Simple Tutorials using GIMP for textures

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Thanks so very much. I had been looking for a simple tutorial using GIMP. I know this has been here for sometime, but I just started searching a few days ago. You did a great job and I look forward to using your instructions this weekend. Once again, thanks very much.

I am fiddling with gimp--and I understand things....but when I merge the texture doesn't cover the template.....is there something I am doing wrong.....one thing.....how do you hide a layer?

Thanks

Sara Shingleton

5. Duplicate the now smaller layer to fill in the needed areas.

Say what?


What does it mean to dulicate the smaller layer? When I select duplicate layer it duplicates the whole template twice with the square on it and all I see is the square...

By the way--I find this tutorial better than the other ones.....

People need to create a tutorial for PSP users so I can understand PSP....I like psp....but I like the fact that GIMP is free....and I like free better....

Also...Gimp doesn't give me any headaches because of this awesome tutorial....I'm just stuck that's all....yeah that's it I'm stuck....

Thanks

Sara....does this GIMP thing work with creating signs in second life also?

I need a sign for my clothing company....

How do you know if it's undoing anything.....I click on undo but it still shows the process--the option to undo that process doesn't dissapear after I undo it....oh I'm also still back where the square of the texture is on my template.....I don't know how to stretch it or anything.....when I I try to duplicate the texture I have no problem with that.....what I don't understand is how to get the texture to move onto the template....(I'm a blonde?? I guess I need more help than others) lol

Help!

I'm not sure what you mean about duplicating the smaller layer. When duplicating any layer you must first select that layer from the layer dialogue. I sounds to me like you have the wrong layer selected..........like the one below the one you are trying to duplicate and when you duplicate it to comes to the top and covers the one you were intending to duplicate. The freshly duplicated layer always becomes the selected layer which has tripped me up a few times.

I have an online book that is much easier to read and follow than the manual you can download from The GIMP download page. It's free too.

http://gimp-savvy.com/BOOK/

Happy experimenting..............I have so much fun with GIMP.

On the tools dialog click on the move tool (looks like crossed arrows) and then click on layer you want to reposition. It's easiest to make sure that layer is on top and selected. And you cannot click on a transparent spot on the layer and get it to move.......only on some part that has some color or texture on it.

Where are you doing your undo? The top menu bar or the do/undo dialog? If you are doing the menu then and you have several actions that are the same such as moving then it some times can be hard to tell if anything was undone unless you watch closely the layer you are working on. If you are using the dialog box then the selection will move higher on the list. Some things like a few filters don't have an undo..............so be careful there.

What I meant to say was....how do you get that small little texture square--turned into covering the template with the fabric you choose? Also.....I only can see the overlay and the background and the image layer....what happened to the uv map in the texture templates?? I don't see it when I load up.....how can you see it in gimp?

Thanks


I can get the texture square on the template.....but the next step....I don't know how to do/and or understand....

taking the texture and covering the template in gimp....

there should a step by step how to for this....

someone should do a gimp for dummies with pictures....hahaha

Sara

Much easier way. menu/Filters/Map/Small Tiles

I guess what I could do is show you a screen shot or something to that effect of where I am at with the program I need to take the texture square and cover it over the template.....but how?? Is my question....Also....I don't even know where the UV Map went.....I didn't see it when I downloaded the template and unzipped it.....


Here's my screenshot.....

HeLp!

Sara....

I think I fixed it--screenshot is uploaded now....

You can select your small texture square and then in Script-Fu>>Selection>>To Pattern create a pattern from it. This will make it available to the fill bucket.

there's no uv map for the upper body template....is there supposed to be?

I downloaded the upperbody template and can't see the uv map when I unzip it....

Thanks

Sara

I can fill the template with a pattern...but when I go back and try to erase what I don't need.....the pattern is no longer there.....there's something else....maybe I should erase the pattern and show the screen shot of what follows....

Thanks

Sara

I can fill the template with the pattern and front and back dissappear...yayay...but when I fill it with the pattern and try to chop away or erase what I don't need.....I can't see the template good enough....it's faded and the lines are less dark....How can I make the lines darker?

Thanks a bunch

Sara

When other novices need help....I'll help them in return....you guys have been very patient with me....the newbie....I'm really happy that I can get this help.....also....for the upper body template....there's no uv map when I unzip it....what should I do?

Thanks

Sara

I'll post a screen shot of the material I am currently working with (my tiger is too dark) Also.....I'll post a screen shot of the pattern erased.....and you'll see what I mean by the pattern lines are too light for me to see--I'm having problems erasing around the pattern....can a cut work?

Here are both my screenshots with and without the pattern....I chose a different pattern until I get use to the eraser.....anyhow.....when I fill the pattern and try to erase what I don't need.....I can't see the template lines....I can but they're not dark enough....how can I make them darker but still keep it where it doesn't show the words front and back and so on....

Thanks

Sara

hope my screenshots help

Edit: The template lines in the screenshot without the pattern are to light...I'd like to make them darker....maybe use black for the template lines or something....when I strip the pattern....I'm having a hard time telling the pattern apart from the template....and I would like to see it darker to make a cleaner erase.

I think I might have made my first skirt....got it saved as a targa file....

Now.....how would you upload it to SL?

What's the next step....

I'm still struggling with the shirts....will update you later if I am not

Thanks

Sara

Oh--How does one make a sign.....when I figure out how to make the shirt.....I'll have a whole outfit.....what do I do next?

Sara

When you first start making your shirt, skirt or whatever you want to make. Open the template you want to use..............the "open as template" option. That will put your template as your background. And other pictures or designs you want to open use the "open as layer" option in the cavas window. The looks of your template makes me think you are not seeing all the layers of the template. I use Chip Midnight's 1024 by 1024 templates and the different guides are layered so you can show or not show them. I don't remember if the SL templates are in layers.............I thought they were a single layer but I could be wrong since it's been a long time since I've used them. At the top of this forum section there is a sticky with Chip Midnights templates to download..........give them a shot. They are quite a bit better than SL's.

When I comes to a sign I use the "new image" option in the main GIMP window and open as a transparent background in the size I want to use (usually 512 by 512 but depending on the sign that may change). Then I just go the text button on the tools dialog and choose my font, size, and text color. Type in what you want the sign to say. All the fonts available to you on you computer are available. You can then open other layers to place your text on or under or whatever you want to do.

I made my first prototype....I filled in the background....but I need help with how to make it so that the lines on the template don't show up on my skirt when I wear it.....the lines in the template are still there.....How can I make them dissapear?

Thanks

Sara

This is helping.....more thanks...the sign sounds easier than making the clothes.....lol

Sara

hahahahah.............. I did that the first time too.

When you merge the layers make sure you click on the eye icon to make the background not shown The "merge visible layers" and keeping the eye icon off save your image. What you did was merged visible layers which included your background (or template) so it shows in the saved image. Silly mistake..............but I guarentee you are not the first. If any honors go to that I'm in line ahead of you.

But once you saved your texture that way there is no way to get rid of them.........you are learning.

I know that you can't take it back....when you make the mistake and save them....I wish gimp made a feature where u could go back after the save....hmmm

Thanks for the info...I'm going back and working on tygerlicious....

Sara

When I merge the visible layers and take the eye off the background and merge the overlay and the uv map and then I go back and add the background.....all it does is show the pattern.....shows no skirt outline or anything.....I made an error somewhere....not sure where though....I filled in the background with a pattern....but I don't know what to do after I fill it in with the pattern. Help?

Sara

Sara, it's getting late.............even for me out on the west coast. I'm a little confused about what you are doing. When you set the template to the background and place your testures on top you want to "trim" your textures layers to fit the template. Erase, cut, draw or whatever. When you make the background invisible and merge the layers all you should see is the textures cut, erased or painted as a single layer. Those textures will be to the shape of the template and nothing else. If you were to make the background visible you will see the template under it all just like when you making the texture before you merged them. When you save don't have the template visible or it will save too and you will have the template mixed in your texture like before. All you will see is a rather odd looking picture of the textures that will fit the avi when you upload and wear. All the template is for is to give you the guide for how to place your textures on the shirt, skirt or pants you want to make.........they are not meant to become part of the texture you are making.

You could, if you wanted just make a 512 by 512 texture without a template and cover the entire canvas and wear it............it would look like a solid shirt, skirt or pants with no neckline, long sleeved, long skirt or pants and a high waist. Your seams would likely not match but you can do that. The outline of the template is not terribly important as long as you make the texture at least to the outer edge of the template lines. But staying right at the edge and not too much beyond helps with seam alignment. You seem to be overly worried about the template. Just have fun and experiment............I've uploaded quite a few disasters and had my laughs.

It's confusing, I know. But you'll figure it out I'm sure.

I just reread the last part of your post. I don't think you want to fill the "background". All you want to upload is the "pattern" as you call it. The pattern on with a tranparent background. The little grey checks are that transparent background. Hope that is what you were referring to.

Take care..............

Thanks for sharing all that information last time I tried to use gimp I couldn't even figure out how to save targa file.
I was and have been struggling with everything. Recently I did something wrong with files so now when i use adobe it opens files in gimp and won't let me open them anywhere else