I have a template question about gimp?

I was reading a tutorial about making jeans using gimp and in their pictures the template underneath always shows through the top layer but when i do it it it never shows through so i can't see my template underneath. What step am i missing to have the template show through the top layer.

Move the template layer up above the jeans- just remember to hide it before u flatten the image. Good luck.

Im talking about how the template seems to glow through the layer so you can see the edges and know where to draw. How do they do that. it glows in different colours

Drag your template to the top layer and then set the opacity of the template to 50 or less, and it will fade down so you can see the clothing layers you are working on and the template at the same time. This is probably what you are seeing. Don't all the templates have colored outlines? I know Chip's do.

there is still something im not understanding here i have four layers one being the template and i moved the template to the top and made the opacity to less then 50 yet i can't see anything underneath, this is soo confusing

Make sure you have the other layers set to show. Do you see the template layer get dimmer in view? If not then you don't have that layer selected when you are setting opacity. Keep the opacity of the clothing layers at 100%.

http://mistressofdesign.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/1-fill-blue-and-add-noise2.jpg
I am starting right from the beginning but with this tutorial they show like 12 layers and i don't know how they got all of them the tutorial starts after these layers have been made.?

Im starting with one layer it makes no sense all these seam matching layers and whatnot, where did they come from.

Sounds like you still need some basic GIMP knowledge - take a look at http://gimp-savvy.com/BOOK/ for a free tutorial that's written for the average person (I keep going to it so I really need to toss them some money...).

For your specific question: template on top layer, 50% opacity. Make the layer you're actually going to draw on the active layer (unlike real life where you can only draw on the top stack of several layers of paper, graphics programs offering layer support let you draw on any part of the layer without "pulling it on top". Remember that while the eye icon makes a layer visible, you need to click on the name of the layer in the layers menu (dialogs -> layers) to make it the layer you're actually going to draw on. Expect the get confused on this a lot, it just takes practice and experience.

If you have more questions on creating clothing, gimp, etc, I'd recommend posting in the texture forum.

Are you using the plain old Linden Lab template? It has no pretty colors and I believe only one layer. I don't use it so I can't be sure. Robin Wood and Cris Midnight have created some wonderful and very colorful templates. I can't decide which one I like best. Each of their templates have several layers.

To be honest, I really don't use them that much. The reason is because I consider myself to be a Gimp newbie. OK, to be really honest, I'm a complete digital art newb. I'm not ready at all to create clothing yet. May I suggest that maybe this is something you should consider too?

Jumping in too fast and too deep can be a frustrating and demoralizing experience. The best thing that may happen is that you aren't enjoying yourself. The worst thing that may happen is that you will give up on a dream. That is so sad.

Find some easy tutorials at Gimp.org or somewhere like that. Don't even think about making clothes yet. Just make some nice pictures. Give yourself time. Celebrate every little accomplishment or fact learned. Good luck.

I second this. Plus I already mentioned a 10-week course on GIMP taught in SL to the OP that starts right at the beginning and ends with making clothes.

If that is too much of a commitment, there are other classes taught as well. I know NCI teaches one on clothes-making and shows how to do it in Gimp as well as PS. Also, Robin Woods, the maker of one of the sets of great clothing templates, holds classes and has an entire tutorial library at The Livingtree. So lots of great resources in world.

Definitely go look at the Texture Forum- lots of great info and u will find links to those other templates. Also- google Mermaid Diaries- she has some great and simple beginner tuts. -Good luck again.

excellant tuts on clothes making in gimp and several other tuts as well. Invaluable information and a great place to start.