Tutorial 17B – Customized Fractal Background

Based on Tutorial 17 by Lucas Burns (2012). Customized by Mr. Campeau.

Note: You cannot do both Tutorial 17 and Tutorial 17B for marks. Only one will count.

STEP 1

Figure out the size of your desktop resolution. This can usually be done by right clicking on your desktop and choosing one of the options. The resolution for my laptop’s desktop is 1366 x 768. If you aren’t sure, ask your awesome teacher.

STEP 2

In Paint.net, choose File > New.

STEP 3

Set the Width and Height of the new image to be the same as your desktop’s resolution. See below.

STEP 4 (OPTION)

Use the line tool to creatively write your name (or any word). Fill the canvas with the word. It can be written at an angle if you wish.

OPTION: If you want more colour in the end, you might want to make each letter a different colour now. Note that all colours will be inverted so you won’t end with the same colours as you are painting now.

STEP 5

We need to mirror our text. Choose Image > Flip Horizontally.

This needs to be done because in the next step, the effect that we use will re-mirror our text.

STEP 6

Hit CTRL-D to deselect your selection.

STEP 7

Choose Effect > Distort > Polar Inversion. Set the Amount and Quality to max (see below).

OPTION: Set Edge Behavior either to Reflect or to Wrap, whichever you like best.

Option 1 - Reflect

Option 2 - Wrap Note: See how “Campeau” is upside down in much of this image. It would probably be best to return before this effect, flip the text vertically (Image > Flip Vertically), and then reapply this step.

STEP 8 (OPTIONAL)

You can make one of the copies of the word stick out by changing its colour. This is probably most effective if you have left things black and white so far.

We will be applying an effect that will invert all colours. So I will paint with yellow in order to get blue (as blue is what you get when you invert yellow). Use trial and error to see what colour you should paint with.

To paint simply use the Paint Bucket on each letter. Zooming in is probably a good idea. See image below.

Note: It would be best to remove ALL black around the letters. This is not done in the image below.

STEP 9

Duplicate the layer (Layers > Duplicate Layer).

So you should see this in the Layers panel. (If you need to see the Layers panel, go to Windows > Layers.)

STEP 10

With the top layer selected, choose Effects > Blurs > Zoom Blur. The Zoom Amount should be about 50.

STEP 8

In the Layers panel double click on the first layer. Set the Blending Mode (see below) to Difference.

STEP 9

Choose Layers > Merge Layer Down.

STEP 10

Choose Adjustments > Curves. In the drop down menu, choose RGB. Play with the curves till you like what you see.

STEP 11

You’re done. Add your name and save your file as a PNG. You can make this image your background if you wish.

A few examples…