An Adventure In Space
by Wizaerd

Date Posted: 10/23/2001 - I'm sure that this is probably 'old hat' for Canvas users who've migrated from other imaging applications or have experience with other imaging applications, but I figured I'd write it up anyways just in case new users would like to know.

The techniques described here are not heavily laden with 'technical' know how, instead they were basically stumbled upon. Will you learn the latest and greatest imaging techniques by reading this tutorial? Absolutely not. Will you create a fairly cool space scene? Yup.

Start out by starting Canvas. In your document create a paint object by going to Image->Area->Create. I've created my image at 426x227 with a resolution of 72 dpi. You are more than welcome to create your image at any size and/or resolution you'd care to. (experimentation with the resolution will be important because we'll be using the Add Noise filter, and it's result is greatly affected by your image's resolution) Be sure your background is set to Opaque and make the background color black.



Select your newly created paint object and duplicate it twice by going to Edit->Duplicate. Set these two duplicates aside for now. Select your initial paint object, and add some noise Image->Filter->Noise->Add Noise. Choose a fairly high setting, but also be sure Gaussian and Monochromatic are selected.



Now go to Image->Blur->Gaussian Blur and apply a very low blur to your image.



Now go to Image->Adjust->Levels to bring up the levels dialog. We're going to be pushing our little deeliedoos (yup, that is a technical term) towards the right. If in doubt of what I mean, refer to the following image. Using your preference and taste, adjust the deeliedoos until you get a nice looking star field.



Set this paint object aside and go to one of the duplicates we created earlier. When it is selected, go to Image->Filter->Artistic->Lens Flare. (of course this will either require Canvas 8 or a lens flare plugin from a third party) Place the flare wherever you want it in your main space scene. When you have it where you want it, put the paint object containing the lens flare over the top of your star field (yup, be sure to check the stacking order so the flare paint object is on top) and apply a Screen Transparency. (You could've created this lens in your initial star field, thus requiring only two paint objects, but if you ever want to adjust your lens flare, you'd have to re-do the star field as well. This way you can manipulate or tweak any 'layer' you want individually)



Before moving on to the third paint object, change your fill color to an appropriate spacey color. I chose red, but green, blue, etc works just as well. Now select your third paint object and go to Image->Filter->Render->Clouds. You may have to run this several times in a row to get the kind of gassy cloud you want for your space scene.




Check to make sure your 'cloud' image is on top, lay it over your starfield and lens image and once more apply the Screen Transparency. You should now end up with a space scene.



You can further tweak additional transparency settings to your liking, and boom... you've got the easiest space scene you'll ever create.