Tutorial: Paint Custom Sun
Give your marines something to gawk at while getting their shins ripped off! Paint your own sun from scratch. This tutorial was requested by Ryudan and I figured others might like to do the same. This does not explain how to create or export the skybox, Tig has already done that <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=112417" target="_blank"> here</a>.
<!--coloro:#FF8C00--><span style="color:#FF8C00"><!--/coloro--><!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->What You'll Need<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
Photoshop
A brush set similiar to this: <a href="http://raekre.deviantart.com/art/High-Res-Paint-Strokes-Set-II-212476592?q=boost%3Apopular%20in%3Aresources%2Fapplications%2Fpsbrushes%20paint&qo=2" target="_blank">High Res Paint Strokes by Raekre</a>
Your pre-made starry sky (I can expand this tutorial for that if the demand is there)
<!--coloro:#FF8C00--><span style="color:#FF8C00"><!--/coloro--><!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 1<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
Using the default brush set, create a large circle in a new layer at the center of your sky. Make this the brightest colour of your sun, almost white.
<img src="http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/7405/step1b.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--coloro:#FF8C00--><span style="color:#FF8C00"><!--/coloro--><!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 2<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
Duplicate the layer, go to Layer Properties > Color Overlay and change the color. This will end up being the darkest shade of your sun, but keep it bright.
<img src="http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/5747/step2ih.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--coloro:#FF8C00--><span style="color:#FF8C00"><!--/coloro--><!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 3<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
Select the Eraser Tool, change your brush set to the paint strokes brush set (or a substitute of your choice), and set both the Opacity and Flow to around 60%. Start erasing random portions of the layer you created in Step 2. Try and imitate the appearance of sunspots, it might take several attempts. CTRL-ALT-Z is your friend ;D
<img src="http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9721/step3hm.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--coloro:#FF8C00--><span style="color:#FF8C00"><!--/coloro--><!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 4<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
Go to the Layer Styles of the circle you created in Step 1 and add an Outer Glow. I used these settings here but it would depend on the background, fool around with it until it feels right. The important part is the colour, I chose orange to give my sun a red-ish corona.
<img src="http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/5907/step4hp.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--coloro:#FF8C00--><span style="color:#FF8C00"><!--/coloro--><!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 5<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
Now to add some plasma clouds to our corona. There are plenty of different ways to do this. Take the Brush Tool with the paint strokes brush set, set your Opacity and Flow to 60%. Create a new layer and move it to the bottom. Start painting random clouds around the edge of your sun, using the same brush settings in your Eraser Tool to fade and refine different portions. Be creative, keep it tasteful; make sure you can see a few crisp edges of the sun. The outer glow from Step 4 should amplify the subtleties of your clouds. If you want to add more depth to your plasma clouds, duplicate this cloud layer and erase portions of it so that some parts look further behind the orange plasma cloud than others.
<img src="http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/303/step5o.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--coloro:#FF8C00--><span style="color:#FF8C00"><!--/coloro--><!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 6<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
We're almost done. Our sun looks pretty violent as is, but we should add a few streams of solar flares. In the cloud layer you created, take the Smudge Tool at around 70% strength and pull out a few streams. You don't need too many, and make most of them smaller.
<img src="http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/7089/step6s.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
There you have it, not too complicated and it looks pretty cool. I imagine you can do the same for a blue sun as well. If you found this tutorial helpful please let me know. If there is any demand for it I can create a tutorial on painting <u>realistic planets and/or starry backgrounds</u> from scratch as well. This is the first tutorial I've ever done, so if I messed anything up let me know.
If you're not so artistically inclined and would rather I just make it for ya, PM me and we'll work it out.
<!--coloro:#FF8C00--><span style="color:#FF8C00"><!--/coloro--><!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->What You'll Need<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
Photoshop
A brush set similiar to this: <a href="http://raekre.deviantart.com/art/High-Res-Paint-Strokes-Set-II-212476592?q=boost%3Apopular%20in%3Aresources%2Fapplications%2Fpsbrushes%20paint&qo=2" target="_blank">High Res Paint Strokes by Raekre</a>
Your pre-made starry sky (I can expand this tutorial for that if the demand is there)
<!--coloro:#FF8C00--><span style="color:#FF8C00"><!--/coloro--><!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 1<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
Using the default brush set, create a large circle in a new layer at the center of your sky. Make this the brightest colour of your sun, almost white.
<img src="http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/7405/step1b.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--coloro:#FF8C00--><span style="color:#FF8C00"><!--/coloro--><!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 2<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
Duplicate the layer, go to Layer Properties > Color Overlay and change the color. This will end up being the darkest shade of your sun, but keep it bright.
<img src="http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/5747/step2ih.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--coloro:#FF8C00--><span style="color:#FF8C00"><!--/coloro--><!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 3<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
Select the Eraser Tool, change your brush set to the paint strokes brush set (or a substitute of your choice), and set both the Opacity and Flow to around 60%. Start erasing random portions of the layer you created in Step 2. Try and imitate the appearance of sunspots, it might take several attempts. CTRL-ALT-Z is your friend ;D
<img src="http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9721/step3hm.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--coloro:#FF8C00--><span style="color:#FF8C00"><!--/coloro--><!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 4<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
Go to the Layer Styles of the circle you created in Step 1 and add an Outer Glow. I used these settings here but it would depend on the background, fool around with it until it feels right. The important part is the colour, I chose orange to give my sun a red-ish corona.
<img src="http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/5907/step4hp.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--coloro:#FF8C00--><span style="color:#FF8C00"><!--/coloro--><!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 5<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
Now to add some plasma clouds to our corona. There are plenty of different ways to do this. Take the Brush Tool with the paint strokes brush set, set your Opacity and Flow to 60%. Create a new layer and move it to the bottom. Start painting random clouds around the edge of your sun, using the same brush settings in your Eraser Tool to fade and refine different portions. Be creative, keep it tasteful; make sure you can see a few crisp edges of the sun. The outer glow from Step 4 should amplify the subtleties of your clouds. If you want to add more depth to your plasma clouds, duplicate this cloud layer and erase portions of it so that some parts look further behind the orange plasma cloud than others.
<img src="http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/303/step5o.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--coloro:#FF8C00--><span style="color:#FF8C00"><!--/coloro--><!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 6<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
We're almost done. Our sun looks pretty violent as is, but we should add a few streams of solar flares. In the cloud layer you created, take the Smudge Tool at around 70% strength and pull out a few streams. You don't need too many, and make most of them smaller.
<img src="http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/7089/step6s.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
There you have it, not too complicated and it looks pretty cool. I imagine you can do the same for a blue sun as well. If you found this tutorial helpful please let me know. If there is any demand for it I can create a tutorial on painting <u>realistic planets and/or starry backgrounds</u> from scratch as well. This is the first tutorial I've ever done, so if I messed anything up let me know.
If you're not so artistically inclined and would rather I just make it for ya, PM me and we'll work it out.
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