Paint.NET Tutorial – Making an Exploding Planet

STEP 1

Start off by finding dry mud. You can try using different starting objects if you want to (in fact, I encourage it) but dry mud is sure to work. If you want to use dry mud, you are also encouraged to find a different picture than this one so that yours doesn’t look too similar to everybody else’s.

Also, you may want to change the hue of the starting image. (Adjustments > Hue / Saturation)

STEP 2

Copy the image and Paste it as a new image (in the Edit menu).

STEP 3

Invert the colours of the image. (Adjustments -> Invert Colours)

STEP 4

Select the Ellipse tool and select an area of mud. (as big or as small as you like just as long as it's somewhat centered)



STEP 5

You now have a circle selected. You want everything but the circle. So you need to invert the selection. You can do this by hitting Ctrl-I or you can go into the Edit menu.



STEP 6

Hit delete to delete the selection. You should now see a bunch of little squares in the area outside your circle.

STEP 7

Fill the squared area with black. You simply need the bucket tool for this.

STEP 8

Remove the current selection by hitting Ctrl-d.

STEP 9
Next step is to bulge the image. (Effects -> Distort -> Bulge...) This makes it look round and thus planet-like. For this image I used a bulge of 31%. Do what looks best for your size of image.



STEP 10

Duplicate the layer. (Layers > Duplicate Layer)

STEP 11
On the top layer, adjust the layer blending to Color Burn. To do this, you need to double click on the top layer’s name in the Layers window. If you cannot see the Layers window, click on Window > Layers to make it visible.



STEP 12

Duplicate the top layer (the one you just did the Color burn on. You should now have three layers.

STEP 13

For the top layer, set the layer blending to Additive.

STEP 14

Be sure that the top layer is selected. Merge layer down. Merge layer down again. You should only have one layer now.

STEP 15

Add a glow effect (Effects -> Glow or Effects -> Photos -> Glow)

You'll have to adjust the glow depending on the effect you want and the image. You'll need more or less depending on how many cracks your "planet" has.



STEP 16

Duplicate the layer. (Afterwards, you should have two layers.)

STEP 17

On the top layer, do a Zoom Blur effect (Effects -> Blurs -> Zoom Blur)

Use about 48%. You may choose a different amount if you prefer.

STEP 18

On the image we just did the blur on, adjust the blending to Lighten.

STEP19

Turn the saturation to zero (Adjustments -> Hue/Saturation).

If you don’t like what this does, then you can skip this step.

STEP 20

Be sure that the top layer is selected. Merge layer down.

STEP 21

You’re done! Put your name in one of the corners and save your work.

Here's an image that the author did with a different mud. He did change the hue before starting.

Possible Addition

Try adding your planet on a starry background to make it look that much more authentic.

This tutorial was taken from the following url:

http://paintdotnet.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2792

The author’s name was not stated. The author’s username was pacercoin.

Minor changes were made by Mr. Campeau.

STUDENT CREATIONS

Taylor Wyman - 2008

Keegan Pitre – 2009

David Pushman – 2015 (Preview to The Force Awakens?)