-
Pluginless Chrome effects
Searching through the archives I found a really great chrome effect from 2001 using only Xara's vector and bitmap tools, no plugins. I couldn't get an effect anywhere near that good using EC4000. However, the really wierd thing is that I also couldn't reproduce anything that good using the technique explained in that thread so, can anybody here create something as good as that using a plugin or indeed using the method described in the mini-tutorial on that page?
In the meantime I'll keep on trying to create something worth posting.
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Here's my attempt, sans plugins.
Saludos,
Bob.
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
I thought I'd give it a go. No plug-ins here, only standard tools and a couple of bitmap fills.
Thanks, Frank.
HayTay
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
-
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Nice job guys. :)
I cannot reproduce the effect that Eric created in that post from 2001. And that's a shame, because I think it's a super chrome effect.
-
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
I think, the success of the Eric's method highly depends on the image used for the fill.
-
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
As this thread involves no plugins but does involve reproducing a chrome effect using Xtreme tools only (without the use of any plugin), I have moved the thread from the Xara plugins forum to the Xtreme and Xtreme Pro forum.
-
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Not necessary without a plugins. Let me quote author:
Quote:
can anybody here create something as good as that using a plugin or indeed using the method described in the mini-tutorial on that page?
:p
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Frank,
Here, I think this is fairly close to the Eric's image. It's probably about as close as it's going to get working from the lo-res image I cut out of the mini-tutorial. It seems that Eric definitely skewed and may have squished or elongated the original bitmap before, and/or after, applying the fill to the text.
IHTH,
HayTay
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Eric's technique works well..
-
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
John,
Your chrome effect is stunning. How did you do it?
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
This was done with EC4000 with a custom reflection map.
-
2 Attachment(s)
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ss-kalm
John,
Your chrome effect is stunning. How did you do it?
I'm using simple Curves. This is a classic technique, now can be used in Xtreme since it has a Curves tool.
-
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Some might consider the Curves tool a plugin John ;)
(c/o Magix isn't it?)
-
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sledger
Some might consider the Curves tool a plugin John ;)
(c/o Magix isn't it?)
Yes, it is a live effect plug-in. But since it is not a 3rd party plug-in, everyone can use it.
It worth noting though that in Xtreme, all the bitmap tools are implemented in form of plug-ins.
So, all examples demonstrated in this thread are using at least one live effect. Select your example and activate LE tool. You'll see the effect in the list. ;)
-
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
That's a superb silver/chrome effect, John. Can you by any chance do the same thing whilst adding the reflections that chrome is so well known for as shown in this photo?
-
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
I agree.
Slightly OT (but to the point) the WD tweaks are 'plugins' of a sort which help non-coders achieve a design and function goal.
I'm not a fan of Graphics plugins because so many produce horrid results and I don't feel I have full control of the output, but I do use them when they are right for the job. It's a tool, nothing more.
-
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Quote:
Originally Posted by
covoxer
I'm using simple Curves. This is a classic technique, now can be used in Xtreme since it has a Curves tool.
OK, I give .... Where do I find this Curves tool ...... Never mind, I found it .........
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
I thought that I would try without using a plug-in or even a bitmap.
These use a contrast transparency.
(Ooops! Is plasma cloud a bitmap?)
-
2 Attachment(s)
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
here without any pluggin, just fill tool.
Un abrazo
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Here's mine.
Gary included a bit on chrome in one of his tutes will show the wheel I made from the tute in the next post.
Rupert
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Here is the result of the tute Gary did. Of course it but resembles a little of the quality work Gary does!!!
I don't know whether this is helpful. The info can be applied to txt.
Rupert
-
2 Attachment(s)
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Big Frank
Can you by any chance do the same thing whilst adding the reflections that chrome is so well known for as shown in this photo?
Yes, there are different ways to add reflections. But you can't apply the effect to the object that already has a reflection, especially color one. The source image for this effect has to be a greyscale lightmap. The result is also a light map but a tweaked one that looks like chrome.
You can combine the resulting light map with the reflection image. The most correct way is to apply flat Luminosity transparency to the chromed object and put it on top of the reflection image. This may requre locking the LE though. Another way is to put the reflection image on top of the chrome object and give it the stained glass transparency. There may be other ways too, you just have to use the chromed image as a light map for your reflection image somehow.
-
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Quote:
Originally Posted by
salaam
(Ooops! Is plasma cloud a bitmap?)
No, but shadow is! :D
-
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jvila
here without any pluggin, just fill tool.
Are you sure? Select your object and open LE tool. Don't you have anything on the effects list? ;)
-
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
John, since a shadow is probably the easiest live effect to reproduce manually, let's assume for the purposes of this thread that shadows are a vector effect :)
-
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Feathering is a bitmap effect too, but yes we can assume it is 'vector'. :) It seems you want to keep this to basic Xara tools and that makes sense - otherwise there is less of a challenge.
In making posts it would be helpful if the basic techniques were noted so we aren't comparing apples & oranges.
-
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Big Frank
John, since a shadow is probably the easiest live effect to reproduce manually, let's assume for the purposes of this thread that shadows are a vector effect :)
:D Who told you that the feather is a vector effect? ;)
Seriously though, if you do not want to use Levels, I'm not the one to force you to. But as an old Photoshop user you surely know that this tool is one of the essential raster tools. It was present in Photoshop long before the shadow filters appeared. :rolleyes:
The fact that it is implemented as a LE does not change it functionality. Would it be more "vector" if it had a separate tool interface in Xtreme like shadow, feather or bevel does? I don't think so. Shadow, Feather, Bevel just to mention a few used in this thread are all bitmap effects. They all produce raster result. Convert Beveled object to shapes and zoom - you'll see the raster of the beveled border. Same is true for all others. Whether they are listed as LE effects or not is only interface and implementation decision. It does not influence their functionality.
So, I do understand why one may be reluctant using some exotic "Acme MegaEffects ChromePro3000+", but I can't see any reasons ignoring such basic tools as Levels. Afterall, moving this road we may end up using a tool set narrower than Xara Studio 1.0 had. :eek:
-
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ross Macintosh
It seems you want to keep this to basic Xara tools
Since Xtreme4, Levels is a basic Xara tool. :cool:
Thus it's not easy to define what is a basic Xara tool set. Is it of Xtreme4? Or of XaraX? Or of Xara Studio1.0? ;) :D
-
4 Attachment(s)
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Back in the good old days, we used blends or contours before we had the luxury of the shadow tool. :D Pure vectors.
Here are three of my favorite chrome effects, although the fork is really silver and not chrome.
The pretzel is from the 2000 tutorial, the ampersand (&) from the 2005 and the silver fork from the 2006 tutorials.
-
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Quote:
Originally Posted by
covoxer
if you do not want to use Levels, I'm not the one to force you to
I never said a thing about levels. Maybe somebody else did, but I didn't.
Tell you what, since this thread is threatening to turn into a discussion of what instead of examples of how, why don't we set a rule. If, on zero picture quality, your vector turns into a rectangle, it's been plugged. If it stays as the original shape, it's still vector for the purposes of this thread.
Therefore, in the image below, the feathered text to create a shadow remains a vector. The upper one has been plugged.
-
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Big Frank
I never said a thing about levels.
Yes, you are right. :o
Quote:
why don't we set a rule. If, on zero picture quality, your vector turns into a rectangle, it's been plugged. If it stays as the original shape, it's still vector for the purposes of this thread.
Hmmm, sounds interesting. I support this idea. :)
Following this rule, Levels tool preserves vector nature of the object. :cool:
-
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Quote:
Originally Posted by
covoxer
Following this rule, Levels tool preserves vector nature of the object.
I know. That's why I have nothing against the use of levels.
I never meant for this to turn into to "I betcha you can't do this" challenge. All I wanted to do was try and reproduce the effect Eric achieved in his 2001 post, and when I couldn't, to see if anybody else could. The only people who have come close are HayTay, Nostaw and covoxer. yet, in my opinion, none of them look as realistic as Eric's original. Just to remind you, look at it, it simply looks like chrome!
-
2 Attachment(s)
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Here is my example.
Font is Ancestory SF The rectangle in the outline image is the Shadow bitmap created using the Shadow Tool.
A 2 pixel bevel was applied to the text.
The beveled text was converted to editable shape. The group was not ungrouped.
One bitmap of grey cloudy sky was used for the text shapes.
Another bitmap fill of blue cloudy sky was used for the 'bevel' shapes.
A shadow was applied to the group.
-
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Gary, your fork tutorial was the first ever tutorial that I tried to do in Xara. I never finished it and when I came back to Xara I didn't know where it was. I've always wanted to try again when I see my unfinished .xar file. Glad you posted it.
Hey Frank, I love when people post and even when the posts go off topic because I learn so much from other's comments and opinions. I thank you for starting the thread. I also have to say that Eric's chrome looks awesome. Someone above mentioned that the interior image is important to the overall look. I tend to agree with that. It's kind of like trying to create a HDRI atmosphere in 3D. The image you use to reflect on your metal makes all the difference in the end result.
I'm now curious to try his tutorial to see how he crafted it. Knowing how to make good metal is very useful....especially turning iron into gold ;)
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
A couple of other efforts, actually made before the image I posted previously.
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Thought I'd try again. The font is Alien Bold. One linear fill and an outer contour.
Saludos,
Bob.
-
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Good entries, Bill and Bob, thanks for posting.
I think Burpee is right. I think the reflection map you use is absolutely critical. Here's my latest effort, and it's certainly not right, but I think I'm getting there.
I'm wondering whether Eric knew the right image to use or whether he picked the right one by chance. We won't know as he's no longer on the boards.
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: Pluginless Chrome effects
Ok. Here's the one with bitmap.