Creating Rings
Created by: ZuAtHome @2000

The first three (3) Tutorials are able to be used as stand-alone space images. The fourth (4) tutorial creates a .jpg comet image for animation. The series is created so that in the fifth (5) tutorial, using a Screen Saver Program, one is able to use these images to create a Screen Saver for use on their computers.

The second tutorial in a series used to create graphics for a space screen saver:

• Part 1 - Planets
• Part 2 - Rings (This Tutorial)
• Part 3 - Galaxies
• Part 4 - Comets
• Part 5 - The Screen Saver

You may use one of your planets or may download the red-orange planet here.
Tip: Save your work using the .PSP format.

Note: For the Screen Saver Tutorial, save the Rings Planet as a GIF file with a transparent background.

OVERVIEW: Creating Rings uses techniques to:

• Create Rings using a Gradient Pattern
• Slant them with the deformation tool
• Duplicate and put Planet Layer as middle layer
• Erase Top Part of Rings to appear behind Planet
• Lower Opacity of rings for realistic look
• Optional: Create a Star Background

Open planet2dnld.psp (or your own image which must be on a transparent background.)

Use WINDOW || DUPLICATE (or press shift+D) to duplicate the image.

Close the original image so that it won't accidentally get used. You may want it to use it again in the future.

Use MAGIC WAND

• Match Mode = RGB
• Tolerance = 1
• Feather = 0
• Sample Merged = Unchecked
• Click Outside the area of the Planet.

Use SELECTIONS || INVERT to select the Planet.

Use SELECTIONS || MODIFY || EXPAND. Set Value to 60,
click OK. DO NOT DESELECT!

Use FLOOD FILL TOOL:

• Blend Mode = Normal
• Match Mode = None
• Tolerance = n/a
• Opacity = 100
• Sample Merged = Unchecked

• Click in the Box for the Gradient Window
  • Style = Sunburst (3rd from top)
  • Gradient = #1: Foreground-Background
  • Repeats = 20
  • Horizontal and Vertical both = 50
  • Click OK
• DO NOT DESELECT!

Go to SELECTIONS || MODIFY || CONTRACT

• Value = 20
• Click on OK

Press DELETE to clear the Selection

Again use SELECTIONS || MODIFY || CONTRACT

• Value = 3
• Click on OK

DO NOT DESELECT!

Use the FLOOD FILL Tool

• Repeats = 40
• Other settings = Same
• Left Click in Selection to fill with a Ring Pattern.

DO NOT DESELECT!

Again use SELECTIONS || MODIFY || CONTRACT

• Value = 15
• Click on OK
• DELETE to clear the Selection
• Use SELECTIONS || MODIFY || CONTRACT
• Value = 2
• Click on OK

DO NOT DESELECT!

Use FLOOD FILL Tool

• Repeats = 20
• Other Values = same
• Left Click to Fill Selection with a Ring Pattern

DO NOT DESELECT!

Again use SELECTIONS || MODIFY || CONTRACT

• Value = 15
• DELETE to clear the Selection
• Click on OK
• DESELECT SELECTION with SELECTIONS || NONE
  or Use [CTRL + D] Keys

In the TOOLS PALETTE, click on the DEFORMATION tool.

Give the Rings an Elliptical Shape and Tilted by using the Square Handles on the Deform Tool and to have the Rings Centered over the planet. It may take time to get a desired effect. Just have fun and experiment as you can use the EDIT || UNDO and start again.

TIP:
    1. Place Mouse button on Top Middle handle and cursor should change to a Double Arrow.
    2. HOLD mouse button down
    3. DRAG mouse to point in planet to show a bit of the planet above the rings.
    4. Do the Same for the Bottom Middle button
    5. To put space, if needed in the middle so the planet shows a bit, Do the Same for the Right and Left middle buttons
    6. To TILT the rings, place Mouse Cursor on the Right Box of the Middle box. The Cursor should change to two circle-like arrows. HOLD mouse button down and DRAG to tilt.

When happy with the effect of the Rings titled over the Planet, DOUBLE CLICK in the selection and CLICK YES to Apply the Deformation.

To give the Rings a smoother look:

Use EFFECTS || BLUR || GAUSSIAN BLUR

• VALUE = 1
• Click OK

Use LAYER PALETTE

• Highlight the RINGS Layer
• Right Click
• Select DUPLICATE
• Highlight the PLANET Layer
• Hold down Mouse Button and Drag the Planet Layer until it is between the RINGS Layer and the COPY of Rings Layer
• Highlight the COPY OF RINGS Layer (Top Layer)

Use the ERASER TOOL

• Shape = Round
• Size = 10
• Opacity = 100%
• Step = 25
• Density = 100%

Highlight the COPY OF RINGS LAYER and Erase just enough of the Rings On the Upper Part Only so that the Rings appear behind the Planet. Leave the Bottom Part of the Rings In Front of the Planet.

To make it easier to Erase, use ZOOM once.

Use LAYER PALETTE and set the Layer Mode Values for the COPY OF RINGS Layer and the RINGS Layer to give the Rings a more realistic and interesting transparent look.

• Highlight the COPY OF RINGS Layer and DRAG the Switch to 50%
• Highlight the RINGS Layer and DRAG the Switch to 50%

To Set a Single Layer on a Transparent Background:

• Highlight any Layer in the LAYER PALETTE
• Use LAYERS || MERGE || MERGE VISIBLE

OPTIONAL: To CREATE a STAR BACKGROUND

• Use COLOR PALETTE and set Foreground to BLACK
• Use FLOOD FILL and set to FILL STYLE = SOLID COLOR
• In the LAYER PALETTE, highlight the MERGED Layer and Create a NEW LAYER Labeled 'Stars'.
• Highlight the Stars Layer, hold down the Mouse Button and Drag the layer below the MERGED layer.
• Use EFFECTS || NOISE || ADD and Set %Noise = 10 and Random = Checked
• Highlight Stars Layer, Right Click, Select NEW ADJUSTMENT LAYER || BRIGHTNESS/CONTRAST. Set BRIGHTNESS = 60 and CONTRAST = 80
• TURN OFF all Layers except the BRIGHTNESS and STARS Layer.
• Use LAYERS || MERGE || MERGE VISIBLE
• Use COLORS || COLORIZE and Set HUE = 185 and SATURATION = 35
• TURN ON all Layers

Note: As a Stand-alone Image, Save Your Work either as a .GIF or .JPG file with the stary background. For the Screen Saver Program, Save as a GIF file with a transparent background.

The Next part of this series is to Create a GALAXY.
-- Have Fun --