So my previous tutorial on sand writing didnt give it a very good effect and i messed around alot with my technique and found one that makes it look more realistic so here goes! The only script you will need is chisel.
http://registry.gimp.org/node/24217

Step One
Create a new 800x600
fill it with a sand color (ex: c17f27)

Step Two
Add hsv noise with these settings



Step Three
Bump map the layer to itself with these settings



(note: These setting will be used for all bump mapping in this tutorial)

Step Four
Add text with new transparency layer
-i suggest using a paintbrush so it looks like you drew the text in the sand (use Circle 11 with 1.00 scale)



Step Five
Duplicate text layer 3 times, go to Filters>Noise>Spread with the setting listed



Important: Alpha to Selection original text layer. Then swap to the layers that you performed noise spreads to delete the text areas from the layers. Your top 3 layers should look similar to this.




Step Six
Bump map each spreaded layer in order of smallest to largest pixels (10px first then 20px then 30px)


(use previous bump map settings)

Step Seven
Chisel the original text layer



Put the bevel layer to at 60% opacity, and merge it down to the original text layer

Filters>Noise>Spread and spread it by 10px

Step Eight
Bump map the sand layer with the chisel layer
(MAKE SURE YOU UNCHECK INVERT)

Now you are done!

I'll give this a try, thanks!

Nice tutorial, although I did have to think about when to have the text selected and when not to have it selected!

Ya i was wondering how to word that, ill try to change that!

Sweetness! Nice tutorial, JFish!

This is my result (the only thing I did differently was put my text layer on subtract mode to give my writing more depth):



This is an actual picture of me writing GIMP in the sand at Long Beach, WA:

So what am I deleting????? if its the layers...doesnt that just take away all that you have just done there...sorry I'm a bit thick at times...

Showing your age there 2-ton...Pat Boone??? I can barely remember the heart throb.

haha, the tutorial sort of brought to mind.."Love Letters in the Sand" but that was too long to write in the space! hee hee, showing your age too, knowing who he is!!!

Akky:

After you alpha to selection the text layer, it highlights the text, then you swap to the layers that you performed noise spreads to delete the text areas from the layers, leaving behind the spread outside the text. Make sense?

I think I am missing something...back to the drawing board.....

Mahv, did you go out and do that just for this thread? Gimpers go to such lengths. Very cool results and also on the actual sand writing.

Actually, no. I spend a great deal of time at the coast (plus it was clam-dig time - we got 5 gallon buckets worth - now in the freezer). While I was out walking on the beach I decided to photograph actual sand writing and compare it to my GIMPed sand writing. JFish sort of re-visited the process with his new tute and I thought it would be an ideal time to compare them.

I've been clam digging in Long Beach - a long time ago.

Anyway the colors and everything look wonderful.

right well I still dont get it happening so I am going back to the beginning....it seems to me that if I am selecting the text and want that to be remoived I would have to invert/clear at that point....I'm not sure what I am doing wrong but I followed it to the letter I thought so its obviously something I am not understanding clearly...not so good at lateral thinking this old bird...and yes..I dont mind admitting I am old.

Akky:

You don't want to invert your selected text, that would remove the spread. The spread is what you want to keep. The 3 copies of your text layer were suppose to be spread at 10, 20, and 30% as his layer diagram shows. The original text layer remained untouched. When you reselect the original text layer and use alpha to selection, all it does is places marching ants around the text. Then you switch to text layer 10%, delete, text layer 20%, delete, text layer 30%, delete. Now the text layers with spread have a hollowed (blank area) where the text formally was. This is to give the impression of the sand being pressed in with your finger, etc.

I did all that and ended up with the black brushed text still

Turn the text layer off?

this is where I am at and cant go any further...right now I have to get to work...

This is mine with a value mode setting - nice tutorial adding the chisel layer works real well.



Akky make sure you select the background layer when you select map/bump map.
Then select each text (spread) layer as well as the chisel layer from the drop down list.

Un-select invert when you run the chisel layer through bump map.

Rod: She's stuck at the point where she needs to delete the text area from her spread layers. She's says it's not working for her.

Akky, I opened your xcf (your text layer was highlighted and the text selected) and all I did then was switch to the 10%, 20%, and 30% spread layers, and pressed the delete key on each individual layer. Not sure what serves as the delete key with a Mac. On PC keyboards the delete key is DEL.