Help with GIMP?

I finally broke down and installed GIMP today (because I'm jealous of all you digital-coloring folks), only....I can't figure out how to do -anything- with it.

Anyone know where I can find a thorough GIMP tutorial for dummies? Seriously...for dummies. I have no experience with anything fancier than Ultimate Paint, which I only use for cropping/resizing screenies and scans.

(..and I searched DA for GIMP tutorials already, but couldn't seem to find one that was basic controls... )

You could try the following, most come from GIMP community forums.

http://www.gimptalk.com/forum/topic/...Hour-20-1.html

http://docs.gimp.org/en/index.html

http://gimp-savvy.com/BOOK/index.html?node49.html

http://library.n0i.net/linux-unix/applic...ours/ewtoc.html

I won't claim to say one is better than the others - maybe one of them will be insightful though. I will say good luck with the digital coloring - the pencils have been great to see by the way!

Oh, don't worry, the colored pencils aren't going anywhere. I was more looking for a way to color pictures that I don't want to actually alter.

Although, I'd like to find my GIMP file and shoot it in the head right now. Apparently I can't follow a tutorial to save my butt (none of them have explained anything I needed to know), but was doing okay (with this first attempt) just fiddling with things myself....

...until GIMP decided to completely die on me and refuse to do ANYTHING I asked it to do. No color fill, no brush, no layers, nothing. *sulks*

I downloaded GIMP a while ago and as I ATTEMPTED to read tutorials felt like I was looking at an ancient language that no one could possibly understand. Don't get me wrong, some of it was simple but the entire thing with "layers" completely confuses me. I have yet to even attempt to color anything because of my frustration. I think I need a tutorial for dummies for the completely incompetent.

Yours look great BTW

Ahh well. I was hoping one of them might be helpful. Your first attempt looks good, especially the reflective effect on black leather (I assume).

Anyhow, if you haven't already done so...you could also just go to: http://www.gimptalk.com/forum/ and ask questions. Or maybe read the materials at http://www.gimptalk.com

Maybe something more insightful will rear its head in another thread...most of the folks who's post I read seem friendly types.

Good luck!

The frustrating part was not being able to figure out why some layers wouldn't show up, why I couldn't grab just the outline (apparently, I couldn't grab -anything- with the magic wand...all of that color is brushed in), and attempting (unsuccessfully) to figure out what I screwed up (I think it was something with masks) that prevented me from adding anything else to it.

Oh...and the fact that I couldn't seem to erase anything, or produce an actual white to apply with the brush.

It was a pretty fun way to waste the afternoon, though. *would've been done by now with colored pencils*

Edit: Thanks for the compliment on the 'leather', although it's not supposed to be leather on the actual character, I was just having too much fun with the smudge tool.

wow...first attempt? *looks again* ...and blending too! man I think I need to check out this gimp program cause photo7 is killin me...well, that an I just plain suck at digi coloring.

loove how its looking so far...especially that leather it came out amazingly well, imo~

Lookin' fantastic, sun. I'm sorry the program died on you. I find I have an adverse relationship with digital coloring programs, too.

Could have something to do with the mouse that's the only tool I have.

I share your pain with the mouse. I put away the piece that I was testing on first and tackled something easier that had a crisper outline to see if I could really completely color one this way. It's not really heroes (although she does exist as an archery defender, I swear), but this is what I came up with.

Yes, I know her hair sucks. My wrist hurt, and I was frustrated with the mouse. *needs a tablet, apparently*

..and WP, it's free, and seems pretty straightforward once you mess around with it a bit. I'm happy with it so far.

damn....thats it...I'm sending you my work ta color...heh

...as far as downloading...only take 3 days or so...I run on the evil dial up...yes its true, I said those most evil heinous two words...dial up ~

*hides from the nightmare of dial-up*

Just think, though....it might take three days, but it's still free, and you'd be done after those three days!

(..and if you send me anything to color, I'll strangle you. *innocent* I don't like it that much, yet! )

key word....."yet"

~

I dunno....

It's less strain on the hand, compared to colored pencils...but I think it takes more time. The colors wind up nice and smooth (obviously), but they don't get the varied look that layers of pencil provides. *ponders*

Overall, at this moment, I'd have to say that digital paint reminds me of oil pastels (for what it produces), and state that while I always ranked oil pastels higher than oils, watercolors, chalk pastels, and clay....it's still far behind acrylics, colored pencils, and good ol' ink.

So...don't hold your breath on that 'yet'...yet..

again....key word...."yet" ~

*unceremoniously throttles WP with a mousepad*

Sorry for not finding this earlier, but I totally forgot about it

gimpshop

It's gimp, but made to look and feel like photoshop, I read about it ages ago, never got a chance to play with it, might be easier to use, not sure. But it's an option.