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Paint.NET is free software for digital photo editing. I use it for 85% of my bitmap image processing needs - about the only time I switch to Photoshop is when I need to remove backgrounds because the Polygonal lasso tool makes it so easy.
I had some fun this morning by putting a lake where none existed. I started with a picture of FlatIrons that was taken by me when I worked in Longmont.
I first increased the size of my canvas by adding 120 or so pixels onto the bottom. (Ctrl-R, or Image-Resize)
I used the Rectangle Select tool to select the mountain piece, then Ctrl-C to copy it. Ctrl-Shift-V pastes my selection into a new layer.
From the Layers menu, select "Flip Vertical" and this will turn it upside down. Then I type 'M' to get the 'Move Selected Pixels' tool, and move the flipped layer down to the bottom of my canvas. This lines up the old bottom of the picture with a flipped copy of it's self.
Keep this layer selected.
Use the Effects-Noise-Add Noise menu item to litter up the selection with a bunch of white specs.
Use the Effects-Blur-Motion Blur menu item to make the water 'wavy' - Do that by setting the angle to 180 and extending the blur to lengthen the lines. Keep this selection active.
Once again, copy then paste into a new layer.
Set the layer properties to Transparency of 70. (F4 to access, or Layers-Properties)
Keeping this area selected, bump up the contrast to lighten this layer.
Move your layer selection back down to the first layer, the original picture - but keep your 'water' selection active. Copy once again.
Move your layer selection up to the layer that is lightened and made transparent. Then once again, paste your clipboard into a new layer.
For this third layer - once again set the transparency to 90. This time use the Contrast tool (Ctrl-Shift-C, or Adjustments-Brightness/Contrast) to Darken the layer.
Now here's the fun piece. Grab the Lasso select tool and with your mouse down for the whole time - drag your cursor back and forth and back and forth in a wave pattern across the darkened layer you just added. Keep the lines you're drawing very skinny at the top of your "water" and far apart. By the time you get to the bottom of your "water" your polygons should be wider - but closer to each other - think wave.
When you've filled the water with your lines, let up the mouse this will select portions of the transparent darker layer. DELETE your selection. And magic waves appear.
Here's a link to the final product - I like it for the background of my Twitter page.
NEXT - I'm going to take my waves into Expression Design. These guys are going to ripple across the screen in the background of my new toy web site, Dont Call Me Late For Supper.
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