Abstract Wallpaper in Pixelmator - 2 copies of Pixelmator giveawayListThumbs
Abstract Wallpaper in Pixelmator - 2 copies of Pixelmator giveaway
Following our series of Pixelmator tutorials, this week we will show you how to create an abstract wallpaper using the Quartz Composer filters. Even though the effect seems a bit complex, you will be surprise how easy is to create it in Pixelmator. It won't take you more than 10 minutes to reproduce this tutorial. And to make you really keen on doing that we will give away 2 copies of Pixelmator.
To win one of the two free copies of Pixelmator, just drop a comment saying why you want to win it.
Step 1
Create a new document in Pixelmator, I used 1920x1200 pixels.
Step 2
Select the Gradient Tool (G) and fill the background layer with a gradient from blue (#336699) to black.
Step 3
Create a new layer and go to Filter>Quartz Composer>Generator>Moving Shapes. Change the Primary Color to ##554C87 and use the default options. After that change the Blendings to Multiply.
Step 4
Create another layer again and go to Filter>Quartz Composer>Generator>Grid. Change the Primary Color to a very light grey or even white and the Secondary Color to Black. Also, increse the Density to .3 or more. You can even move that little dot attached to a string. That is the position of the effect.
Step 5
Here just go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur. Use 4 for the Radius.
Step 6
Now change the Blendings of the layer to Color Dodge.
Step 7
If your effect wasnt bright enough you can go to Image>Levels and increase the white. To do that just move the white slider to the right. I use 145 for White.
Step 8
Create a new layer, change the Blendings to Color Dodge, and lets repeat the same steps we did to create the first element. First go to Filter>Quartz Composer>Generator>Grid. Change the Primary Color to a light grey and the Secondary Color to Black. Also increase the Density to .5.
Step 9
Go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur, use 2 for the Radius, or if you want it smoother you can use a bigger value.
Step 10
Let's rotate the layer. Go to Edit>Transform>Rotate.
Step 11
Now let's create another layer and apply the grid filter one more time. This time however move the direction, like the image below.
Step 12
Create another layer and change its Blendings to Color Dodge, again. Go to Filter>Quartz Composer>Generator>Image Hose. Use the image below for reference. But just make sure to reduce the Opacity to 50-60%.
Step 13
Now you can add some colors if you want. To do that, just create a new layer right on top of the background layer and fill it with a gradient color. I used a default gradient that comes with Pixelmator. Select the Gradient Tool (G) and drag a diagonal line like the image below. Don't forget to change the Opacity to 40%.
Conclusion
In this tutorials we used some of the cool Quartz Composer filters that come with Pixelmator. The best thing in this filters and in Pixelmator is how fast it manages the previews and the quality. I've been telling this since the very first Pixelmator tutorial I wrote, and I really wish that Photoshop was fast and beautiful as this amazing app.
Check the full preview of the Blue Version and the Color Version
Video Tutorial
This is just a quick video showing how to create this effect in Pixelmator. The values used are not the same, it's just a visual guide if you have any problems following the written tutorial.
Abstract Wallpaper in Pixelmator from fabio sasso on Vimeo.
Download the Pixelmator File
Click here to download the Pixelmator file used for this tutorial.
Editor: David Parrott
About the author
My name is Fabio Sasso, I'm a graphic/web designer from Porto Alegre, Brazil and I'm the founder of Abduzeedo. I hope we can share lots of information, tips, and ideas through Abduzeedo. Also you can follow me on Twitter or my personal site at http://fabiosasso.com.
112 Comments
I would like to win a free copy of Pixelmator because I would like to be fluent in another language other than Adobe. Its great to be software bilingual.
I'd love to win this because I love new toys and this looks great and I never win anything lol
Cheerz
I wouldn't mind using Pixelmator to make these kind of effects plus I need a new program to learn
Cause I wanna test this tut !
Hello ohhh im the second!!!! well all your job is really fantastic, have a nice day
I want to get a Pixelmator copy cause I would have an alternative software to work with.
This would be pretty excellent to win because it would give me something to create cool stuff with.
I would link Pixelmator because is just lovely.
Lovely UI, lovely results.
Awesome tutorial! I would really love to own a copy of pixelmator! This app is dope.
I want this program. The interface looks great! ANd the results i've been seeing are fantastic.
I'd love Pixelmator to give it a test drive, and perhaps write about it over at Tutorial9 :)
Cool results Fabio!
I want to win it so I can do this tutorial, duh!
Looks very cool. I'd love to win a copy.
I should win cause I have Photoshop 7.0 ;(
Awesome tutorial, this shows that a great piece doesn't have to be extremely dificult, technically speaking, to achieve astounishing results.
Why do I want to win a Pixelmator copy? Cause I'm planning on buying a Mac soon and this would be a great tool for a aspiring designer like me!
I'd like a copy because I just had to type the captcha "fight salvation"
Plus it looks fun fun fun.
I'd like to win Pixelmator to give my web blog a much needed redesign!
Really, really, really, ridiculously want to win it!
Totally digging this. Easy to follow tutorial with a really funky end result. Would love to see more tutorials on what is possible.
I would like to win Pixelmator because it looks so cool.
Hmm, why do I want pixelmator. I think it would be an extremely powerful tool for harnessing the quartz composer in os x. The 'Core' processing engines are really awesome and pixelmator does the best job of taking advantage of the Image flavor.
Please. Been looking at it, just haven't jumped in.
I want to win pixelmator because without it I could never create cool stuff like this wallpaper :)
Firstly, this is a great quality tutorial that would help me even more if I would own Pixelmator, which from the looks of it seems to be great and could well become a serious alternative to Photoshop quite soon. I can't explain to you how badly I wan't a free copy of pixelmator, so please give me one!!!:)
Thanks in advance
Really looking to both expand my work with photography, as well as start to start breaking in to the web design/graphic design field - this would be a great opportunity!
This one is a must have for artists.
I need it because my brain makes big storms and this one is the window to let the fresh breeze in...open my door for new visual brainstormings - thank you !!
best regards,
tom
I feel this could add to my work as a way to try and experiment with new ideas and programs, This PixelMator could defineatly be something that could greatly improve on top of what I do now.
~ekim
Woot! This really looks great! Thanks for sharing.
I have used the pixelmator demo for a few weeks and am quickly becoming a fan of how easy it is to adapt to. As a young designed I would like to see more competition on the design software front and would like to become well versed in another class of software other than adobe.
I have already almost replaced Dreamweaver with Coda, and I am only using its demo.
It would be nice to have Pixelmator, I could make superb tutorials on my blog!
I would like to win a copy of it because it would really be nice to have another software to edit and create photos and art with :)
I think I am the right person to win Pixelmator. But just noticed it is Mac only. So I pass and wish others good luck!
I'd like to win a copy of Pixelmator because if I had it I would have more (tutorials) to do on Abduzeedo.com and more reason to visit the site more often.
Hi,
I am an avid fan of this website and learn a lot from all your tutorials. I tried Pixelmator out a few days ago and really enjoyed it. I would like to utilize this program more into my designs.
I am currently a student and would love to experiment more with this program as I think the more versatile you are the better designer you become.
I would love to win Pixelmator because I hate the "Photoshop way of doing things"...
Great tut!
And I would like Pixelmator because I am a struggling college student. Trying to save up for art school is already a ton of money, and lacking programs just acts as more road blocks to my aspirations. Just hoping for some breaks along the way. : )
Why? Because it has a gorgeous user interface. Honestly, the interface is MUCH MUCH MORE like a program under Mac OX S. Visual, visual, and visual :) .
I would love to win simply because of the name. It sounds technological AND scary. What could be better?
I would love a free copy of pixalmator. it would be great to teach my girl friend to edit photos in something simple but a little more complex the iphoto and for the filter effects.
Great looking tut by the way.
I'd love to have Pixelmator, why? It's a cool software with cool palette and tools. And, it's from Mac OS X developer guy!! What else can I say? MUST-have software.
Hey, thanks for the tutorial.
I'm just starting to get interested in graphic design (hence I'm reading this tutorial), and enjoy reading the steps even if I can't follow along just yet (given I haven't got a copy of Photoshop or Pixelmator), which brings me to why I'd love it if you could give me one of the copies of Pixelmator. Since I'm a high school student, I haven't really got cash laying around to buy Pixelmator, and certainly don't have enough for a copy of Photoshop. I'd still really like to pursue my interest in graphic design though, and so it would be great if you could help me out in this way. Thanks :)
I'd love to win Pixelmator, because it's unique in its design and has a lot of cool features.
I want to win because it is the only way I can reproduce the images you created.
really wish i could win pixelmator..:D
i would like to win pixelmator because i want to try something new and hope i can make great work using it..
btw,as usually,nice tutor.well done fabio!
Curious about trying out a software whose family is not Adob* :)
pixelmator? why not have it?!
i've been watching previous pixelmator tuts and honestly amazed by what it can do. ive been trying to duplicate these tuts using photoshop and I want to explore and learn new graphics using pixelmator itself! I would be grateful to abduzeedo if i can get my hands on this software.
Like Thomas Huxley once said: "Try to learn something about everything and everything about something."
I need a new web page :) need pixelmator :)
Really nice tutorial. I use Pixelmator trial, and'll be grateful to get full version :)
Woohoo! Really nice! :)
Looks nice and easy app ;) Think I'd like it — cheaper alternative for PS.
I know little about Photoshop, but teach Mac OS and Apple software to those new to the platform. I own a copy of Pixelmator through one of the bundles, and am starting to learn more about it hoping I can then demonstrate the program to my pupils.
I'm thinking of one pupil in particular, an elderly lady who is very artistic, and who might enjoy a gifted copy of Pixelmator if just to play around with. Photoshop is way out of her league in every way, but as she has a great eye and takes some lovely pictures using a digital camera, I'd like to do this for her.
Wow! This is the page that I was looking for. Great job Fabio. Thanks.
I'd like to win a copy of Pixelmator to explore QuartComposers. You wn't find it in Photoshop and the UI... so sleek, so fancy. Gimme more! :D
Because I always wanted to do my own wallpapers and now thanks to your tutorial i know how!
I want a copy, because it looks like a superb program and I don't want a monopoly by adobe. We need competition for both quality and in price. Pixelmator looks like the light at the end of the tunnel.I hope the pixelmator-community grows and grows over time.
I wanted to buy Pixelmator this week. Now I have a reason to wait few days :)
I want to win it coz it's awesome and totally mind blowing compared to Photoshop even i use it alot. Pixelmator rox!!! I love what it can do... Give photoshop some things to think about...
Good tutorial, thanks so much :)
I'd like to win a copy of Pixelmator cause I can't afford a full version of Photoshop, but still I'm interested in graphics, and I would like to improve my skills.
Wow! I wish I had a chance to use such cool program. Wonderful!
very good effect
The end result is stunning! nice work.
Nice work Man!!! I luv it
http://www.dtptutorials.com
For me Just amazing! And really beauty
Because i am poor student and i am learning in something like collage in us. I think that pixelmator can help me to increase my skills or my creativity. Regards
Wow, Pixelmator looks really cool. I think it's one of the cutest interfaces in software, I want one!
I just need this!!!...
Great work dude ;) I'm waiting for next tuts.
nice, very nice
I want to win a copy of Pixelmator because my designer friends say there's no way it could be as good as Photoshop and I want to find out if they are right. I just found out about it recently and I'm really excited about it as an alternative to the crazy expensive Adobe products. I read somewhere else that it doesn't have layer styles which is definitely a drawback, but it looks like the team is really dedicated to making an excellent product, so I assume layer styles are on the way. Also I saw how powerful the halftone effects are, way better than Photoshop, and I want to be able to utilize those.
I would like to have a free copy of Pixelmator so that my purchased copy of Pixelmator will have a friend. ^_^
I
WANT
TO
WIN
!!!
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I like the look of this, very nice, salivating!!!!!!!!!!
I would love to win this because I have no money to buy the awesome software myself!
Is it better than photoshop?
Is this TUT available for Photoshop....
I'm not a MACINTOSH user...
Please say...
I would like to win this cool looking, mac design, and designer in mind software to tackle my work. If I had known about this I wouldnt have bought the adobe web designer premium. All I needed was Pixelmator, Css Edit, and Coda.
I want to have a copy badly!! I don't like demo~~ thank your! ^^
I want Pixelmator because is too expensive to buy photoshop!
i'd like win pixelmator because, another similar photoshop free products like gimp, does not exist for me:), nothing for free make me happy, but pixelmator (yea, it is not for free but...)... it runs great and interface looks very pro. i belive that i would draw some concepts on my tablet or just edit some photos. adobe sux, they're to expensive
I would love a copy. Count me in.
I would like to win a copy of Pixelmator because I do Graphic Design for my HigherLevel Art Class and my high school/International Bacc. diploma and college scholarship is riding on my art. Photoshop is to confusing and i dont have the time to sit down and explore the program. I use PAINT.net on my PC but im upgrading to a Mac and Pixelmator looks very similiar to PDN.
Thank You
Mike
I'm loving how easy this cool stuff is to do with PixelMater! I WANT TO WIN IT!
Thanks for yet another awesome tutorial!
Brilliant software, competition breeds innovation. I hope this really forces everyone to step and make design programs that are simple and intuitive.
I'd like to win Pixelmator because it would be a new way to expand and absorb art knowledge. I can't afford Photoshop and also don't support piracy, so I try to reproduce the effects and tutorials in other means/softwares. Pixelmator would be a great way to try and learn new things.
Wow, what a great app. Love to win won.
Hi, I realize I am a bit late into the comments of this.
I have recently discovered pixelmator and for the first time I can follow tutorials and reproduce the same pictures by the tutorials end. I am currently a student (computer science) and cannot afford to buy a copy of pixelmator myself.
I would like free copy so I could designing my own banners and webpage graphics. For the first time it feels like I can keep up with all the web 2.0 design hype that's around.
Whats better than an amazing program, great tutorial, warm cup o joe and staying up till the wee mornings, just to be creative. I would love to win a copy of this program..I promise I would put it to good use and great design. Thanks (B)creative
in indonesia is easy to get pirates sofware. when you give that sofware to me you help me not to buy a pirate product. thats it.:)
Sad to know that Pixelmator is only available only on MAC.
I'd really like to have a copy of Pixelmator!! Looks like just the right program for me, i really need some more features than in iPhoto to make my photos just the way i want them,
Nice tutorial!
/G
thanks for the tut!
I'd like to win a free copy of Pixelmator because it does everything Photoshop does for me at a fraction of the price. And I'm your biggest fan. :-)
very good sir ,icannot explain in words sir please send me copy of video as well as pdf file me in my email mohan21chauhan@newton124
very good sir ,icannot explain in words sir please send me copy of video as well as pdf file me in my email mohan21chauhan@newton124
Thank You very nice topic
This would give me the reason too finally buy a Mac!! =).
If it's really better than photoshop, I want the pixelmator!
I'd like a copy of Pixelmotor because I am very talented in designing artworks with Photoshop CS3 and Illustrator and I am 16 years old. And now I wanna try some other Software to work with.
I would love to win. Thanks for the contest!
Just wanted to drop a comment saying that i wanted a copy because i am a highschool student currently trying to get into graphic design and i would love to get Pixelmator to expand those interest, i love your tutorials and your work!
Good Morning Fabio,
it is nice to know that you are Brazilian, I know many Brazilians in my town. I'm Mexican living in the U.S. as you know there are not many Hispanic people in the Graphic Design and Web industry at least not in my area. I will like a free copy of Pixelmator to make that jump that I need in the Graphic Design world. I appreciate all of your time you put into creating these amazing tutorials and best of all to you!
Thank you,
Jav
Hey juss dropping in to say why i want it, well im currently 14 years old, thinking of getting into the whole graphics area. But cant really afford it since im still in grade 9. yeaaa.. thats bout it lol.
Nice work ,great collection. Thanks for the share.
I hate artists
I hate design
I hate Photoshop
I hate Ilustrator
I love Pixelmator.
Well, just kidding! Art is all.
nice tut....free copy peeze.
Wow,great tutorial as always :D
Anyways,i would really apprieciate that copy of Pixelmator, becouse i'm learning Graphical design and dont have the money to buy any of these "expensive" programs :/.... I always have to go to school to use the computers there :/ and my Macbook was a gift from my parents, 2 brothers and my grandmpa and grandpa....
So it would be most appreciated to get that one copy ^^
But if not, great work on the tut!
Great tutorial, mine came out really nice too!
I would like to win a free copy of Pixelmator because I will beginning college in a month or so and am taking some graphics and photography classes but don't have anything to edit or design anything on on my computer, and since I have already been saving all of my money for the macbook I just bought as well as a new DSLR that I am saving for. Therefore I won't be having much money to spend on much else. I would really appreciate it. Thanks for the opportunity although I am most likely to late to win.
Is "Pixelmator" available for Windows User ?
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Hi Fabio.
What if I say that Brazil has the best soccer playing artist's in the World.
Will this statement qualify me for an exemplar of Pixelmator?
Of course it will !
Watch up for the Norwegian's tough!
I'm really very useful to follow a long-time see this as a blog here Thank you for your valuable information.
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