GIMP - if you have no Photoshop

[Letti]

So,
some people have mentioned that they are interested in GIMP. (At the bottom of this post you can find another free program that's not so clever but easier to use). It's very similar to Photoshop but it's asbolutely free to download or to use. If you ask me it's a damn clever and foxy program.

You can download it here:
http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html

You can make amazing things with it.
Let me show you only one very simple example:

From this picture:
http://www.dynamicforces.com/images/darktowergunslinger1.jpg

This one:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p237/Lettike/friends/darktowergunslinger1x.jpg
It took 5 minutes or even less.


Or my banner (from two pictures plus text):
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p237/Lettike/banner-av/wishbanner.jpg


An ex banner (from many pictures):
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p237/Lettike/banner-av/watersig.jpg


I used this one for long it might be familiar, it's very close to my heart I am sure I will use it sometime:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p237/Lettike/banner-av/fatunew-1.jpg
* You can see it's from 3 pictures. An island. On it there is a rose with the colours of the island and on the right there is another little black rose figure. Plus a text.


Or Storyslinger's:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p237/Lettike/friends/newbansling.jpg


To tell you the truth I am not too good at it but I'll help any of you with pleasure.
I am sure if you like it you are patient enough you will enjoy it and you will be able to create some great stuff.

Here you can download amazing fonts (handwritten, celtic... and so on and so on):
http://www.dafont.com/


:rose:


And anyway let me show you another free program.
It's called Picasa. I strated to work on pictures with it, too.
You can download it here:
http://picasa.google.com/

It's not as clever as GIMP or Photoshop but that's way it can be very good and useful. It doesn't know much but it is very handy and it's damn easy to use it. It's a free program for those users who wouldn't like to do much with their pictures but resize them or colour them a little bit (for example to make Sepia or Black and White style) cut out something from their picture or to vanish red eyes... stuff like that.
When I have no time for GIMP or I am just lazy I use Pisaca.

[Ikilledthecrimsonking]

thankyou Letti

[Letti]

You're welcome, sai.

[CRinVA]

Thanks Letti - already downloaded - now will just have to "get creative" and create something! :rock:

[Storyslinger]

Way cool, love

[tamez]

how can letti keep getting more amazing every day? :couple:
thank you for this!

[Letti]

Go people, go. :dance:

[Daghain]

I love open source software. :lol:

[Rjeso]

The GIMP is a great program, my mom sent it to me a couple of months ago. I haven't really had a chance to do much with it, but I've liked what I've seen of it. 'Tis true, I need to take some classes on how to use graphics programs like that to be able to make pretty things like Letti does, but I hear that it is capable of everything that PhotoShop is.

[Ikilledthecrimsonking]

:pullhair: ergggg Gimp wont download on my laptop

[Brice]

I have spent all day trying to get this on my mac.So far no luck.


Back to trying I go.

[Jean]

downloading.......................

[Letti]

downloading.......................

*crosses her fingers for Jean* ><

[Jean]

thank you sweetheart, your goodmind did it! http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bear-176.gif
very nice program, I'll practice it tomorrow morning

[Letti]

:dance: Great.
As I have mentioned I don't know everything about it but I might be able to help you if you have any questions.

[Letti]

And anyway let me show you another free program.
It's called Picasa.
You can download it here:
http://picasa.google.com/

It's not as clever as GIMP or Photoshop but that's way it can be very good and useful. It doesn't know much but it is very handy and it's damn easy to use it. It's a free program for those users who wouldn't like to do much with their pictures but resize them or colour them a little bit (for example to make Sepia or Black and White style) cut out something from their picture or to vanish red eyes... stuff like that.
When I have no time for GIMP or I am just lazy I use Pisaca.

[Jean]

I personally am a big fan of Paint Shop Pro, but I don't know if it can be downloaded for free anywhere.

[sarah]

Thank you, Letti. :rose:

[BlakeMP]

Y'know, I've been highly dissatisfied with the most recent version of Paint Shop Pro... when I have time to try this out, I definitely will. Awesome. :)

[Darkthoughts]

Cheers for that Letti :wub: I made my new av with it.

If anyone gets stuck using it the guide here is really good:
http://docs.gimp.org/.

[Letti]

Your new av rocks. :lol:

[BlakeMP]

Okay, I'm finally getting around to downloading this. I'll let you guys know how it goes. :-D

[Letti]

Okay, I'm finally getting around to downloading this. I'll let you guys know how it goes. :-D

Please do. :)


And just here just now I let know know (don't tell the others who don't visit this thread) I have never met Bruce and I made this pic with Gimp.
But damn.
I am still so proud of it even if it's a bit clumsy. :lol:

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p237/Lettike/me/us2.jpg

[Frunobulax]

I have Photoshop thanks to my uncle, but I sometimes use GIMP if I'm on my Linux machine. Both are quite good.

[BlakeMP]

I like the capabilities, but it doesn't seem to be a very intuitive system...

I still can't friggin' figure out if there's a way to put a frame on an image or to do a border on text!

[Darkthoughts]

I must admit I gave up on it. Even with the online manual it was very complicated.

[Brice]

I finally managed to download this. :D I am still figuring things out though.

[John Blaze]

filehippo.com has a free version of paint shop pro, as well. I'm just saying because Jean mentioned it. I downloaded gimp and paint.net, still trying to figure them out.

[Letti]

Just to bump this thread ;)

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p237/Lettike/banner-av/beerbanner.jpg

[Jon]

I am having the damndest time installing the program.

[Brainslinger]

I've been after a decent graphics editor for a while, mainly because Photoshop is just too expensive to buy. (One that does more than just edit photos I mean. I plan on drawing with pen and paper, since I can't draw well with a mouse, scan it in and then colour on my computer. I have an interest in comics, and whilst I've mainly been concentrating on the script-writing side, I wouldn't mind giving the art side a go too.)

I've seen some negative things about GIMP on this thread and elsewhere, but it sounds like it'd be worth a try. I'll download it later when I've connected via my cable to the net. I'm using my neighbors wireless link at the moment (nice and convenient, means I can type this in my living room sitting on a nice comfy sofa), and I don't think it's right using that for such large files. ;)

[LadyHitchhiker]

Wow! I hiope I can use this with my oldass computer!

[LadyHitchhiker]

...... and alas my computer is too old for this

[Brainslinger]

OK, downloaded it today.

Took a bit getting used to to start with (I.e. it not opening a document window to start with for one thing, leaving me to wonder why nothing was appearing on one of the panes... which turned out not to be the drawing page, silly me...) but I like it. No doubt there is a lot of stuff it can do, but I doubt I'll need a lot of that, and working out the rest shouldn't be too difficult.

Much of my ordinary drawing will be done initially with pencil and paper anyway. I'm not good at freehand drawing using a mouse. I've heard those stylus things are pretty good, but that'll be more money. My main plan when I use it is to scan in drawings and then colour on the computer.

[Letti]

OK, downloaded it today.

Took a bit getting used to to start with (I.e. it not opening a document window to start with for one thing, leaving me to wonder why nothing was appearing on one of the panes... which turned out not to be the drawing page, silly me...) but I like it. No doubt there is a lot of stuff it can do, but I doubt I'll need a lot of that, and working out the rest shouldn't be too difficult.

Much of my ordinary drawing will be done initially with pencil and paper anyway. I'm not good at freehand drawing using a mouse. I've heard those stylus things are pretty good, but that'll be more money. My main plan when I use it is to scan in drawings and then colour on the computer.

At last! Someone who likes it!

[LadyHitchhiker]

http://www.thedarktower.org/gallery/data/500/fighter.jpg
I made this today with gimp... :D

[Letti]

Good job, Liz! :D And the amazing world of fonts are waiting for your eagerly.

[LadyHitchhiker]

I love fonts, but I think I may have to download some new ones :D

[LadyHitchhiker]

I wish I had the fancy one you have on that banner!!!!

[Letti]

Yeah, it's one of my favourites. It's called Queen & King or something... when I get home I will check it and I can show you where you can download it if you wish.

[LadyHitchhiker]

Oooooooooooh thanks!!!!!!! :D :D :D

You're the best, Letti!!!

[Letti]

My pleasure.
I love making GIMP junkies. :D

[LadyHitchhiker]

I love the thought of making art.... :D

[LadyHitchhiker]

*gasps* I can even make slingers on it, I bet I bet!!!!!!!

[Letti]

Oh, it was easy and quick.
So it1s called The King & Queen and you can find it here: http://www.dafont.com/the-king-queen-font.font
It looks dream-like.

[LadyHitchhiker]

http://www.thedarktower.org/gallery/data/500/hipposlinger.jpg
LOok!!!!!!!! A hipposlinger!!!!!! :D

[LadyHitchhiker]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

[Letti]

http://www.thedarktower.org/gallery/data/500/hipposlinger.jpg
LOok!!!!!!!! A hipposlinger!!!!!! :D

Did you do it with GIMP??? :panic::panic::panic:
I could never ever do such a thing! It's priceless.

[LadyHitchhiker]

I made it with gimp!!! :D :D :D

Unfortunately I can't get the font to work yet but I have to be getting ready for work pretty soon. :D

[Jean]

all those Liz's achievements, - and especially seeing her so happy - make me wonder if I shouldn't get me some GIMP, too...

[Brice]

http://www.thedarktower.org/gallery/data/500/hipposlinger.jpg
LOok!!!!!!!! A hipposlinger!!!!!! :D

:D

[TLC]

Sweet!! I'm downloading it (gimp) right now!!! thank you for the link!!!!

[LadyHitchhiker]

I really did make that with you in mind, Brice :wub:

[LadyHitchhiker]

and here's one with Jon in mind:

http://www.thedarktower.org/gallery/data/500/sheepslinger.jpg

[LadyHitchhiker]

(I love zee crazy colors)

[Letti]

Liiiiiz! You are incredible!
I have been using GIMP for long but I can't do such things... how do you do them? Could you tell me the details?

[LadyHitchhiker]

well I draw with the drawing tool and then I use the bucket with the patterns to pick what areas I want the color, and I used the smudge tool on the sheep for a more fuzzy effect, and the burn tool on the hippo to make the colors seem more touched by sunlight.

It was hard drawing with that mouse!!!

[LadyHitchhiker]

It's much easier to draw with a pen or a pencil...

[Letti]

It's much easier to draw with a pen or a pencil...

Of course but the more your practise the easier you will feel it. :) I am in love with the hipposlinger.
How long does it take to make one?

[Jon]

and here's one with Jon in mind:

http://www.thedarktower.org/gallery/data/500/sheepslinger.jpg

I am trying to blow it up for my office.

[Brainslinger]

Hiya,

I had a look around for a thread on this, but couldn't find one (although I remember the package was mentioned by Letti in another thread, which was why I downloaded it in the first place.)

Mods, please feel free to merge this though if I'm mistaken. I sometimes look as far as my nose (as my mother used to say. Not that I make a habit peering at my own snout, therein lies the danger of the wind changing direction leaving me me with a permanent expressions of a comical nature.)

Anyhow, it's a great package, albeit with a steep learning curve. If anyone has any questions concerning it, or they have advice or tips please feel free to post it here.

As a starter:

I tend to do my main drawing with pencil and pen as I find drawing with a mouse akin to a chimpanzee with a tick drawing with his feet, but I've taken to using Gimp to clean up my drawings and colouring. (Also it saves me buying inks or paint.)

Trouble is, all my black pen ink appears grey on scanning. I wondered if there was a quick way to darken it all to black, other than tracing over it again on the computer pixel by pixel (the only way of getting round the chimpanzeewithtickpaintingwithfeetitis from which I suffer.) I have an interest in comic drawing and black outlines are good for that.

Any help greatly appreciated.

[Brainslinger]

Ha thanks mod! I knew there was one somewhere (and I wrote a couple of posts on it too. Shame on me.) I just assumed it was in the art forum, should have looked further.

Anyway, I used the burn tool in the end to darken my ink. It actually worked quite well set to 'shadows' with the brush on largest setting (although it took a little while even then.) Only trouble was it seemed to turn some pixels strange colours, yellow and bright blue. I think it's supposed to create a kind of reflection or 3-D effect from a distance, although it looks a bit strange on this. Not too big a deal though I'll be painting over a lot of that stuff.

I'm sure there's a simpler way though, but never mind. ;)

[Letti]

I know GIMP didn't win many people here but I would like to bump this thread and give it anyother try.

This pic has been made with GIMP:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p237/Lettike/worlds.jpg

[Brice]

That picture is amazing. It should be one of your AVs sometime. :D

I've played around with Gimp a little, but I don't think I really have the talent for it.

[Jean]

that's the point, you see... GIMP has really nothing to do with it... it's not GIMP, it's Nikolett...

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bear_wub.gif

[Letti]

It doesn't depend on talent, it depends on patience. Believe me. I wish I could use it as an av but it doesn't look good in a much smaller size.

[Letti]

that's the point, you see... GIMP has really nothing to do with it... it's not GIMP, it's Nikolett...

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bear_wub.gif

:smiles: Sounds good but it's nothing to do with me. The idea was mine and that's all. Everything else is GIMP.

[Jean]

for some reason, nobody else does anything like this...

(GIMP my - er - foot)

[Letti]

Others prefer and use Photoshop. They are quite similar. I must add I know just a little about GIMP just imagine if I knew every part and fuction of it. :) Anyway I have a good friend I could make fall in love with this program that's why I don't give up and I try to make it more popular time to time.

[Woofer]

I may be Gimping again soon - or trying to gimp.

Shrimp.

[John Blaze]

I may be Gimping again soon - or trying to gimp.

Shrimp.
my names himpta dimp
the ladies' pimp


whimp

[John Blaze]

speaking of gimp, letti, do you know how to make mirror images?> can you tell me how?

[Letti]

speaking of gimp, letti, do you know how to make mirror images?> can you tell me how?

What do you mean by mirror images exactly?

[John Blaze]

where you invert the picture to where it would be a mirror image of the original picture. for example, if you were facing left, you'd be facing right.

[Letti]

where you invert the picture to where it would be a mirror image of the original picture. for example, if you were facing left, you'd be facing right.

That's one click. Literally. Do you have GIMP?

[John Blaze]

yes

[Letti]

yes

Gimme a second and I'll send a pic here.

[Letti]

here you go
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p237/Lettike/bruno.jpg

[John Blaze]

thanks!

[Leah]

I'm a huge fan of adobe Photoshop! I've never used GIMP, but after reading this I'll sooo have to try it!

[Brice]

Think photoshop without money.:D