How To Make An Ice Cube ( Updated On March 17, 2016 )

[Nai]

How To Make An Ice Cube 

 

 

Intro

 

Anyone who have visited my gallery possibly will remember this picture :

 

 

And now I'll open the secret of how to do an ice cube like you seen above. Just an ice cube.

 

I have figured how to do that ice cube for two years, before I found a right, simple method to you to enjoy.

 

At the end of this tutorial, you will get something like this :

 

 

 

Now lets begin the tutorial !

 

Level : Intermediate to Advance level user

 

Updates : These updates are based on MJW's suggestions and how I interpretating it.

 

Plugins : 

 

1. MKT's Shape 3-D

2. Pyrochild's Liquify

3. MichealVinther's Texturize

4. Boltbait's Bevel Selection

5. Red Ochre's Object Edge

6. Red Ochre's Clipwarp ( Old one also useful ) 

 

How to do it :

 

1. Start Paint.NET, duplicate background layer twice. 

 

 

And then open up Shape 3-D. Run Shape 3D on each layers.

Here are the set-up for each layers :

 

First Layer

 

 

Second Layer

 

 

Then, choose Adjustment>Invert Colors.

Change layer properties :

 

 

Third Layer

 

Shape 3D

 

 

Layer Properties :

 

 

2. At the first layer, select each one of the surface and bevel it with bevel selection :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the end you'll get something like this :

 

 

 

Run Object Edge with this setting :

 

 

 

4. At second layer, run Object Edge with this setting :

 

 

 

4. At the third layer, run Object Edge with this setting :

 

 

5. Paste ice texture into a new layer. Put that new layer into the background. Copy that background into clipboard and then run clipwarp at ice cube layer. Run according to the settings suggested below :

 

 

 

I use texture image from this site : http://pre12.deviantart.net/1605/th/pre/i/2012/039/c/b/ice_texture___2_by_agf81-d4p2kkm.jpg

 

After finishing it, deactivate the background layer and set a background layer with gradient fill like you see in the picture below :

 

 

5. Duplicate the ice cube layer 2 times. Let the first one in Normal layer. While the other two in these settings :

 

 

 

 

For not confusing yourself, you can rename those layers.

 

 

 

8. Create a new layer. Paint the layer with white colour as shown in this picture :

 

 

Blur it with Gaussian Blur :

 

 

 

9. Back to the basic ice layer. Duplicate it. Texturize it using Texturize plugin. Use this settings :  

 

 

 

 

I used this texture and copy it to the clipboard before running Texturize plugin :

 

http://orig08.deviantart.net/3cea/f/2012/005/0/8/ice_texture_by_digitalwideresource-d4ldqap.jpg

 

But you can use other ice texture as well.

 

Erase the unnecessary part until you get something you like. Merge that layer with the basic ice layer.

 

10. Run Liquify plugin. 

 

 

 

 

To copy how the real ice cube looked like, simply put the effect on deserved area.

 

Repeat the same thing on other ice layers by using Ctrl+F and you're done !

 

 

 

 

Extra Tips :

If you wish to have a magical blue light inside the ice cubes ( like those you see in Adobe PS Tutorial ), simply paint blue colour to a new layer and run a Gaussian Blur on it. Set the layer to Overlay with opacity 86. Here are where that layer is located :

 

 

I use this colour settings to create that magical blue light effect :

 

 

 

I think you can make it better than mine.

 

All the best !

Edited March 18, 2016 by Nai

[Maximilian]

There was a time when I wanted to make an ice cube, but put the project on hold. Thanks for this very neat tute! The result looks amazing!

[HELEN]

You have an interesting approach to this! Love this and nice job!

[Pixey]

Very interesting tutorial @Nai - I will be giving it a try soon and thank you .

 

P.S.  The link to the ice image is not working.  I think the colon : is too close to the link - sometimes that messes it up.

Edited March 14, 2016 by Pixey

[toe_head2001]

You can apply the texture before running Shape3D, but it needs to be mapped correctly.

P.S.  The link to the ice image is not working.  I think the colon : is too close to the link - sometimes that messes it up.

 

The protocol notation is wrong. It says http// instead of http://

Ideally, it should be https://

https://pre12.deviantart.net/1605/th/pre/i/2012/039/c/b/ice_texture___2_by_agf81-d4p2kkm.jpg

[Nai]

Maximilian, Helen, Pixey & toe_head2001, thank you so much !

[Pixey]

Thank s @Nai - here is my attempt.

 

 

 

 

[Nai]

That's wonderful, Pixey !

[MJW]

I think it might be possible, and perhaps advantageous, to create the back faces of the ice cube by using the feature of Shape3D which allows the faces to be selectively drawn. The checkbox controls for the individual faces are in the first section, below the All Face button.

[Nai]

Thanks for the feedback, MJW !

 

It can be achieved by adjusting the transparency of the object, checked that transparency box and adjust the transparency around 185-183.

 

However, we're still needing Step 6 & Step 7 to create the back face and the base of the ice cube. Because we need different level of brightness and darkness to create that effect.

Edited March 17, 2016 by Nai

[MJW]

If each of the three back faces is created on a separate layer using Shape3D's selective drawing feature, the brightness can be individually adjusted.

[Nai]

If each of the three back faces is created on a separate layer using Shape3D's selective drawing feature, the brightness can be individually adjusted.

Thank you for that suggestion. Can you show how to do that visually ?

Edited March 17, 2016 by Nai

[MJW]

If necessary, but it's essentially just duplicating the texture layer three times, then running Shape3D with the same setup on each layer, except checking only Bottom on one layer, Right (or Left, depending on the cube orientation) on another layer, and Back on the third layer. Now each layer can have the brightness, contrast, saturation, etc. changed, and also the blend modes and transparency. Alternately, the layers can simply be used to obtain the selections for each region, rather than having to create them by hand. My original point, such as it was, is that it's probably easier to let Shape3D determine the shape of the back surfaces than to do it with manual selections.

[Nai]

If necessary, but it's essentially just duplicating the texture layer three times, then running Shape3D with the same setup on each layer, except checking only Bottom on one layer, Right (or Left, depending on the cube orientation) on another layer, and Back on the third layer. Now each layer can have the brightness, contrast, saturation, etc. changed, and also the blend modes and transparency. Alternately, the layers can simply be used to obtain the selections for each region, rather than having to create them by hand. My original point, such as it was, is that it's probably easier to let Shape3D determine the shape of the back surfaces than to do it with manual selections.

Thanks ! Updates

will be available as soon as possible.

Edited March 18, 2016 by Nai

[lynxster4]

Nai, I've been wanting to try this tutorial.  I've finally made some time to do it.  

 

Here's my try at your 'cool' tutorial!   

 

 

 

 

Thank you for making the tutorial!     

Edited July 29, 2017 by lynxster4
re-hosted image

[Seerose]

lynxster!  

 

Bravo...     

[Nai]

On 5/15/2016 at 10:33 AM, lynxster4 said:

Nai, I've been wanting to try this tutorial.  I've finally made some time to do it.  

 

Thank you for making the tutorial!     

You're welcome ! :-)

[Shochi]

Well, dear @Nai tried some how not with all the plugins you mention, cause the wont work on my version.

but for you i used some other effects.

Btw. good for you on this post.