Flag tutorial for Gimp
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Create a new image with a transarent background (mine is 256x256). Paste your flag into this layer. Make sure there's some room around the outside of the flag on all sides. |
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go to Image->Layer->Alpha to selection. Your marching ants should now appear around the flag. Create a new layer. (Open the layers dialog with Ctrl-L if it isn;t already, and hit the button like a sheet of paper on the bottom row). Select this new layer and now double click on the gradient tool in the toolbox). Select these options:  Now drag a horizontal line from about a quarter of the way into your flag out to the beginning of it (from right to left). |
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Move the Opacity slider in the layers dialog to about 35 % or what looks good to you. Now go to Image->Layers->Merge Visible Layers. When the dialog popsup, select 'expanded as necessary' and hit ok. At this point I added a black 1 pixel border by selecting a 1 pixel brush in my brush diualog and going Image->Layer->Alpha to Selectioun and then Image->Edit->Stroke. |
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Now the fun bit :) Head to Image->Filters->Distort->Iwarp. Get the following settings (or thereabouts, ahve a play yourself, it's dead fun!)  .Just drag your mouse on the preview image, from outside of the flag to inside of it... you'll see it move... |
In the orignal tutorial here they've blurred the edges here to elimate jagged edges, I dindn't feel this was neccesary, but if you want to do it, just select the blur tool from the toolbox and a medium size soft edge brush.
You can add flagpoles or whatever but I haven't bothered! his has been very quick and dirty, much better results could be used with time and patience, I did this in 1/2 an hour. Have a look at the rip[ple plug-in too, you should be able to use this in place of the iWarp filter or with it too.... |