ReMake

@Seerose, a good illustration of the tutorial using, Thank you for sharing.

@Pixey, you should open in any text editor .xml-file with the name of your gradient preset. Another option is to select a preset, check the Preserve Alpha check box, and then save that preset with the same or a different name.

@Pixey, take a look at the xml file of your preset (in any text editor). In the line <Gradient xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" ... Offset="0" Wrap="true" LockAlpha="false"> replace LockAlpha="false" to LockAlpha="true" and save this file.

This tutorial is available as a PDF. Click here to view or download it. In this tutorial, we will try some variants for creating leather textures. Required plugins: Cell Texture by @davidf Mosaic by @Tim! Hexagonal Grid by @MadJik MultiSpline by @Red ochre Random lines by @MadJik Ripple by @Ed Harvey Emboss+ by @ReMake PSFilterPdn by @null54 (for Variant 10) Stained Glass (PS Filter for Variant 10, see Applying effects from Photoshop's Filters menu in paint.net.) I used 600x450 px canvas in all variations. Variant 1 Variant 2 Variant 3 Variant 4 Variant 5 Variant 6 Variant 7 Variant 8 Variant 9 Variant 10 Note: All settings described in this tutorial are approximate and depend on image size and the desirable end result.

@Pixey interesting and beautiful texture. Thanks for sharing.

When I say: - This is our work jointly, I mean @drakaan too.

Open the Resize dialog and try to change any size:

This tutorial is available as a PDF. Click here to view or download it Glassy Marbles tutorial was written by @drakaan in 2007 and is now unfortunately lost. After consulting with@welshblue, we decided to reproduce (rewrite) this tutorial based on the original text, making some changes to it. This is our work jointly. In this tutorial we will make marble like in this picture: For this tutorial, you'll need the plugins: Zoom Blur Deluxe for 4.0 by @null54 and Shape3D by @MKT (it's what makes this tutorial fairly simple to repeat). All of the other steps can be accomplished using the built-in paint.net tools and effects. Start with a new () image, preferably square (for example: 800x800px). Add some texture for the interior of the marble. Apply the Clouds () effect (Effects -> Render -> Clouds) with blue color, but you could use pretty much any texture you like: This next step is optional, but it's nice to do if you want a little more realistic-looking marble. Use Zoom Blur Deluxe effect (Effects -> Blurs -> Zoom Blur Deluxe) (or use the Sin Waves effect by @MadJik, or use the built-in Dents () effect... get creative here) to change the texture to suit your taste: Now it's time for Shape3D (Effects -> Render -> Shape3D). Set the Sphere Scaling to 1.380, use the Half Sphere Map texture, and leave the rest at default (except for Anti-alias, check the ON box and set AA-Level between 2 and 5): We now have the beginning of our marble. Lighting is what makes things look glassy, so first, we're going to make what looks like an inner highlight. With the Magic Wand () tool select the transparent area on the image and then invert (Ctrl+I) the selection. That should leave you with just the marble selected: Add a new () layer above the marble texture, Primary color should be white, and Secondary color should be fully transparent. Start your Radial Gradient ( ) in the center of the shadowed area of the marble texture, and end it on the opposite side of the marble a bit closer to the marble's center: We don't want the gradient to go all the way to the marble's edge, so use the Move Selection () tool (and hold down the Shift key) to drag the bottom-right selection nub up and to the left... basically shrinking the selection towards the upper-left corner of the canvas: Invert (Ctrl+I) the selection and press Delete to get something like this: Now, we need to soften this inner highlight a bit. Use the Gaussian Blur () effect (Effects -> Blurs -> Gaussian Blur): Next, add a new () layer above the inner highlight to create a shiny spot at the top-left portion of the marble. Choose the Brush () tool with a size of about 90-100 and Hardness 20% - One click to make a spot like this in White: If necessary, apply the Glow () effect with default settings (Effects -> Photo -> Glow) and the Gaussian Blur () effect (with a radius found experimentally) a couple of times to finish the shiny spot. Now we need to add another highlight at the top of the marble on a new () layer. This is going to be in an oval-shaped area centered on the marble's vertical axis and stretching from the top to about 2/3 of the way to the bottom. Use Ellipse Selection () tool to create this area and going to fill it with a vertical Gradient ( ) (again, white fading to transparent) from bottom to top: Use Gaussian Blur effect at a low (8-12) radius to soften the edges a bit. Repeat (Ctrl+F) if necessary. This highlight may be a bit harsh, so adjust the layer's opacity settings () until it's a fairly subdued highlight: If your texture was fairly dark, you may not need this next step, but if you have a lighter-colored texture, you'll need to add a bit of shading to get the small highlight to show up and make the marble look good. Set your colors to Black and White (), and create a new () layer above the Background layer. Select the marble's circular texture area (you can go back to the Background layer, select () transparent area, invert the selection (Ctrl+I) and come back to this new layer you just created above it). Use the Linear Gradient ( ) tool and make your gradient go from the top-left edge to the bottom-right edge: Change the blending mode of this layer to "Multiply", and adjust the opacity until it looks good: After saving, flattening, resizing, adding (in any way you like) a background and a shadow, you should be able to get something like this: Below is the outcome of following the tutorial by @welshblue: Try playing with the lighting as it masterful makes @welshblue and you will get even more impressive result: We hope you find it useful, please share your creations and suggestions with us all.

And another good example of application!

I sent PM to @sancto2018.

Use the link from the above post by @toe_head2001.

Conservatism, which is easily overcome after a short use of Windows 10 (tested on personal experience). @xpclient, no offense, but Windows 10 is much more progressive. Sorry, for off topic.

CodeLab 4.3 in Russian You can find the new version of CodeLab in Russian here. Вы можете найти новую версию CodeLab на русском языке здесь.

Before installing Plugin Pack, click Manage color palettes and select Open Palettes Folder from the list. The folder will be created automatically.

Version 1.1 released. Added 'Show Original Image' checkbox. Added Help file. User Interface and Help file are available in English and Russian.

@welshblue, I became interested in this technique when I read your comment and then read @n d's answer to your question

My English isn't good enough. Google translator tells me that hold is correct. I will fix it soon. Thanks for the clarification. Currently, I have no ideas how to use Color Range effect to achieve your goal. Perhaps someone of the forum members will be able to join this thread and help you.

I never thought that the technique of using the old and a little forgotten effect can cause such interest. Your outcomes point to a many variants usage of this plugin. Thank you for sharing your works in this and other threads.

Use the Color Picker () Tool to define the skin tone as the Primary (left click) or Secondary (right click) color. When the effect is applied, your color will be saved or removed accordingly.

@Robert Smith, if you looks to paint.net documentation, this tutorial should not cause you any problems. This is a very,very simple tutorial - just a few clicks. Open your image (Ctrl+O). Duplicate Layer (Ctrl+Shift+D), desaturate (Ctrl+Shift+G), and invert it (Ctrl+Shift+I). Click F4 and select Reflect Blending Mode for this layer. Run Brightness / Contrast adjustment (Ctrl+Shift+T), set one of the controls (Brightness or Contrast) to -1 and merge layers (Ctrl+M). That's all. Hope this was helpful.

I like how you "hijack" this thread! Together with your outcomes and your comments, this tutorial is becoming more and more popular. Thank you for that.

And one more great outcome!

@Eli, rather interesting using of effects! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks to all for sharing your outcomes and for the nice comments and reps! There are many more ways to use the Shaped Gradient plugin. Take a look at using of the shapes in the first image in @Pixey's post, or the first image in your post, or at the @welshblue 's outcomes (sorry for the unfortunate (poor) construction of this phrase in English). @welshblue, very amazing outcomes! I'm always surprised at your ability to look deep into some things!

This tutorial is available as a PDF. Click here to view or download it @n d described the technique of creating original images in the topic Shaped gradient - my first plugin. Required plugin: Shaped Gradient by @n d Additional plugins: Cell Texture by @davidf Radial Prism by @Xhin I used 600x450 px canvas in all variations. Variant 1 Create a New () Image. With the Paintbrush () Tool of size 50, apply a few dots to the canvas. Select dots using the Magic Wand () Tool in Global () Flood Mode. Apply the Shaped Gradient effect (Effects -> Selection -> Shaped Gradient) with the settings below and we will get this result: Invert the selection (Ctrl+I), repeat (Ctrl+F) the Shaped Gradient effect, deselect (Ctrl+D) and we get the final result. Variant 2 Create a New () Image. Use the default colors () and set the transparency of the Secondary color to 128. Apply the Clouds () effect (Effects -> Render -> Clouds), Scale - 125, Roughness - 0.35: Select part of the clouds using the Magic Wand Tool in Global Flood Mode. Apply the Shaped Gradient effect with the settings below Invert the selection (Ctrl+I), repeat (Ctrl+F) the Shaped Gradient effect, deselect (Ctrl+D) and we get the next final result. Variant 3 Create a New () Image. Apply the Cell Texture effect (Effects -> Render -> Cell Texture) with the settings below Select the cells (item 1 in the image below) using the Magic Wand Tool in Global Flood Mode and move the cursor (item 2) to create space between cells. Apply the Shaped Gradient effect with the settings below Invert the selection (Ctrl+I), repeat (Ctrl+F) the Shaped Gradient effect, deselect (Ctrl+D) and we get another final result. Variant 4 Create a New () Image. Apply the Add Noise () effect (Effects -> Noise -> Add Noise), Intensity - 100, Color Saturation - 0, Coverage - 100. Then use the Pixelate () effect (Effects -> Distort -> Pixelate) with Cell Size 60. Apply the Brightness / Contrast () adjustment (Adjustments -> Brightness / Contrast), Brightness: -100, Contrast: 0. With the Magic Wand Tool in Global Flood Mode, select the black areas of the image. Apply the Shaped Gradient effect with the settings below Invert the selection (Ctrl+I), repeat (Ctrl+F) the Shaped Gradient effect, deselect (Ctrl+D). Another interesting result. Variant 5 Create a New () Image. With the Paintbrush Tool of different sizes, apply a few dots to the canvas. Select the white areas of the image with the Magic Wand Tool and cut (Ctrl+X) them out. Apply the Frosted Glass () effect (Effects -> Distort -> Frosted Glass) with the settings below Then with the Magic Wand Tool in Global Flood Mode, select the black dots. Apply the Shaped Gradient effect with the settings below Invert the selection (Ctrl+I), repeat (Ctrl+F) the Shaped Gradient effect, deselect (Ctrl+D), and we got another interesting result. Now let's color this variant. Between first applying the Shaped Gradient effect and inverting the selection (Ctrl+I), apply the Curves () adjustment (Adjustments -> Curves) with the settings below and then the Radial Prism (Effects -> Color -> Radial Prism) effect with the settings below Invert the selection (Ctrl+I), apply the Shaped Gradient effect with the same settings. Again apply the Curves with the same parameters and then apply the Radial Prism effect with the settings below. Deselect (Ctrl+D) and enjoy the result.