How to Make Fragments & Fireworks on GIMP

In addition to basic photo editing, GIMP, the free Gnu Image Manipulation Program, can be used for all sorts of effects that may not be obvious at first. For example, using GIMP's Mosaic distortion filter, you can fragment any image into pieces of different shapes and sizes. Properly configured, GIMP's Gradient Flare can make some great fireworks. In themselves, both effects can be useful for transforming photos into works of art. Together, with fireworks over a dark fragmented image, the design can be quite spectacular.

Open the image you want to fragment in GIMP. Select the "Free Selection" or lasso tool from the Toolbox if you want to fragment only a portion of the image. If you want to fragment the entire image, you don't need this tool. Drag the cursor around the portion of the image you want to fragment.

Click the "Filters" menu, select "Distorts" and then click "Mosaic." The Mosaic panel opens. Click the "Tiling primitives" drop-down menu to select the geometric pattern you want to use in the fragmentation effect. If you're using this in combination with a fireworks effect, consider using hexagons or triangles; however, you can use any shape you wish.

Drag the sliders in the Mosaic panel while watching the preview window in its corner to achieve the proper amount of fragmentation you want to achieve. These sliders let you specify the tile size, height, spacing and neatness, as well as the light direction and variations in color. If you are planning to put fireworks in front of the fragmented image, remember to keep the mosaics colors dark rather than light, so the fireworks will stand out.

Click "OK" to see how the fragmentation effect appears on the full-sized image. If you don't like what you see, press "Ctrl-Z" on the keyboard and try again.

Click the "Filters" menu, select "Light and Shadow" and click "Gradient Flare." The Gradient Flare panel opens.

Click the "Selector" tab in the Gradient Flare panel and select "New." Type "Fireworks" in the Name text field and click the "Edit" button.

Drag the Glow Paint Options "Opacity" to the left until it reaches "0." Drag the Secondary Flares Paint Options "Opacity" slider to "0" as well.

Select the "Rays" tab in the Gradient Flare Editor panel. Click the "Angular Size Gradient" menu and select "%random."

Drag each of the sliders in the Parameters section of the Gradient Flare Editor panel while watching the flares in the preview window. These sliders adjust the size of the rays, rotation, the number of flare spikes and the thickness of the spikes. Click "OK" when you are satisfied with the preview to check out the effect on the full-size image.