City Lights for new Planet

[kaosjon]

Hi, i am currently designing a new map for a planet i am designing, however i want to add some city lights to it so in the dark, it looks like it is actually populated, much like most pictures of the earth, showing both the light and dark side (because of my post count i can't insert a link to an image but hopefully you get what i mean)




At the moment i don't have any lights, how do i get this effect, if there are any tutorials anyone can recommend i would greatly appreciate it as i have been looking for ages.


Thanks

 

[dv8_fx]

Like this, you mean...

 

[peta62]

Hello,
I would try to paint them with white brush, probably on a new layer so you can easily erase those you might not like moment later.
Best regards,
Peter

 

[kaosjon]

Like this, you mean...

View attachment 16562

Hi, yes exactly like that, how do i get that sort of effect?

thanks

 

[dv8_fx]

Peter gave his suggestion. Depending on the resolution of your image and the POV... if it's hi , use the pencil brush on a new layer.

There are other ways....

with the lasso tool, create the layout of your "cities". on a new layer fill selection with white. dont' deselct the marquee.

Apply the NOISE FILTER set at Gaussian & Monochromatic with a medium amount.

Go to select color range and select the white pixels. set fuzziness to maximum. CTRL+SHIFT+I to inverse selection and hit delete. you are left with white pixels on a transparent background.

Then apply the MEDIAN filter (the pixel radius setting is up to your preference..

At this stage you may want to erase parts of the sity to suit your landscaping.

Play with the layer opacity to get the look you want. Maybe make a copy of the layer and play with the opacity . This makes some parts of the cityscape brighter.

When I did that image some time back, I also used the pen to create the filament lines to connect the cities like a highway playing with the layer opacity to get the feel I wanted.


Hope this helps.