Here's a script that will create this texture (default settings) and many more:
I've always loved this effect, but could never accomplish it until today. Here's the tutorial it's based on:
http://www.tutorialwiz.com/metallic_background/Here's the code for the script. Copy and paste the code into your favorite text editor and save it with a ".scm" extension. Save it here: C:\Program Files\GIMP-2.0\share\gimp\2.0\scripts and refresh your scripts. It can be found under Filters > Render > Ripple Texture...
; GIMP - The GNU Image Manipulation Program
; Copyright (C) 1995 Spencer Kimball and Peter Mattis
;
; This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
; it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
; the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
; (at your option) any later version.
;
; This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
; but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
; MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
; GNU General Public License for more details.
;
; You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
; along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
; Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
;
;
;
;
; Define the Function
(define (fp-script-fu-ripple-texture
image
drawable
times
hAmplitude
vAmplitude
period1
period2
wave1
wave2
hEdge
vEdge
hTrue
vTrue
)
(gimp-context-push)
(gimp-image-undo-group-start image)
(gimp-layer-add-alpha drawable)
(if (= wave1 0)
(set! wave1 1)
(set! wave1 0)
)
(if (= wave2 0)
(set! wave2 1)
(set! wave2 0)
)
(while (> times 0)
(plug-in-ripple RUN-NONINTERACTIVE image drawable period1 hAmplitude 0 hEdge wave1 TRUE hTrue)
(plug-in-ripple RUN-NONINTERACTIVE image drawable period2 vAmplitude 1 vEdge wave2 TRUE vTrue)
(gimp-displays-flush)
(set! times (- times 1))
)
(gimp-image-undo-group-end image)
(gimp-context-pop)
(gimp-displays-flush)
)
(script-fu-register "fp-script-fu-ripple-texture"
"<Image>/Filters/Render/Ripple Texture..."
"Create a random ripple texture somewhat similar to Photoshop's Wave Filter."
"Art Wade"
"Art Wade"
"March 18, 2010"
"RGB* GRAY*"
SF-IMAGE "Image" 0
SF-DRAWABLE "Drawable" 0
SF-ADJUSTMENT "Ripple how many times?" '(5 1 1000 1 1 0 1)
SF-ADJUSTMENT "Horizontal Amplitude" '(10 -400 400 1 1 0 1)
SF-ADJUSTMENT "Vertical Amplitude" '(10 -400 400 1 1 0 1)
SF-ADJUSTMENT "Horizontal Period" '(100 1 400 1 1 0 1)
SF-ADJUSTMENT "Vertical Period" '(100 1 400 1 1 0 1)
SF-OPTION "Horizontal Waveform" '("Sinewave"
"Sawtooth")
SF-OPTION "Vertical Waveform" '("Sinewave"
"Sawtooth")
SF-OPTION "Horizontal Edge Handling" '("Smear"
"Wrap"
"Blank")
SF-OPTION "Vertical Edge Handling" '("Smear"
"Wrap"
"Blank")
SF-TOGGLE "Retain Horizontal Tilability?" TRUE
SF-TOGGLE "Retain Vertical Tilability?" TRUE
)
Open up the desired image size. Although the tutorial uses a checkerboard, I happen to like solid noise.
Filters > Render > Clouds > Solid Noise
Run the script
Here's a colorized version (Colors > Colorize)
Experiment with different settings and see what you can come up with!
Cheers!
Art
Here's some samples I've been playing with....
Plastic WrappedTribal ArtCross-eye stereoimagePlastic Wrapped Cross-eye stereoimage