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In this tutorial I will show you how to create a 3D crystal, like you can see if you go to my pictures on picable.  It is not hard, just make sure you follow the steps exactly.  If you don't have Gimp, the first step would be to download the program of course.  You can download Gimp at www.gimp.org.  However, let's assume you have it and start.  Shall we?



Step One:

Go to file, and select new.  This will bring up a dialog to choose the size you want.  Make sure you pick a size that is taller than it is wide.  I find 640x800 works pretty well.



Step Two:

Now you will want to choose two colors.  Pick just a normal color, say blue, and then the other should be a light blue.  If you pick red, make sure the second color is a lighter red.



Snippet taken by author.  The remainder of the the images are done by the author.



Step Three:

Now you will want to create your gradient.  To do this, click on the gradient tool, which is highlighted in the picture above.  Make sure the gradient is set to forward to background (second highlight in the picture above).  Also, make sure it is in the radial shape (third highlight).  Then you can start getting the gradient how you want it to look in the box.  





Step four:

Next, you will have to create a new layer.  To do so, click the create new layer button in the layers, channels, paths, etc box.  I highlighted the create new layer button so you can see what it looks like.  Name it black, or black layer.  Something to that effect.  





Step Five:

Next, die the black layer black.  make sure you are on the black layer, and not the background.  Click the bucket fill tool, which is right next to the gradient tool button.  If you hover over the buttons it will tell you what each button is, just to make sure.



Step Six:

Now, we create the outer shape of the diamond.  To do this, select the path tool.  It is the second tool on the second row.  To be accurate, hover over the buttons just to make sure you select the right one.  Start at the top and then go around to make all four points of the diamond.  Make sure the fourth point is right on top of the first.





Step Seven:

In the seventh step, you'll want to get rid of the black on the inside of the diamond.  To do this you can either hit shift+v and then delete, or go to the select menu and select from path and then delete.  After you delete the black, hit Shift+Control+A or go to select and press none.





Step Eight:

The eight step is to copy the path.   Basically you re-do the path around the diamond without doing all the steps again.  Make sure you are in the paths dialog in the layers, paths, channels, and etc dialog box.  Right click on the unnamed path and click the path tool.  You'll then see a copy that says unnamed copy.





Step Nine:

For this step, you will want to choose a midpoint.  The second point you made in the beginning, on the left side, is the point you will want to use.  You take it and move it to the middle, until it lines up pretty even.





Step Ten:

The next steps will be to add depth to the diamond.  How do you add depth?  Color.  To add color to the diamond, you will want to dodge the right side.  In the dialog box go back to the layer menu, and make sure you are on the background layer instead of the black layer.  Then find the dodge tool on your toolbox.  It is the last tool on the last row.  To make sure it is the right one, just hover over it before you click on it.  Underneath the tools, there are options, just make sure that dodge is checked and not burn.  Also, make sure the paintbrush size is 10 to cover the right side the fastest.  Before you do color the area, make sure you press Shift+V to select it.  Then, color in the right side.  It will only be a lighter version of your color.  then de-select the path by pressing shift+ctrl+A

You will come up with something like this:





Step Eleven:

Continuing on the right side, you will want to create another path so you can color the bottom half.  Right click on the unnamed path copy and select path tool.  Take the bottom point and move it up to the right corner.

The picture is for the left side, but it will look just the right on the right side.



Make sure you press Shift+V to select the area, then dodge it once.  Afterwards, de-select by pressing Shift+Ctrl+A.  

After the right side is done, it will look like this,depending on what color you choose.





Step Twelve:

Now you'll want to do the top left side of the diamond.  If you remember the picture above shows you what the path should look like, so use that for reference.  Remember to right click on the unnamed copy and press path tool.  As always Shift+V to select.  Choose the dodge tool on the tool dialog box, but make sure BURN is checked this time.  Burn the top left just once, and then de-select as always.  Shift+Ctrl+V.





Step Thirteen:

Finally, you are at the last path to copy and burn.  However, this is the hardest part.  You want to make sure that you get the lines pretty close or it might look kind of funny.  You will want to take the point that is now at the midpoint and take it to the bottom, and the top point will also end up at the bottom.  My picture is not the best way to go, but it is just an idea of what this path should look like. As long as the points match and you get all of the bottom left triangle in, it should be just fine.  



Repeat all the steps as you would before.  Shift+V to select.  This time you will want to burn the area twice.  Then de-select by pressing Shift+Ctrl+A when you are done.



The finish product should look something like this:





Be sure as always to save your work when you are done!  I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and will give it a try.  I hope to see your diamond up someday!