Last Samurai.
You can download the image I used by clicking here.
For the lesson about downloading and installing GIMP, click here.
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2.
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In the Toolbox click Paths Tool icon. (B for keyboard shortcut)
If you don't see the Toolbox click on Windows and Toolbox or press Ctrl+B for the keyboard shortcut.
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3.
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Click at the beginning of the blade on the left-side edge (little circle on the picture), hold the mouse button and drag the mouse a bit to the right (little square in the picture), then let the mouse button go...
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4.
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...click the upper left side of the blade.
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5.
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...click the upper right-side of the blade, hold the mouse button and drag your mouse a little bit to the right (see picture), then let the mouse button go...
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6.
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...click the bottom right-side of the blade...
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7.
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...and finally click the point where it all started.
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8.
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Click Select and From Path (Ctrl+V for the keyboard shortcut)
You just made a selection from the path you draw in the previous steps.
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9.
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Click Layer and New Layer (Shift+Ctrl+N for the keyboard shortcut).
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10.
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Choose the Foreground color under Layer File Type and click OK.
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11.
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Change the Mode of the New Layer to Screen.
If you're unable to see the Layers click Windows, Dockable Dialogs and Layers or press Ctrl+L for the keyboard shortcut.
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12.
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In the Toolbox click the Paintbrush Tool icon and change the Foreground color to white (see picture).
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13.
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Set the Paintbrush scale to 8.
You can type in the number directly then press enter.
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14.
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Now start painting the Sword. Hold the mouse button and just paint it away.
Don't worry if the paintbrush size is wider then the sword. Your selection is still active, meaning you will only paint the selection.
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15.
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After you painted the whole sword click Select and None (Shift+Ctrl+A for the keyboard shortcut).
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16.
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Now right click the New Layer and click Duplicate Layer.
Do this 2 more times so you have 4 New Layers and a Background Layer.
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17.
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Now Choose the New Layer, in the menu click Filter, Blur and Gaussian Blur.
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18.
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In the Gaussian Blur settings window, set the Horizontal and Vertical to 10 px and click OK.
Now repeat the steps 17 and 18 for other 3 New Layers only with the different Horizontal and Vertical Blur Settings: 20, 40 and 80.
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19.
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You sword should now look something like this.
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20.
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Now right click the most upper layer and click Merge Down ...
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21.
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...and choose Screen as a layer Mode.
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22.
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Repeat the steps 20 and 21 two more times. So at the end you have only New Layer and Background left. (see picture)
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23.
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In the menu click Colors and Color Balance.
In the Color Balance windows play around a bit with the sliders to achieve the lightsaber color you like.
Be sure to have Preview checked.
Click OK.
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24.
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That's all folks, your very own Star Wars-like lightsaber!
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