What’s a good software to make lightsaber effects?
The Long Voyage asked:
I want to make pictures of me with a lightsaber. I can’t get it to look right on GIMP. Please don’t say After Effects, I can’t afford that. Is there a good and free software out there that can make it look like I’m just holding a real lightsaber?
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I want to make pictures of me with a lightsaber. I can’t get it to look right on GIMP. Please don’t say After Effects, I can’t afford that. Is there a good and free software out there that can make it look like I’m just holding a real lightsaber?
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Pinnacle, or even just Windows Moviemaker.
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Download the trial version of Photoshop.
Just draw a line in a new layer.
Apply the blur until it looks like a light saber.
Copy your hand and the area around it with the lasso tool to a new layer (on top of the light saber layer)
Make sure the top layer is lined up and looks right. Don’t worry if you cover up your light saber a bit.
Use the eraser to remove the overlap until it looks right.
Merge the layers. Maybe you can use the air brush with a VERY low flow and high transparency to hi-lite areas as if the light from the light saber is reflecting from them. Don’t go crazy. Do it on a separate layer so you can delete it if you don’t like how it looks.
This is pretty much how I do that stuff. I would put in more detail, but this is from memory. It’s just the basics.
Good luck.
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I suggest downloading the free trial of Particle Illusion by Wondertouch. The program is for adding special effects and all the big movie and television companies use it. There is even a special effect lightsaber you can download.
Just go to and download the free trial. Or pay $400 for the real thing.