Create Dispersion Effect in Paint.NET [Slight Update]

[TrevorOutlaw 300]

This tutorial is available as a PDF. Click here to view or download it

The introduction of the Brush Factory has opened up PDN to being able to create the dispersion effect that is really cool and nifty.  While it is not the perfect method to create the effect, the purpose of this tutorial is to teach you to use Brush Factory and Alpha Mask import plug-in to create an effect like below.

 

 

Required plug-ins -> Brush Factory, Liquify, and Alpha Mask Import

 

The latest Brush Factory now support Photoshop brush such as disintegration style.

 

A word of advice: Drill into your head this simple instruction, white is to "keep" and black is "erase", when it comes to using brush and masking as it will be revealed in the steps below.

 

I will not be teaching you how to cut out your model of choice in Paint.NET, there are tutorials on the forums that sufficiently shows you different technique to separate the model from background.  I decided instead of doing the whole body of the model, I focused on the upper torso to make it easier to teach this technique.  With no further ado, the lesson begins.

 

Step 1) Create a total of five layers.  For the sake of this tutorial, the naming convention is merely a teaching guide, so when I refer to what layer, you will know what layer I am working on!

 

Step 2) On the layer named "Dispersion", go to Effects>Tools>Liquify and exaggerate the model left's body.  I set the size of brush to 100, pressure to 100%, and density at default.  Some might be thinking, "Why?"  You will see.

 

Now the creativity starts here.  NOTE: I have personally found it to be faster to select the entire layer by using the Move Tool  and clicking once outside the canvas area and click on copy.

 

Step 3) On the "Erase" layer, copy the model, and hide the "Dispersion" layer for now.  Next, click on the layer "Full Opacity" and launch the Brush Factory.  When the plug-in loads, right-click for the mouse menu and click "Use clipboard for background."  This is a handy feature that I love about the Brush Factory.  It will make this step a doozy.

 

Click on the brush folder to select the brush effect you want to use.  The choice is up to you.  Now, this is very important, click on "Color" and select black.  See the screenshot if you are confused.

 

Step 4) This step is absolutely crucial that you pay attention to what you are doing, otherwise alpha mask won't work right.  While on the "Full Opacity" layer, activate the paint fill tool and switch to white.  On the toolbar, make sure "Sampling" is set to layer.  One handy feature I didn't notice until playing was the use of the tolerance slider with the paint bucket tool, and it is nifty to use.  For clarity's sake, I included the following screenshot so you will get it, I hid the "Erase" layer so you can see what I am teaching you.

 

Step 5) It is now time to mask and "erase" portion of the model.  With "Full Opacity" layer still activate, use the Move Tool and click once outside the canvas area to select the whole layer.  Click on copy, then click on deselect, and hide the "Full Opacity" layer.  Finally, activate the "Erase" layer and run alpha mask.  Make sure to check on "Mix Alpha" and tada!  If necessary run alpha mask again to erase further if you wish, I did.

 

Still with me so far?  Good!  Let's keep the creative juice flowing.

 

Step 6) Unhide the "Dispersion" layer, using the Move Tool, click once outside the canvas to select the whole layer, copy it, and activate the "Transparency" Layer by clicking on it.  Now, launch the Brush Factory again.  Again, "Use clipboard for background" to be your guide.  Using the Brush folder, click on "Add Brush" and select a different brush to use.  Change the "Color" to white because we want to keep some of this exaggeration.  A word of advice: instead of keeping the same size, play with different size and brush rotation.  Make it creative and interesting.  Uniformity is boring!  I tried to recreate a "wavy" dispersion effect like the titular graphic.

 

Step 7) Now here comes the magic!  While still on "Transparency" layer, bucket fill the layer with black.  Play with the tolerance slider.  Nifty, nifty feature...thanks Rick!

Step 😎 Select the "Transparency" layer by the method you have learned, hide this layer, and activate the "Dispersion" layer.  Run alpha mask and behold your effect!

 

This technique was used in the creation of the two images below.

 

[Ego Eram Reputo 2,833]

Fabulous tutorial Trevor! Thank you so much for sharing this technique

 

[AndrewDavid 732]

 

@TrevorOutlaw Thanks for showing me the basic concepts. Learned a few things with Alpha Mask and Brush Factory.

Artistic freedom used to enhance with a few other plugins. Trail and Scatter to name a few. Here's my end result.

 

 

Edited April 14, 2018 by AndrewDavid
Changed attachment to link

[LionsDragon 939]

Oooh wow...I have been wondering how you created this effect. Thanks Trevor!

 

 

[TrevorOutlaw 300]

@Ego Eram Reputo It was time I contributed something back to this fine community of PDN users.

 

@AndrewDavid Now, that's trippy.  I'm glad to have helped.  For some people, alpha masking is very troubling, so the technique I hope will open the door to potentials unleashed.

 

@LionsDragon Let see what you come up with.

[Woodsy 859]

What a cool affect @TrevorOutlaw! It can be used for so many things!

[lynxster4 3,279]

I'm right there with 'cool'.  I will def try this out!   Thank you @TrevorOutlaw!   

[LionsDragon 939]

"The Dryad."

 

[Ishi 194]

Thanks for the tutorial.

 

Additionally,  if you want smaller and finer, sand-like dissolving particles, you can duplicate the layers with the scattering particles on, go to Effects>>Distort>>Frosted Glass and play around with the maximum and minimum scatter radius. I have gotten to use the built-in Frosted Glass effect for sand-like dissolving textures and I think, that built-in plugin needed some love and would make this technique even better.

 

 

 

 

[TrevorOutlaw 300]

@LionsDragon Nice execution.  One thing...is the woman being transformed into a tree or the tree transformed into the woman?

 

@Ishi I would like to see the effect in play as you described.  A picture is worth a thousand words.

 

Big shout out to @Ego Eram Reputo and @Woodsy for the PDF!

[Ego Eram Reputo 2,833]

You're welcome Trevor (Woodsy does most of the work )

 

[LionsDragon 939]

@TrevorOutlaw --Yes. The Dryad and the tree are one and the same (according to folklore), which is why I made the dispersion ambiguous.

 

 

[TrevorOutlaw 300]

8 hours ago, welshblue said:

One question ... why play with bucket fill tolerances when you can add a white or black layer below the relevant colour mask layer and merge them to get your mask ?

 

Because I'm lazy! 

 

Seriously...I have found, purely by accident, that sometime the brush leaves a bit too much on the canvas, and I thought that by reducing it a wee bit would be quicker than having to add a black or white layer below the brush.  Efficiency is what I aim for in many of my projects.  It's the electronic technician in me, I guess.

 

By the way, nice job with the effect in your image.  I think if you had erased a bit of the backside, the effect would be more pronounced.

Edited September 6, 2017 by TrevorOutlaw

[Seerose 4,279]

 @TrevorOutlaw! Thanks again.   

 

 

 

[Seerose 4,279]

 @welshblue!    I like the last figure, great effect thanks.  

[TrevorOutlaw 300]

@Seerose Very nice attempt.  Two suggestions: try not to make it obvious you used liquify the model, and where you want the dispersion effect to start, make it looks like the witch is dissolving.

 

@welshblue Very nice!  I especially like the crack across the face, it gives that surreal feel to it.  I agree that it would be easier in Photoshop, which is why I am patiently waiting for someone to make a plug-in as requested here. 

[Seerose 4,279]

@TrevorOutlaw! Thanks for the good tip. I will try again.  

[Vagabondi 619]

Well, I tried... Thanks @TrevorOutlaw

 

[Ego Eram Reputo 2,833]

That is really good Vagabondi! 👍
 

[TrevorOutlaw 300]

7 hours ago, Vagabondi said:

Well, I tried... Thanks @TrevorOutlaw

 

 

I like it!  Very creative and original.

[Djisves 595]