PDN Fanatics

Yes, Drakaan, I have read that thread several times, and that was finally what got me interested in making a glass block.

LOL! That sounds just like me , And I have no idea what the 2nd half even means...

I try (I *did* say I was paraphrasing)

Translated into "Leave-it-to-beaver" english, it would be something like:

"Hey fellas (and ladies)! Check out the neat-o picture I'm making! It's nifty!"

drakaan, you aren't right in the head...

Here are some glass blocks, they are not so perfect ,but just to see the edges, that is what I was talking about, try to make the edges shown up -the bottom and rear edges- through the top face of the glass block:

Sargon...The way you have done it is identical to how I have done it myself. There is a trick I used to get the curve to look slightly distorted, and that is to do these steps:

1) Duplicate the "base layer"
2) Use median blur to reduce the size of the duplicated base
3) Drop shadow 1,1 with black. Repeat 4 times
4) Drop shadow -1,-1 with white. Repeat 4 times.
5) Gaussian blur at the setting between 25-30.
6) Alpha mask
7) Open Curves+ and adjust the luminosity until the edge becomes distorted like your did in the middle.

Then I go on to make more layers and creating even more distorted edge with Curves+. I have also discovered using Bevel (not Effect>Selection>Bevel), but Effect>Render>Bevel using white/black or black/white. Gaussian blur it and alpha mask it again, and Curves+.

Your outcome and mine are closely alike.

I have discovered a couple of distortion effect that truly will change the light and that is to use...Bulge and then Oblique, and then alpha mask to get the same sized shape. Set it to different blending options, and Curves+ to distort the light.

Edit: Making glass is pretty fun after you get the it done. Perfect? I'm not shooting for perfect, but for what I see in my mind.