Picture Frame Glass Effect

[claytoncarney]

Is there a way in GIMP to take an existing image and simulate the effect of placing a sheet of glass on top of the image (viz., a photo in a picture frame)?

[Tas_mania]

check this out @ gimp-forum.

https://www.gimp-forum.net/Thread-Glass-effect

[rich2005]

(08-06-2026, 11:00 PM)claytoncarney Wrote: Is there a way in GIMP to take an existing image and simulate the effect of placing a sheet of glass on top of the image (viz., a photo in a picture frame)?

Question.  What sort of effect should it be ?

Looking at a "photo in a frame" across the room, I see the reflection of an adjacent window (and all the scenery behind the window)

It might be a simple light reflection and you might get there using Filters -> Light & Shadow -> Lighting effects.  This is an old plugin, not one of my favourites.

(1) Starting with a picture in a frame (the gmic plugin http://www.gmic.eu does frames)
(2) A new black layer and the lighting effects dialogues I changed the colour and intensity also material specular value.  You need to experiment with this filter. Some setting will crash it.
(3) The new layer - The layer mode set to Overlay and opacity reduced. The frame suffers a bit.

   
   

[claytoncarney]

(08-08-2026, 08:25 AM)rich2005 Wrote:

(08-06-2026, 11:00 PM)claytoncarney Wrote: Is there a way in GIMP to take an existing image and simulate the effect of placing a sheet of glass on top of the image (viz., a photo in a picture frame)?

Question.  What sort of effect should it be ?

I use 3D stereograms ('magic eye') for vision training. I find placing a sheet of glass or acetate over an image encourages the eye divergence needed to perceive the 3D image.

I was looking for a way to digitally simulate the same effect.

[rich2005]

(08-10-2026, 03:23 AM)claytoncarney Wrote: Question.  What sort of effect should it be ?

I use 3D stereograms ('magic eye') for vision training. I find placing a sheet of glass or acetate over an image encourages the eye divergence needed to perceive the 3D image.

I was looking for a way to digitally simulate the same effect.

The only thing I can suggest is take a photograph of the effect you want to replicate.  This a "magiceye" (from internet) printed and placed under a sheet of acrylic.  To prevent reflections from adjacent walls / lights / ..everything  I took it in a "tent".  Comparing with original there are patches.

   

There is a filter in the gmic_gimp_qt plugin (http://www.gmic.eu) that makes "Light Leaks" but really just a black layer in screen mode with reduced opacity, much the same as before.

   

There is some interest in 3D anangyphs  across at http://www.gimpchat.com Worth asking there, but do give details of what you are looking for.

[denzjos]

My try : put a white layer on the 3D picture (thanks for the picture rich - a 3D bear I think) with opacity 15 and another layer with a photo on both layers with opacity 35.

   

[sallyanne]

There is the 'glass tile' filter in artistic in gimp. Default is many tiles but you can make them any size you want.