I actually discovered this trick yesterday; much better result then my previous results that I sort of eluded to on an earlier thread. So easy, in fact, that I'm actually going to share a quick tut with you all (as lazy as I am; lol).

requirements:
1) A seamless texture, preferably one with a lattice structure. Used this one for the example.
2) Mathmap

First, duplicate your texture and then run Small Tile (set to 2) on the top layer and Small Tile (set to 5) on the bottom layer (sort of a skipped Fibonacci sequence; lol).

Now defocus and darken base layer (assuming you can figure this one out) {see attached image for my result}.



Image hosted free thanks to ImageShack (http://www.imageshack.us).

Now run Lens Distortion {again, see attachment for the settings that was used}.

Now run Autocrop which is under Image dropdown menu.

Finally, run Mathmap's Distortion>Sphere (the best Sphere method that I've seen; use this one almost exclusively now) {see attachment settings that was used}.

Done (well, I did went ahead and sharpened this result some before posting it here).

Nice tut

Thanks PC; pretty much the same technique can be done with all textures (don't need the second see through layer for solid textures of course). Mathmap's Distort>Sphere definitely is the best. You need to have a true square texture though (forgot to mention that; lol).

Well I didn't know what you meant about darken base and defocus. I used color curves to darken and a light Gaussian blur for defocus.

I understand now what you mean about a lattice texture. Is there a way to do that in MathMap or G'MIC? My image is a single bunch of balloons.

Dot textures work too O; just need to add a glass effect imo.

ref: http://www.fontplay.com/freephotos/four ... 08a-31.jpg

Sorry O; just realized that I did not answer your question. The seamless Texture was created sort of pervertedly so. I used a cool Rotate layer Scriptfu to get the overall sharp (6 rotations) and then made is seamless by using one of Simple's filters (can't remember which one; it's a free set of PS filters that I use quite often; preview inside GIMP sucks of course (like most PS filters)).

you are dangerous with your Simple filter link, i never try before because they look too simple but you are right there really cool..just too additive

Anyway you will remember my "rainbow" triple spiral download/file.php?id=446 well this is what that filter did



and tile so well




So back in theme i ended with a sort of sphere..hem..a very squared sort of half sphere since is semitransparent is easy see has no a backside but...

I updated the tut (more quicker/dirtier; lol). Someone at another forum I frequent requested it and felt it needed the update). It uses Simple's Diamond filter which I think is better then the 2/5 ratio.

http://justpaste.it/Transparent_Sphereoid

Looks like you got it Graechan.