Akira

This page shows some key steps in the making of the Akira wallpaper available in the downloads/wallpapers section.

Originals
The original images, the first is a render of a model taken from a Star Trek fan page, and the second is an actual photo taken in orbit. I am not sure where either of these images came from. If any one knows, contact me so I can give proper credit.

Step 1
This is a mask created in order to separate the ship from its background. Only the areas in white will be saved, and the rest will be made transparent.

Step 2
Here is the ship placed on the planet before any editing is done. What results is a very non-interesting image, that just seems thrown together, which it is.

Step 3
This is the planet layer with a gradient at the horizon and a circular gradient across the surface in an attempt to show sunlight.

Step 4
Some layers of colored clouds to make the image more interesting.

Step 5
The ship placed back on top of the planet and the clouds. However, the image still seems pasted together because the ship is not connected to the background.

Final
Another layer of clouds was added above the ship, and a brightness/contrast layer over the whole image really puts the ship into the scene. Notice how the ship takes on an blue hue to match the surroundings that was absent in the images above.

See the full size image in the downloads/wallpapers section.