GIMP tricks: Neon inscription
[ Sunday, 13 May 2007, michuk ]
In this tutorial we are going to show how to prepare a Neon inscription in GIMP (based on this example). The article is meant for beginners, but you should know at least the basics of using GIMP in order to succeed.
Author: noss
The effect we should get after going through this tutorial is show on picture 1:
Pic.1 This is what we want to achieve
- First, create a new image, size 420×300px with black background.
- Next, type your inscription, using a big font (for example Orange LET Ultra-Light) 135px-sized. This font can be downloaded from here.
- Now, duplicate the layer with the text, and change its color to #1757AE.
- After that, duplicate the layer with #1757AE color, so you get 2 layers with the same color.
- Create 2 new layers and put them between the layers with text.
- Fill the lower one with color #888888, and the higher one with #CDCDCD.
- For both these layers change Mode to Dodge.
- Right-click on every layer with text, and set “Layer to Image Size”.
- Now, duplicate the lower layer with text, move to the top, and don’t touch it any more.
- Next, use Gaussian Blur (Filters->Blur->Gaussian Blur): for the second layer from top, set Radius to 2, for the middle one set it to 5, and for the bottom one – 10.
Pic.2 Outcome after step 2
Pic.3 Now you should get this set of layers
Pic.4 Now you have your neon inscription.
Pic.5 The same, but with a bigger blur (top layer: 3, middle: 8, bottom: 15)
And here you are! If you would like to read more articles in the GIMP Tricks series on PolishLinux.org, please feel free to suggest new topics on our forum in subject: New series: GIMP tricks.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
This article has been first published in Dragonia Magazine, a Polish online magazine about Free and Open-Source Software. You can download the latest Dragonia issue (first one in English) from our mirror. The article has been slightly modified compared with the original version by the PolishLinux team.
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14 Comments
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I have to say, it looks more like a “backlit” effect than a “neon” effect. For neon, the blur should extend into the interior of the outlines, not just the exterior.
This same effect can be done much more simple by choosing Extensions->Logos->Neon choose your font, colors and here you go. No need of such complicated steps.
In this tutorial just like in the whole upcoming set of GIMP howtos we want to show the GIMP amateurs hte basics of operating on layers and use some built-in effects. It’s not about doing the thing as simple as it can be done, without learning anything.
It’s like calculating a formula — you can use Texas Instruments mini-computer to do this or evaluate the function on paper. You learn only doing the latter.
What a worthless tutorial, and that is even generous.
Especially as TG comes with a Script-Fu to create neon like effects on text (Xtns -> ScriptFu -> Logos -> Neon..,), which actually looks like “neon”.
Why do people complain about learning a different way to do something? Thanks for the tip on this effect, Like many things in life.. there are many angles of doing the same thing.. its knowledge of them all that puts us at the next level.
Wow. Terrible guide, poor instructions, and the end result didn’t look anything like the example.
For example, step 7. “For both these layers change Mode to Dodge.” How? Where? Should I have done that before step 6 (color fill)?
or step 10 “Next, use Gaussian Blur (Filters->Blur->Gaussian Blur): for the second layer from top, set Radius to 2, for the middle one set it to 5, and for the bottom one – 10.” -10 isn’t an option.
or
step one says to use a black background, yet the pic for what it should look like after step two has a transparent background.
and my end result has a light gray background, due to the #CDCDCD layer…
thumbs down, no digg, etc.
Scalfarmer: This is not tutorial for newbie…
First, everyone who has nothing better to do than gripe or whine, get a life. Second, I followed along from beginning to end, learning as I went (being a noob), and actually enjoyed this tutorial. My thanks to the author!
KLK what is the difference in a newbie and beginners it says its for beginners in the article.
Didn’t work exactly as prescribed, but it worked to a degree.
My text was still filled out, and I think in step 2 the author used a transparent background. This isn’t in the instructions but it’s apparent from his screen shot.
If I do it over making the background transparent in step 2, it might work right. Also my text came out with the default color instead of the color I changed to in step 2. Other than that, it was a lot of fun.
Complaining in comments is actually a good thing. If you don’t get any negative feedback, you can’t make something better. These directions were pretty good but there’s always rooom for improvement.
I don’t like this tutorial. It doesn’t have any explanations for what each step does, implying that the reader is a mindless, MS zombie raised on not knowing what they’re doing. Not to mention, there are no instructions on making any color other than blue. And finally, the screenshots were taken on Windows. (Or is that Fvwm95?)
DJ Gentoo:
If you don’t have the brains to figure out what each step is doing without him having to explain it, or figure out how to change the color on your own, then YOU are the mindless MS zombie. You shouldn’t even be using the program if you can’t change the bloody colors. And who cares what operating system the guy uses? It’s the same program.
This tutorial is great, thanks.
Oh, please. Do you think I was greedy enough to write that for myself alone? Think of the other people for a change, rather than your ego. I’ve duplicated this tutorial myself, know what each step does, and it STILL sucks.
You rock noss!
boo n00bs!