GIMP Version: 2.6.8
Operating System: Windows
OS Version: XP - SP3
GIMP Experience: Beginner Level

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How is this effect created?

I have a pic, and I want to create a lighting effect like this on it. I am not talking about layering it... I don't know...maybe I am, but I see this a lot on pics and want to know how to do it.



Here's are a few links to get a better idea of what I seek to learn how to do:

http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.204697483.jpg

http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.202615738.jpg

18 views and no help? Should I have not posted links??

No the bots make views (atleast I hope so)
At first I thought the same thing,
and sorry to say, I have no idea

The image you posted a looks like a Bokeh effect. By the way, expecting an answer right away is unrealistic and kind of rude. People answer questions as soon as they can but most of them have lives to live and can't stay here and check the posts on the board all day long. Everyone that I know here will do all they can to help anyone with a question or problem but you need to give them time to respond, which might take a few hours to a day or so.

When the image is from a (D)SLR, the circles are usually out-of-focus background lights.

When it's from a compact camera, they are out of focus reflections of the flash dust spots floating in the air near the lens. Some people think these are "orbs".

To generate the random circles or ellipses, you can start with my random-ellipse script...

The doc: http://gimp-tools.sourceforge.net/tools.shtml
The script: http://sourceforge.net/projects/gimp-to ... s/scripts/

That will give you a gray layer with random circles/ellipses on it. Playing with levels/curves and selection by color you can easily keep only the ellipses, then blur them, and make the layer semi-transparent, or use one the layer modes...

For instance: using the ellipses layer directly in "hard-light" mode:



Or using it as a selection on the ellipses, in which you use Render/Plasma, desaturate, and use in "Divide" mode:

Some of those images appear to be lens flare effects and another looks like the background has been blurred (left unfocused), giving the glowing orb effect from the lights.

There are quite a few GIMP tuts and docs regarding lens flares .

You had plenty of time, since it took me a good half hour to dig up a picture and come up with some samples...

Yeah well, you're right about that but there was nothing there when I started typing.

Besides, I couldn't wait to use that smiley.

Postscript - fixed my broken link.

It's even your duty to test that it works

I really had no intention of being rude. I thought perhaps I might have violated copyright policy here by posting links, and others might be hesitant to participate in this thread because of it. I am grateful for any help this forum can give me.

Wow! Lot's of good advice!!

I have a lot to go over and try out! Thank you. I'll come back if I have any difficulties.

Everyone who participated, your time is greatly appreciated. I have been wanting to know how to do this for so long! Thank you.

You can even create Bokeh effects using G'MIC:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53229621@N02/5738002225/

I attached an XCF to help you further - for each ellipse i blurred/Gaussian blurred to 76 or so.
Each layer also has a different opacity setting.
A neat trick to remember is to hold down the shift key while creating your circles...you can do them all this way at the same time.

OMG, this has been so helpful.

I began this thread as Part I, because I have two other effects I want to bring to the forum to gain a better understanding of. I want to climb this Part I mountain first, so Part II & III will be coming soon.

Thank you so much, and please, for anyone who perceived me as rude before, please accept my apologies.

-OnTheGreen

Something int he water today guys????

/me searches for part 2!!!

OnTheGreen, I found this GIMP tutorial on making bokeh effects...
bokeh tutorial

it's ok. Typing like this is a terrible means for communication because all you see are words, you can't hear voice tones, see facial expressions, hear modulation or anything else that aids in communicating. There has been a time or two that someone said something to me that kind of hurt my feelings until I rethought it and decided they didn't mean it the way it looked. If we had voice chat or video chat there would be less misunderstandings but that's very expensive. I looked into it for my forum once but it was like $600 a year and I could never ever afford that. So we have to resort to reading words other people type. I hang out here a lot, I check the forum several times a day, I usually have it open on one monitor while doing other stuff on the other one. Everyone I've met here is a nice person, some of them I consider my friends, and I tend to be very protective of friends, both from other people and from myself. I've been told that I 'write mad' because it seems like I'm mad when I write. I rarely am, if I really am mad I get just positively vicious and there is no doubt that I'm getting mean. I have to always proof read everything I post before I post it to make sure I don't look mad. Forums can be great places to exchange information but nothing can replace just sitting down and talking face to face.

Didn't someone make bokeh brushes a while back???

I remember seeing some somewhere but I didn't want them so my brain (such as it is) didn't store any details but yes, 2-ton, I think you're right.