Gemstones

Gemstones

Start with a new image, 300 x 300 (The image needs to be two to three times larger than you want the finished stone). Set the foreground color to black, the background color to a bright shade of the color you want. Flood fill with black. For a rectangular stone with rounded edges use the rectangular selection tool to make an initial selection, then Selections->Modify->Expand by 40. For any other shaped stone, the expansion isn't necessary. Selections->Save to Alpha Channel. Flood fill the selection with a linear gradient set to 120 degrees.

Selections->Select None. Image->Blur->Gaussian Blur, set it to 10. Selections->Load from Alpha Channel. Selections->Invert and hit the delete key.

Selections->Invert. Right click on the Layers palette and add a new layer. Image->Effects->Cutout, use Black, 50, 30, -6, -6. The effect is hard to see here because the demo images have been reduced in size, you'll see it when you actually do it.

Layers->Merge->Visible. Set the foreground color to white. Use the spray can with texture set to lava, size=13, opacity=100, hardness=100, density=64, step=12. Spray a highlight onto the stone in the darker area. Use the retouch tool set to Soften (make sure you change the texture back to none, size=19, opacity=100, hardness=100, density=100, step=12. Rub the highlight until it's really not white anymore, you want a soft glowing effect.

The actual stone is done, you can resize it down and use it now. We'll continue with a "setting" for the stone, this part of the tutorial will require BladePro. If the selection isn't still loaded, load it again. Selections-> Modify->Expand by 25. Selections->Save to Alpha Channel. Right click on the layers palette and add a new layer, drag this layer to the bottom. Flood fill the selection with white.

Image->Plug-in Filters->Flaming Pear->BladePro, pick a metallic preset. You'll need to play around with the settings, the radius needs to be 25, I personally prefer a soft bevel.

Image->Resize. Use the percentage boxes and enter a number between 30 and 50. Selections-> Load from Alpha Channel, load the larger selection. Image->Effects->Drop Shadow. I used Black, 80, 7, 4, 4. Right click on the layers palette and add a new layer, drag it to the bottom and flood fill with your background color/texture.

	Start with a new image, 300 x 300 (The image needs to be two to three times larger than you want the finished stone). Set the foreground color to black, the background color to a bright shade of the color you want. Flood fill with black. For a rectangular stone with rounded edges use the rectangular selection tool to make an initial selection, then Selections->Modify->Expand by 40. For any other shaped stone, the expansion isn't necessary. Selections->Save to Alpha Channel. Flood fill the selection with a linear gradient set to 120 degrees.
	Selections->Select None. Image->Blur->Gaussian Blur, set it to 10. Selections->Load from Alpha Channel. Selections->Invert and hit the delete key.
	Selections->Invert. Right click on the Layers palette and add a new layer. Image->Effects->Cutout, use Black, 50, 30, -6, -6. The effect is hard to see here because the demo images have been reduced in size, you'll see it when you actually do it.
	Layers->Merge->Visible. Set the foreground color to white. Use the spray can with texture set to lava, size=13, opacity=100, hardness=100, density=64, step=12. Spray a highlight onto the stone in the darker area. Use the retouch tool set to Soften (make sure you change the texture back to none, size=19, opacity=100, hardness=100, density=100, step=12. Rub the highlight until it's really not white anymore, you want a soft glowing effect.
	The actual stone is done, you can resize it down and use it now. We'll continue with a "setting" for the stone, this part of the tutorial will require BladePro. If the selection isn't still loaded, load it again. Selections-> Modify->Expand by 25. Selections->Save to Alpha Channel. Right click on the layers palette and add a new layer, drag this layer to the bottom. Flood fill the selection with white.
	Image->Plug-in Filters->Flaming Pear->BladePro, pick a metallic preset. You'll need to play around with the settings, the radius needs to be 25, I personally prefer a soft bevel.
	Image->Resize. Use the percentage boxes and enter a number between 30 and 50. Selections-> Load from Alpha Channel, load the larger selection. Image->Effects->Drop Shadow. I used Black, 80, 7, 4, 4. Right click on the layers palette and add a new layer, drag it to the bottom and flood fill with your background color/texture.