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This filter applies gradients and patterns to the alpha. A slight 3D
effect will be added using a bump map, and optionally the filter adds a
drop shadow.
![[Note]](images/note.png)
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Note |
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Here, as a language shortcut, we use alpha to
mean the area of the active layer defined by the non-transparent
pixels. You may think of it as a selection “by
visibility”. Applying any effect “to the alpha”
just means to apply this effect to all visible pixels of the active
layer.
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The filter is derived from the “Glossy” script
( → → →
in the image window), which creates a logo (see above) with a glossy
outlook when used with the default options, thus the name.
This filter only works if the active layer has an alpha channel.
Otherwise, the menu entry is insensitive and grayed out.
![[Warning]](images/warning.png)
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Warning |
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The image will always be resized to the active layer's size.
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16.15.2.
Activate the filter
This filter is found in the image window menu under
→ → .
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Blend gradient (text)
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By default, the filter will fill the alpha with a
gradient blend. Clicking on
the swatch button will open a simple
gradient dialog, where
you may select any gradient. “Text” refers to the
“Glossy” logo, which creates a logo from a text, and
is meaningless here.
When Text gradient reverse is checked, the
alpha will be filled with a gradient blend starting at the bottom.
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Pattern (text)
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When Use pattern for text instead of gradient
is checked, the alpha will be filled with a pattern. You can open
a patterns dialog to
select a pattern of your choice by clicking on the
Browse button. The preview area on the left
will produce a popup preview of the current pattern when pressed.
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Outline size
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This is the size of a kind of border, realised with a layer
containing an enlarged copy of the alpha (details see below).
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Blend gradient (outline); Pattern (outline)
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Just like the “text” options for the active layer,
these options specify the gradient or pattern (when Use
pattern for outline instead of gradient is checked)
used to fill the outline area.
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Use pattern overlay
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When checked, the original, not enlarged alpha of the outline
layer will be filled with the specified pattern using the overlay
mode, so that the
pattern and the previous contents (pattern or gradient) will be
merged.
Again, clicking on Browse button will open
a patterns dialog,
pressing the preview icon will produce a popup preview of the
current pattern.
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Default bumpmap settings
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This option does nothing, the filter will always apply a
bump map.
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Background color
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The color of the background layer added by the filter. When you
click on the color button, a color select dialog pops up.
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Shadow
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Optionally the filter creates a layer containing a
drop shadow. The
shadow layer will be moved Shadow X offset
pixels to the right and Shadow Y offset
pixels down. Note that this may enlarge the image, while the
background layer will keep the size of the active layer.
The numerous options may give the impression that this is a very
complicate filter, but actually it is fairly simple. The interesting
part is how the filter handles the active layer and the outline layer:
In the active layer, the filter creates a
selection from the
alpha channel and fills the selection with the specified gradient
blend or pattern.
Then a new “outline” layer below the active layer will be
created in a similar way: First, the active layer's alpha will be used
to make a selection. But before filling the selection with a gradient or
a pattern, the selection will be
enlarged by Outline
size pixels.
When you filled both layers with the same pattern or gradient blend, you
will still see a border (“outline”), because
The last (optional) step is to fill the outline layer with a pattern,
using the “overlay” layer
mode. This will combine
the pattern with the pattern or gradient used before. To learn more
about the result of using the overlay mode, see the description in
Section 2, “
Layer Modes
”.
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