So I decided to make my own spotlight instead of just downloading one from google images. For the light fixture I use an arrow point, for the light bulb I used a mardi gras bead. For the light beam, I used path to make the main shape. After filling and blurring, I went back and did a line down the center and blurred. Any suggestions to make it better??

looks dang good to me. What a nice idea to use the white bead for the light. very real looking too. woo hoo

EDIT: 2-ton, just got an idea. You could make the animated dancers and put them inside that light.
that would be way cool.

Looks great. Maybe try it without blur around the bottom white ellipse on the floor?

Excellent, 2-Ton. I agree with Jolie about the ellipse on the floor. Guess those mardi gras beads are useful for other stuff too. Great use of one.

Urm, didn't save as xcf, so I could only un-blur the bottom of the 'spot'. I wonder ... any suggestions on how to make a smoky look to the light as if the air was dusty or something?

Messed around with some smoke brushes.



The image really needs to be in layers to do a proper job. You may need to start again Toni.

The smoke looks great! I will have to remember to NOT change the xcf when I save!!!

I put a new white ellipse over the spot and lowered the opacity a bit.

Looks perfect!

The white circle should revolve with a statue or something on it... that would be cool too.

I made it into a poster already. I had some lettering with a little figure leaning on the first letter. I had already used the original spotlight when I made it, but now I know how to make a better spotlight. I prolly could have done better with the other lighting, too, like more shadow on the "lee" side of the figure and the lettering.

Uploaded your picture in here, Toni. I had an awful time with getting the thumb to go to PhotoBucket - O

very nice

I couldn't get how to do thumbnails from here. I tried but it didn't work. I have to upload to gc, then copy the gc url and paste into the message...because I use IE. I prolly could switch to Safari and it would work, but I am used to using IE.

Hi

I took a stab at this spotlight idea and I like it but I want to put some text or possibly an object inside the ellipse. This is where I got stuck. I was wondering how you guys would get the letters to appear as if they were bathed in light with a forward shadow.

When you say "forward shadow", you mean this type of effect?

No, that's more a reflection. I mean as if you were lit from behind so your shadow moves out in front of you.

Yes just duplicate the text layer - alpha to selection - fill with black.
Layer/Transform/Flip Vertical - lower it under the original text layer.
Now grab your perspective tool and play with it until you have your shadow where you want it.
Blur it - set the opacity
Go to Filters/Lights and Shadows light settings
Play with the light until it looks good to you. =)

Something like this

Following Rod's suggestion, here's my attempt...

Nice pics. You guys are awesome. Thanks. I'll give it a try.