Images in Panels or Polyptychs

[barbieq25]

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

Plugins:

Object Align -Part of KrisVDM Pack

Mirror - Part of Evanolds pack

Gaussian Blur

Drop Shadow - also part of KrisVDM Pack

What you are aiming for:

For this one we will make it a wallpaper. I will use 1280 x 768 as the finished size.

Step 1:

Open a new image to 2560 x 1536 so that it is twice the finish size. At 4 times my computer will crash but I usually work at 4 times the finished size if doing 800 x 600.

Step 2:

Make a new layer.

Step 3:

With black as you colour, select filled rectangle. Draw a black rectangle approximately in the centre, approximately 600 pixels wide and 1000 high. It really doesn't need to be exact. You can make more panels or adjust the size, width, height to suit yourself.

See image below for the method:

Step 4:

Use Object Align – Center Both

Step 5:

New layer

Step 6:

Again make a rectangle about 400 x 700 on the left hand side. When moving elements, always use the ellipse or rectangle select. Magic Wand will leave pixels behind – not a good look.

Step 7:

Move the image so that it is about 50 pixels to the left of the centre rectangle.

Step 8:

Object Align – Vertically

Step 9:

Mirror left half over right.

Step 10:

New layer and make a rectangle about 300 x 500. Move the image so that it is about 50 pixels to the left of the previous rectangle.

Step 11:

Object Align – Vertically

Step 12:

Mirror left half over right.

You can make the rectangles any size you like, have more or less, alter the alignment etc.

You should now have something that looks like this. The white is just so you can see it better.

Step 13:

Merge all the rectangles down.

Step 14:

Duplicate the layer. (Ctrl + Shift + D)

Step 15:

New layer between the two rectangle layers.

Step 16:

Open any image you like and paste into the new layer. You will probably have to resize it. The black rectangles will indicate what you will be left with. Experiment!

Step 17:

Magic Wand at 50% (default) the top rectangle layer anywhere outside the black.

Step 18:

Go to your image layer and press Delete on the keyboard.

Step 19:

Move the image layer up one.

Step 20:

Select all of the bottom black rectangles layer with Rectangle Select tool. Select Move Pixels or press ‘m’ on the keyboard.

Step 21:

Using your directional arrows on the keyboard, press once to the left.

Step 22:

Hold down the CTRL key and press the right arrow key 3 more times and the down key 3 times.

Each time you hold down the CTRL key & press the arrow key it moves the selection by 10 pixels at a time. Without the CTRL key it moves them 1 pixel only. If you don’t do it once without the CTRL it copies as it moves. We don’t want this to happen.

Step 23:

On the layer you’ve just moved, run a Gaussian Blur @ 40 or so.

You can stop at this stage, depending on the look you want and just add a background. I’ve used both on different images.

This is what you should have now.

In the example I’ve duplicated the blurred layer to give it more “pop” on the background. The white background again is to show the work.

Continue for a thicker panel…

Step 24:

On the picture panels, run a Drop Shadow at default.

Step 25:

Turn off or delete the unblurred layer.

Step 26:

Run Trail as shown below.

Step 27:

You may have to duplicate the blurred layer depending on the darkness of your background, as I did.

Step 28:

Add a new layer to the very bottom of your image & create a background of your choice.

Step 29:

I always save as a .PDN first and then as a .PNG

Step 30:

Resize the image to 50% and save. Done!

Please post your result & any questions as I am happy to help.

[ventor1]

Great tutorial barbieq25.

There is so much that one could do with this... different sized panels, etc.

Once again, thank you!!!

Edited February 1, 2011 by ventor1

[barbieq25]

Very nice outcome Ventor! Yes, there is so much you can do with this one.

[chrisco97]

Thanks for posting! I love the result of this.

[dug]

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n633/dug10/BBQTute.png

Here is my attempt at a well cool and easy to understand tute.This has got my mind expanding on this whole idea. Cheers m' dear!

[barbieq25]

Dug, what an amazing image! I love what you've done with this image.

Welshy, astounding. I just love the outcomes people are posting. Each one has their own take. Very smooth Welshy!

[JulioCoolio]

Here's my result! I used a Windows 7 wallpaper as my stock image, but the background behind the pannels I made myself. What do you think?

[barbieq25]

I love it! The background texture is very good. I love what you did with the panels. I like the ultra flat look of the panels too. It works really well with the 3D mountains. Very good work!

Edited February 4, 2011 by barbieq25

[JulioCoolio]

Thanks for the comment and thanks for the tutorial!!!

[gekkoutora23]

Good tutorial. Here is my take. I would love your comments and constructive criticism. I am somewhat new to paint.net.

Edited February 5, 2011 by gekkoutora23

[ventor1]

Good tutorial. Here is my take. I would love your comments and constructive criticism. I am somewhat new to paint.net.

Very nice... the tile effect on the columns works a treat!

[gekkoutora23]

Very nice... the tile effect on the columns works a treat!

Thank you. Just experimenting with the different effects with paint.net.

[barbieq25]

I think the outcome works very well. I have always loved the tile effect. Yours is great!

The idea of course is to remove the rest of image that you started with but your idea works very well too. Goonfella did a different take on it too.

[gekkoutora23]

I think the outcome works very well. I have always loved the tile effect. Yours is great!

The idea of course is to remove the rest of image that you started with but your idea works very well too. Goonfella did a different take on it too.

I know but the idea just popped into my head when i was going thru the tutorial. i have took several of my wallpapers and put the effect to it. if you want i can post them.

Edited February 8, 2011 by gekkoutora23

[barbieq25]

Please do! I'd love to see different ways of using this effect.

[Manc]

Very nice idea this Barbie,will post my effort soon.Another good tute,thanks.

[MadJik]

I've give a try to this tuto, it gives good results...

[barbieq25]

Madjik, what a stunning result! I like the colours & the shapes. Very glassy & classy! It is good to see people applying techniques & using the tutes to their own advantage. Super!

[Ego Eram Reputo]

Gosh. That is just..... stunning MadJik. Really. Wow.

[MadJik]

Thanks, I took an abstract from my stock:

Then I use the kaleidoscope helper to cut in pieces.

The background is a blured perlin texture.

It's a 10min pict

[barbieq25]

Incredibly beautiful! I think it is tute worthy. It might only be 10 mins work but it is lovely. It certainly would boost the confidence of new ones (wouldn't hurt older ones either).

[MadJik]

I was talking about this as a 10 min pict!

The stock image should be few more complex but it is too older for me to recall the process...

I could give a try.

Edit (10min after):

The stock image is

. a gradient with 2 colors (not black)

+ Tile reflection (large to have as less as cell as possible, curvature 20-25)

+ Tube oblique (x & y to +max or -max, quality to max)

+ Seamless texture (default)

+ color flip/rotate

You should have something near...

[Iwonder_who]

Just trying this out, works very well. Added a bevel edge to each section as well. Thanks :-)

[ChitoDog]

Very nice outcome barbieq25. I was wondering if you or someone else can help me out a bit here? You sort of lost me after step 12. After Where you say "Mirror left half over right". Are we then suppose to be on our own and make a new layer per rectangle then use the MIrror effect according to the rectangles' position? Then once we're done with our complete images of rectangles we go to step 13?

But then again on step 13 you say "Merge all the rectangles down.", but then on step 15 you say "New layer between the two rectangle layers." Which two rectangle layers are we talking here? I thought we already merged all the layers down in step 13? Sorry for the noob questionss, I'm just a bit confused.

[yellowman]

After Where you say "Mirror left half over right". Are we then suppose to be on our own and make a new layer per rectangle then use the MIrror effect according to the rectangles' position? Then once we're done with our complete images of rectangles we go to step 13?

Yes

But then again on step 13 you say "Merge all the rectangles down.", but then on step 15 you say "New layer between the two rectangle layers." Which two rectangle layers are we talking here? I thought we already merged all the layers down in step 13? Sorry for the noob questionss, I'm just a bit confused.

Merge all rectangles down, so you have one layer of 5 rectangles in it, and in step 14 it says Duplicate this layer, that means the resulted layer "which has 5 rectangular in it should be duplicated",

Then in step 15 add a new layer in between those two layers of step 14.

Hope its clear