how do i create this style of artwork?

[severdhed]

hey guys, i've been looking around for some control panel artwork for my ZakMan cabinet.  i have never used cp art before, always just spray painted the back side of the plexi over the panel.  I am pretty happy with the way this looks, but since i am getting ready to convert this cabinet to a vertical classics cabinet, i need to build a new panel.  anyway i am toying around with the idea of control panel artwork, and upon some googling, i found a really cool wallpaper that i think would look great.  however it isn't high enough resolution to print out at 12"x30".

here is the wallpaper in question:


and here is a quick mockup of what i would like to end up with...



just going to be a 4way stick, trackball and 3 buttons.  the buttons at the top are Exit, start 1, start 2, and pause.


i just need to figure out how to create something like this, only at 12"x30" at 300 dpi so i can get it printed.  is there a photoshop plugin or something like that?  i'm not super awesome with photoshop, but if pointed in the right direction, i may be able to figure it out.

Thanks

[opt2not]

Wow, cool image! Took me a second to figure out it was pacman...I was distracted by the smokey, trail stuff...

I've never done this style before, but if I were to try it out, I'd say get yourself a "whispy" photoshop brush (google them, you can find free brushes available without much problem), and play around with duplicating layers and changing their blending options to something more additive...like multiply, or hard light. Add some glows using the gradient tool (set to radial if you want), and also change the blending options for that as well.
Try investigating these tips, and let us know how it goes.  Good luck!


**edit** ha-ha, 1000 posts!  It's fitting that I hit it with some art advice!

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

That would be a flame fractal. Look for the program apophosis. Its not exactly easy.

[severdhed]

wow, yeah, i looked at that program, but it makes no sense whatseover.  it appears to be some kind of weird math based program instead of an image editor.  some people just must be alot smarter than me.  creating an image shouldnt be that difficult

[opt2not]

Did a bit of tutorial searching, found a couple links that might help you out...

This one looks promising:  http://psdlearning.com/2008/06/luminescent-lines/#more-45

For easy swirly effects:   http://designreviver.com/tutorials/how-to-create-brilliant-light-streaks-in-photoshop/

This one's more fairy/pixy dusty:   http://9tutorials.com/2007/07/30/abstract-image.html

[drventure]

Apophosis is a very strange, but very addictive program if you're into that kind of thing.

I spent literally +hours and hours+ playing with it at on point hunting fractals. It's takes practice to get good. I never got good. Then I ran into BYOAC and fractals just kinda died on the vine 

Here's a few I came up with at the time. I thought they turned out nice anyway...

You can get some very interesting images out of it. And there are better fractal flame generators out there as well. Just google around and you'll find tons (esp on deviantart.com).

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

Here are a few old ones I've got posted over on Deviant Art:

[severdhed]

those are all very cool.  however they seem so random..insert some numbers and play around and it makes them for you...but that pacman picture clearly was designed as pacman and a ghost...perhaps im missing something, but i just don't see how to do that

after looking around, i discovered a program called flame painter
http://www.escapemotions.com/experiments/flame/index.html#top

there is an online browser based version for simple things, but it does not allow you to save in incredibly large resolutions.  however there is a pay version that is only about $20 that may do the trick.  i am going to play around with the online version to see what i can accomplish, and if i get good results, i may end up purchasing this program

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

Errr.. image comprehension--.

I totally missed the pacman and ghost. hah.

[drventure]

Don't feel bad. I completely missed that too!

And that flame painter is pretty cool, not actual fractals, but cool none the less.