GIMP classes?

I've been scanning the educational events for months, but have not seen any classes specifically on GIMP. I have gone through a bunch of tutorials, but not being familiar with the world of graphics, I get easily lost.

So, if anyone is interested in teaching, or knows someone who would like to offer such classes, please IM me or post here. I have several friends who are also interested in the basics.

A GIMP class would be like a real world class. Maybe a couple of hours every day for a month. At the end, you would know Gimp. maybe shop for a real life tutor.

A perfectly good alternative is the online book, Grokking the Gimp, or the A Press book, Gimp from beginner to professional.

Last advice, try to do whatever it is you want Gimp to do, and then post a question here.

Get your friends together as a group. GIMP for wimps, or something Ask each other questions.

"Gorking the Gimp" http://gimp-savvy.com/BOOK/

I use The GIMP. It's way more than adequate for Second Life and once you jump in with it, it's not even that hard to learn how to use. I'm no expert...........not even an intermediate user. When I first got the program about a year ago I downloaded the "Manual" too.........way too techy. It assumes that you are very familar with graphic design and left me to the point of almost uninstalling it because I couldn't grasp anything about what was documented in the manual...........then I found "Gorking the GIMP" online. Read it (well skimmed some of it.....LOL) and then started trying to duplicate what the author did in the book. Suddenly some of that techy manual started making sense..........so between the two I've gotten to where I can do most anything I want to do in making my textures. Granted I might do some times in an awkward way but I can usually get it done........but that is the best way for me to learn anyway.

My advice is to read "Gorking the GIMP", break out The GIMP and start playing around with it. It's fun, and once you get the hang of it it's not so bad........it even starts looking intuitive.

Have fun.

Thank you both for your advice, I like the idea of a group LOL on the name!

I will look into the book. I really appreciate knowing that it helped you, Peggy. I also was overwhelmed by the manual and most of the tutorials online.

For the clueless like myself, it is hard to post questions that make any sense. For example, I did something, and the bottom half of the Tools window is blank... no idea how to get it back. Other example, when I pick the Move tool, and go to my image, I get a locked symbol... this is a new thing, so I probably messed up somewhere lol.

That's an easy one, you closed the 'tool options' dialog, which has a little 'x' in the upper right corner that really, really shouldn't exist... anyway, File->Dialogs->Tool options will bring back the dialog. Then you have to dock it back into the blank spot in the toolbox; for me I have to click on the title area of the dialog where it says like 'Pencil' or whatever tool is selected (not the titlebar that says 'Tool Options' but the title within the dialog); that can be dragged over to the toolbox and a spot lights up when it's in the right place to be dropped in.


You mean a padlock, or a slashed-circle? If you have a slashed circle, when you get your tool options back, make sure that you have 'transform layer' selected. If it is transform selection or transform path it will only work when there is a selection or path. Possibly you toggled something to lock the layer in place though, but I'm not remembering at the moment how to do that.

I believe the "lock" button is right next to the "visibility" (eyeball) button on the layar dialog.

I have a chain there, not a lock... and it doesn't stop me from moving things, it just moves them all together instead of separately.

You cannot, though, use the move tool on a transparent area at least in its default mode with None selected, so it may simply be a matter of trying to move a layer while pointing at a blank area.

Although it might be a lock there in layers in some versions, I'm not sure. I'm on 2.2.7-linux.

I use GIMP for my clothing designs (Sofi'sticate) Though not an expert (yet) I'm more than happy to offer any help and answer questions regarding the use of this FREE software. There is also a terrific hardcopy book available called:

"Beginning GIMP--From Novice to Professional" by Akkana Peck

....this book is a WONDERFUL and easy to read resource if you prefer having something in your hands.

You're right about the chain..........I just checked. My mistake. My version is GIMP 2.2.13 for Windows.

The word is GROK with a K, or GROKKING with two K's. This strange word is from a Robert Heinlein novel about a human raised by Martians. To grok cannot be translated into human languages, but it approximately means to understand fully and deeply.

When working in GIMP to design clothing:

#1 -- download the templates from Chip Midnight and/or Robin Wood and save them in a file you can locate easily. I use primarily Robin Wood's since her files that end with the extension .psd (photoshop files) open with layers. A .jpg file will be a flat image.

***by the way, use the 1024x1024 size--we will scale it down afterward***


#2 -- If you have GIMP downloaded already, great. Otherwise go to www.gimp.com and download the stable version.

#3 -- Open GIMP. If you don't see a small window called "Layers" open don't worry. Just go to FILE>DIALOGS>LAYERS to open it up. Move it over to the right part of your screen and out of the way.

#4 -- Now we will open the template you downloaded from either Robin or Chip. GO to FILE>OPEN>and whatever folder in which you placed the template). When you open the template (if it is a .psd file and not the .jpg version) you should immediately see your small LAYERS window show all the layers in that template.

#5 -- I would suggest that you immediately RESAVE this file with a unique name like "SHIRT WORKING SAMPLE.XCF" or something like that. Note that GIMP files should be saved as .XCF until you are ready to save them as something you can use in SL. You can also save them as .PSD files since GIMP does have the capability of reading those types of files.

#6 -- Note the small EYE that is next to each of the layers in the Layers Window. You can toggle whether or not the layer can be seen on your screen by clicking on this eye.

***Keep in mind that when working with layers, you want to be sure you have the correct layer "highlighted" in the layers window. I've found myself erasing on a layer with the visibility turned off only to discover it after I clicked the 'eye" icon to turn it back on again.

*** ALSO, in the LAYERS window you may find it handy to adjust the Opacity of certain layers as you work. You can readjust them all back to 100% when you are through, but having a layer somewhat transparent so you can see the lines of the template to be sure everything matches up is very handy.


#7 -- This is where it starts to get tricky. Now...you've opened the template and you are ready to design. In the LAYERS window, RIGHT click on the background layer. (You can actually do this on any of them, but we'll start here for simplicity). Choose the option "New Layer" and another window pops up where you can give the layer a name (leave the size alone) and the fill type. Choose Transparency. It is on THIS layer that you will do your work. The layers provided in the template are just there as guides to help you match up seams, etc. You can also move this new layer up or down in the levels of layers by using the up or down arrows you see on the bottom of the Layers window.

#8 -- Make sure that you have your NEW LAYER highlighted in the Layers window. Now you can do what you want to do. Perhaps paint on straps? or paint on a design?

**** BUT WHAT IF YOU NEED A FABRIC?? ****

#9 -- If you don't want to just "paint" something on (and most of us don't), then you can open a texture as a "layer". TO do this you will look at the top menu bar in the TEMPLATE WINDOW (not The GIMP window which only shows File, Xtns, Help). So, at the top of the template window you choose File>open as layer>your texture file of choice). You will notice that this created another new LAYER in your Layers window.

#10 -- Now, with the layer you just opened highlighted you can move it, shrink it, adjust it any way that you need to do. IF for some reason you have difficulty moving it around, then close the 'eyes' of the layers above it. I've noticed sometimes in GIMP you move all other layers instead of the one highlighted in the Layers screen if there are others open above it. This seems only to happen with the MOVE choice and not the Rotation, Scaling, Shearing, etc. options. (just a bit of FYI there)

#11 -- In the GIMP window (probably to the far left of your screen) you will see a lot of icons corresponding to what you may wish to do. If for example you wanted to expand this layer you can click the SCALE LAYER icon--it opens a window you can use or you can drag to the size you need.

#12 -- Let's assume the texture you imported is the perfect size, but you need more than one. Go over to the LAYERS window, right click on the layer you want to duplicate and choose DUPLICATE LAYER.

----------Now...let's presume for a moment that you wanted to flip the new layer to create more of a mirror immage of the first. Here is what you do.....in the WORKING WINDOW of the TEMPLATE hover your mouse over the layer and right click. You will get a pop up window of some additional layer options, OR you can just use the menu at the top of this window. Choose LAYER>TRANSFORM>FLIP HORIZONTALLY. Now you can move this layer to where you need it to go.

#13 -- I'm going to jump ahead to presume you've adjusted, moved, erased, painted and done what you wanted to do to create your new design. Now it's time to prepare for upload.

*** OH, and if I have not mentioned this SAVE, SAVE, SAVE your work on a regular basis during the working process. GIMP, even the stable version, can sometimes just lock up for no reason--causing you to have to close the software and losing your hard work. So SAVE !!!

Since this is your working copy it may be best to save it ONCE AGAIN into a different file. That way, you can keep all the template layers in THIS copy should it need tweaking. So, go ahead do a quick SAVE of this document if you haven't already. Then do a FILE > SAVE AS>UNIQUENAME.tga

Note we are saving this as a .TGA file. You will get a window that comes up letting you know that it can't handle layers yada, yada...just hit EXPORT. On the next screen UNCHECK 'RLE Compression' and the 'Origin at bottom left...' boxes that you see then hit OK.

OK...file is saved.....now, we need to get rid of the thiings we don't need.

#14 -- in the LAYERS window, highlight, right click and then DELETE all the layers that came with the template--this includes the background layer that is on the very bottom. Also remove any new layers you may have added but don't need.

#15 -- after all this you may still have multiple layers from items (textures) you imported and arranged as part of your design. That's fine -- you don't have to do everything in one single layer. However, we do need to reduce it to one single layer before we can upload it into SL. So, if you have multiple layers you can now reduce them (and make sure the 'eye' is open on all the layers you wish to merge) to one by going to the main working window and choosing IMAGE>MERGE VISIBLE LAYERS. VOILA!

#16 -- If you've been using the 1024x1024 size, it is too big for SL, so now that you have created your design, removed extraneous layers, and merged (flattened) it into one layer we need to shrink it. Last step...
--------in the main working window chose IMAGE>SCALE IMAGE> and put in 512 where you see the 1024 then hit the SCALE button.

#17 -- Save the file and close it. Now you can go into SL, you will choose UPLOAD FILE, and upload your new design as a texture. Once you get it into SL, you will go into appearance mode, create new (shirt for example) and click the area on the appearance block for texture. At the window that pops up you will locate and select your new design texture. Do a save as in-world and you have your new piece of clothing!


Hope this helped!

Sofi Sullivan
Sofi'sticate

My bad...thanks for the correction.

Just as a step saving thing for your transparent layer to work on when designing or drawing..........make your transparent layer at the desired resolution (1024 x 1024) and save it as XCF or TGA (saved mine as TGA) and put it in the same folder as your templates.........I named mine "Transparent 1024). That way you can simply "open as layer" and navigate to the file. Quick way to open a new transparent layer for your work.

Hope I helped a little too.

Oh........another thing I do that makes it a little easier to find what layer you are working on. Once you have done what you want on a particular layer, do the "autocrop" in the layer drop down. That way when you are drawing or erasing later in your work the "marching ants" will give a clue if you are working on the layer you think you are.

Experience...............LOL.

The book Beginning GIMP: From Novice to Professional is a great resource. I finally caved and bought it and don't regret it at all. I use GIMP on occasion but I also use Paint Shop Pro X. PSP X is a nice little program but not free. I've been using PSP products for a long time now but I wish I knew about the GIMP before I got hooked on PSP hehe.

V2.2 V 2.3 is also available, but not finished (at which time it will be numbered 2.4)

Layers and channels are both important. Spend some time to figure out what the hell they are.

turn off all the layers. (click the eye). Then turn them on one at a time, to see what they are. For example, on is just a color for the shirt. Another might be a logo on the shirt. One might just be the wrinkles.

You can also use rt-click in the image, or the menus.

But keep them if you might go back and use them again.
You can preview it as clothing before you pay L$10 to upload it.

If you have a lot of files, use <bulk upload>

Also, you can upload to the beta grid for free. You'll have to do it again later when you want it on the main grid.



Brilliant!

Hope my extra tips helped.

I saw a new GIMP book on Amazon.com. Probably good. Take a look.

Wow! I want to thank you guys, for taking the time to go over those details.Very much appreciated ! I;m printing this thread so I can follow those tips and practice. So, I;ll probably come back with more questions .

Thank you!

I didn't see this posted in this thread, but, I would like to know how to download the textures from SL to GIMP.

As in "I Grok Spock". (sez the star trek fan)

Assuming you have permission, there is a menu item under File called Download (I think). You download it to some directory on your machine. Then Open it with Gimp or any other editing program.

Hi

First, many thanks for the excellent tips. However, I am still having trouble!!

I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get a coloured shirt. I have the shirt template, with loads of layers. which is black. Then I add another layer for the fabric texture. Should I be adding this as transparent, or foreground, or background??? Whatever I do, the shirt either stays black or I just end up with a layer which is all fabric texture. There must be some simple step I am missing. How to you get the two to mesh together?? I've tried moving the layers up and down, and deleting/hiding them, but no joy.

Maybe I am thinking about it in the wrong way, as you create a prim in world and then add a texture, but clothes don't work like that, do they?

I am using GIMP.

Thanks, very confused!


Jen

Calla Cella offers courses in world on Gimp. It's a great series of classes. I took them months ago and still attend occasionally as there is always more to learn

The shirt templates shouldn't be black. What if you hide all the layers but one? Is it black?

The Robin Wood T-shirt tutorial, for example. .. The lowest layer is some t-shirt wrinkles. next on up is call Put Color Here, and you put some colored fabric there. And so on.

If yours are black, something went wrong.

I think perhaps you may be missing a step. Once you try to upload an image into SL (and remember, you have to save it as an image that SL will accept such as jpg, tga, png, etc.) the upload process may be "flattening" all those layers into one big pile of black.

Probably the easiest way to handle images is to save your final image (make sure your changes, etc. have been saved in a WORKING file such as .xcf) ....but save the final image as a .png. HIDE all the layers that do NOT makeup the outfit (ie, that wonderful graph that shows placement, or background layer that has color). You want to be sure that the background layer on which your shirt, or dress, etc. is laying is transparent.

That help?