Making bevelled gradients out of anything, including animals, people things, trees, stars, and shapes, and the list goes on.

You will need the bevel python plug-in found here this one = bevel2_1.py.txt

1. Starting with a transparent layer, use your paint brush after you select an image you want to use. Adjust it to what ever size you prefer and set the foreground color to black. After you do this, right click and alpha to selection.

2. Go to Filters --> bevel and leave the default the way it is but I crank up the Gloss to 10, but you can experiment with that. Click OK. You will now have a new inner layer above. Leave that as is for now. Keep your selection.

3. In your tools select the blend tool Look for a nice gradient in your gradient selections, I usually like to stick with the metallic ones but you can use any of them. After you do that, right click on your layer and merge the inner layer down.

4. With the chains I did them the say way. Make one link (circle) with your brush and change the spacing so that when you drag your brush to the shape of chain your want that they are just touching, or even overlapping 1 or 2 pixels, then alpha to selection, run your bevel script, leave selection on and run your gradient. You can also put drop shadows on all these objects if you like.

Below, I added the brush I used for each one to show that anything can be used. You can use images from regular photos, butterflies, birds, animals etc.

really nice tip, Molly. The tree looks amazingly real with this process!

Thanks 2-ton. That is the method I was using when we were making all that jewellery way back when. Remember my dove set. I used a pic of a real dove for that one.

I do remember the jewelry. I even might have some old pics stashed on the pc somewhere, lol. But time to revisit the process!

Nice work Molly, really like the dog.

Nice one Molly, I'll file that one for sure

molly: thank you for reminding me - i saw your dove jewellery before i was a member here and it made a huge impression on me . i made some bling myself using your technique, and then i forgot all about it - now it came in handy for the valentine's greetings i'm starting to make, this one's for one of my sisters:

That is cool AnMal. I like that Gold Metal Wire look

molly: thank you - this is my favourite gold gradient, it worked great together with the bevel.

Thx Molly, very interesting idea, and the look is highlighted well!

Nice one Molly!

That is really nice O. I love the color too. Remember the old days when we made all that jewellery with the bevel?

O: that text looks really nice! is the font shaped like that or did you tweak it to make it curved?

Got the font here, AnMal. It's called, whats happened.

thanks, O! i like fonts that don't just run in a straight line.