i downloaded this script tonight:
http://gimpscripts.com/2012/01/3d-metal-text/

which gives you this effect



anybody knows how to do this effect manually ?

i Google-searched for 'Chrome + Text + Effect', but couldnt find something that looks the same

is the waves effect perhaps done in similar way like in this video by GimpTricks ?



EDIT:
just realized, its a script by Graechan and based on a tutorial by Draconian
does that mean there is a tutorial somewhere ?

.

If you are wanting the sinus effect like ripples or folds in fabric, I use Filters>Render>Clouds and set one of the values higher than the other. An example would be X=1 and Y=6. Follow that with Colors>Curves and use my "Max Chrome" preset available here:

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=4150

Gaussian Blur at 25 to smooth out the distortion lines then add a layer for texture or color using Overlay or Grain Merge. You can also use Map to Gradient and use one of the Metallic Gradients from that tutorial.

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=4097&p=50500#p50500

Once you have made your pattern, you can then use it as an environment map as explained in the Chrome Techniques tutorial Odin mentioned or just use it as a layer for your text depending on the results you are after. Any questions just PM me or post here and I'll be glad to help.

thanks everybody for the help so far

Draconian, i studied all your tutorials earlier but the effect im looking for seems to be something different

GimpTricks/Jolie gets her ripples from Render -> Pattern -> Sinus, but it seems thats not quite what i need either...

i had a look at Graechan´s script in the Editor program
from what i understand, it seems the script runs Solid Noise and a BumMap to create the effect
i tried that, but still not getting quite the same effect

If you are trying to duplicate the exact effect in your first post, you can use teh sinus approach or use the clouds approach tehn use threshold to get the extreme black and white effect on the pattern. Not sure exactly what you are after here.

i want to duplicate exactly what the script does, because im a curious fellow, thats all

it seems that all i tried and all of your suggestions lack something, because what i get, doesnt look the same

i will try a bit more later

thanks again for the help

i think i finally got it - it was all about the curve settings

the chrome tutorial I use, uses curves on the top layer....and the curves graph has lots of waves in it.

do you have a link to that tutorial, 2-ton, that would be great ?!

i used these numbers from the script code


i assume every pair of numbers is a coordinate on the curve display

I do not know where it is right off-hand. I will have to hunt it up, I will try to get to it tomorrow. This is the resulting text I made quite a while ago...obviously I used the bevel/emboss script fu for the shapes but I used curves for the chrome look. I think you start with a med. grey color for the chrome. I am sure someone else will know the full method, assuming that this is the type of chrome you are looking for.

nice text you made !

i think thats the usual chrome effect that you will find most of the time
but that was not the thing i was looking for

anyway, doesnt matter
thanks for the help, much appreciated