Curved gradients in gimp

[Camo Creative]

so, I'm trying to work on the Ross Chastain car for Homestead-Miami, and I realized that I have no idea how to make curved gradients in gimp, I've looked all over the internet, talked to like, 6 different people. Still can't figure it out. If someone could help that would be amazing. i will like a picture of the car so you can see what I'm talking about.

 

[jacobc62]

I know of three methods. The first two won't perfectly replicate the results you may be going for and both will be a pain in the ass to manipulate (in their own respective ways) into a good enough result for what you might be trying to accomplish. The third will get you probably the closest to what you're trying to replicate, but it's not a true gradient.

The first method is the more simple of the two, but more than likely harder to manipulate into what you want: Using the circular gradient setting in the gradient tool. This will be a perfect circle when it comes to gradient, but if you want to have it attach to a straight line gradient, it's gonna take some patience to get it to look anywhere close to being lined up perfectly.

The 2nd is using the normal straight-line gradient setting, then using the curve-blend tool to curve it how you want it. While it would be easier to get the shape (or at least as close to it as you can), the curve-blend tool most of the time will sharpen any edges of things, unless it's a very soft edge, meaning you may want to have the gradient initially be larger than you want it to keep the hard edging from affecting the final result.

The 3rd and final method requires you to not touch the gradient tool at all, but instead use the pen tool at a low sharpness percentage (25% is usually the better of the three) with a decently-sized brush (larger than the default 20 pixels).

 

[Mystical]

Lots of different methods to do it. The 5 mins versions for me would be:

Separate the layers into sections where gradients curve adding angled gradient going in the direction of the layer flow:


what it looks like combined:


Another quick method is creating a thick stroke:


Make a gradient layer that touches all the bend points you'd want black:


Then with a little blurring and masking the gradient to the layer:



Another method if I want total precision is just make all the separate layers then with a blank layer manually paint in low opacity with a basic brush black in all the curved areas fading out on the straight sections. Then do a simple mask to layer and a bit of a blur so the painted gradient blends nicely.


I use Affinity Photo but these methods should really apply to any paint program if you know the tools well enough.

 

[Camo Creative]

Thank you everyone for the help, I will send a picture of what ends up working.