Help with making this effect look more realistic

[Tygra]

Hi guys,

I am trying create a similar effect on my predator image (the first image) as it is in the photograph from the movie (the second image), where there are link blue sparks of electricity. I know it looks very different at the moment, but I am trying to make it look more realistic. At the moment the blue sparks on the first image looks like it is just pasted over the top of predator, as opposed to making it look like it is actually on his body.

Do you guys know what technique I could use to make it look like the blue sparks are actually on his body?

Many thanks.

[sallyanne]

   
What I did was open a picture of the predator. Make a selection around it (background was easier for me as it was one colour) then invert that selection. Add a transparent layer and use the sparks brush to draw your sparks where you want them. The brush is yellow so you will have to change the colour in colourize to the colour you want your sparks to be. Then while the top layer is selected change the layer mode to 'grain merge' This should give you the expected result.

[denzjos]

I tried this. Create a new transparent layer. Use the "Sparks" brush (a round yellow-orange dot). Set the brush settings to your liking: aspect ratio 10, distance 100, etc.
Draw on the transparent layer. Change the color to blue using "Colors / Hue-Chroma." Filters / Distortions / Offset / Vertical. Then use "Filters / Blur / Gaussian Blur." Set the layer mode of the transparent layer to "Merge." Duplicate the transparent layer and set its layer mode to "Overlay."

   

[rich2005]

(01-09-2026, 09:57 PM)Tygra Wrote: Hi guys,

I am trying create a similar effect on my predator image (the first image) as it is in the photograph from the movie (the second

Maybe experiment something like this:
(1) New transparent layer and paint in some selections using the quickmask.  (Shift-Q toggle)
(2) Fill the selections with a gradient - white/cyan - with Shape = dimpled.
(3) Apply a displacement map on the layer using the bg image as the map. Break the link between horizontal and vertical.

   

[Tygra]

Hi guys, thank you for your time and effort. I am just practising with your methods now.

[Tygra]

So I have made another attempt at doing the sparks/electricity on Predator, this time with another image.

I like the effects on his body seen best in the second image, but I'm not so sure about the sparks/electricity around Predator in the first image.

I have been trying for ages to create a sporadic effect for the sparks around his body to make them look random. I am currently using the the kaleidoscope distortion filter and then some warp using the warp tool and then the spherize distortion filter.
 
Do you guys have a better way of creating a random and sporadic effect? Hopefully without using brushes. I am not very good with using brushes.

Many thanks.

[denzjos]

What I did: Copy the original layer to a new layer. Go to "Filters / Artistic / Photocopy" on the new layer. Use the sliders to get the desired contours. Copy this layer three or more times and color these three (or more) layers with different shades of blue. Blur this layers (Filters / Blur / Gaussian Blur). Set the layer mode of these three (or more) layers to "Grain Merge." Play with the "Opacity" of these three layers and create a new layer from these three layers with "New from Visible" and use "Colors / Curves" to optimize the color. Then 'Filters / Enhance / Sharpen'
   

[Tygra]

(01-13-2026, 04:43 PM)denzjos Wrote: What I did: Copy the original layer to a new layer. Go to "Filters / Artistic / Photocopy" on the new layer. Use the sliders to get the desired contours. Copy this layer three or more times and color these three (or more) layers with different shades of blue. Blur this layers (Filters / Blur / Gaussian Blur). Set the layer mode of these three (or more) layers to "Grain Merge." Play with the "Opacity" of these three layers and create a new layer from these three layers with "New from Visible" and use "Colors / Curves" to optimize the color. Then 'Filters / Enhance / Sharpen'

Hi denzjos,

thanks, using the photocopy filter is extremely useful for creating a black and white layer by which you can make a much easier selection of the areas you want. 

What about if I want to make a completely random and sporadic pattern around the predator for the sparks? What technique and filters could I use?

Many thanks.

[denzjos]

I tried this. Create a new square layer with 'Filters / Render / Noise / Smooth Noise' (value 16).
Use 'Colors / Curves' to convert the noise into random lines.
Then go to 'Filters / Blur / Gaussian Blur' (value 4).
Copy the layer to a new layer. Rotate this new layer 90 degrees (Tools / Transform Tool / Rotate).
Set the rotated layer's mode to 'Overlay'.
Create a new layer called 'Color 2'. Use 'Colors / Brightness-Contrast' to reduce the noise (Brightness -14, Contrast 80).
Go to Colors / Colors (use the default color).
Copy the result to a new layer, change the color to dark blue (Colors / Hue-Chroma) and name it 'Color 1'.
Blur the result and move this layer below 'Color 2'.
Remove the black color: 'Colors / Color to Alpha'.
Set the opacity of the "Color 2" layer to 25.