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How to Make Your Picture in Thermal Vision

Adding a thermal filter to your pictures will alter the colors in your pictures and create a kaleidoscope of blues and reds that correspond to the object's temperature. There are a number of ways to achieve this look. Keep in mind that there is a difference between actual thermal vision, which allows you to see the heat signatures of objects, people and animals, and a thermal filter, which provides an approximation of the effect.

Things You'll Need

Thermal lens
Smartphone app
Photo editing software

Instructions

- 1
  Upload the picture you want to alter. Open it in your photo editing program.
- 2
  Click on the "Filter" tab from the drop-down menu. Highlight "Blur" and click on "Gaussian blur." This will give your photo a blurry, out-of-focus look essential for the thermal effect. Set the "Radius" value to a number between five and seven.
- 3
  Select the "Image" tab from the drop-down menu. Highlight "Adjustments" and select "Gradient map." Press down on the color tab and hold your cursor over the options until you find the one labeled "Transparent rainbow." This will give your picture a thermal vision effect.
- 4
  Download a photo booth application for your computer or a mobile device, such as a smartphone. Many of these programs allow users to take pictures and apply a thermal effect. Any picture you take will look like it was taken in thermal vision.
- 5
  Purchase a thermal image lens for your camera. These are available at camera stores and online. This is the only way to take an authentic thermal vision picture. These lenses are usually expensive and range in price from several hundred dollars to more than $1,000.

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