#2 - Fundamental Techniques
Today we are going to be looking at various tools with which to draw, paint, fill in and erase. If you have GIMP open, you will notice the tools below.
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| Click to Enlarge |
(1) If you haven't done so already, create a new image layer (ctrl+n). Now, select the pencil tool (it looks like a pencil). You can see from the photos below, there are a lot of options available to draw with. We will examine some of the more interesting features.
(2) Let's examine the features. We'll examine some of the brushes, the opacity and the angle.
The eraser tool is obvious. You erase what you don't like.
Note: the eraser can take more than you may want to erase. A tip is to zoom in with the magnifying glass tool in the left column.
The airbrush tool works in the same way the pencil and paintbrush work. However, like a real airbrush, when you pause on the screen holding the mouse, the airbrush keeps spraying and the line gets darker.
How to use the Paths Tool:
Previous Lessons:
#1 - Installing Gimp
Coming Up:
#3 - Image Reflections on Glass
#4 - Adding Glow to Images
#5 - Creating Icons/Buttons for Web/Blogs
#6 - Design in Text
#7 - Underwater
#8 - Font Effects Part 1
#9 - Font Effects Part 2
#10 - Font Effects Part 3
#11 - Blending Two Images
#12 - The Poirot Effect
Sources:
The Artist's Guide to Gimp
http://www.gimpology.com
http://gimpedtutorials.com/
http://gimpmagazine.org/
(2) Let's examine the features. We'll examine some of the brushes, the opacity and the angle.
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(3) In the above photo I am playing around with the opacity. Obviously the darker lines mean the opacity is higher and the lighter, lower.
(4) In the above photo I am playing around with the angles. Play around with them and move the pencil tips to the right or left.
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| This is just me fooling around with various types of pencil! |
The paintbrush tool has similar options to the pencil tool and so it works in a similar way. You can play around with it and paint to your delight.
The eraser tool is obvious. You erase what you don't like.
Note: the eraser can take more than you may want to erase. A tip is to zoom in with the magnifying glass tool in the left column.
The airbrush tool works in the same way the pencil and paintbrush work. However, like a real airbrush, when you pause on the screen holding the mouse, the airbrush keeps spraying and the line gets darker.
How to use the Paths Tool:
To see a fantastic tutorial on how to use the paths tool, go here to gimptutorials.com
How to draw a straight line: http://docs.gimp.org/en_GB/gimp-using-simpleobjects.html
How to make shapes: http://docs.gimp.org/en_GB/gimp-using-rectangular.html
Have fun playing around with GIMP!
Previous Lessons:
#1 - Installing Gimp
Coming Up:
#3 - Image Reflections on Glass
#4 - Adding Glow to Images
#5 - Creating Icons/Buttons for Web/Blogs
#6 - Design in Text
#7 - Underwater
#8 - Font Effects Part 1
#9 - Font Effects Part 2
#10 - Font Effects Part 3
#11 - Blending Two Images
#12 - The Poirot Effect
Sources:
The Artist's Guide to Gimp
http://www.gimpology.com
http://gimpedtutorials.com/
http://gimpmagazine.org/
So many creative things you can do!
ReplyDeleteI wish I didn't find it so intimidating.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had the PATIENCE to learn all the tricks in computer art. Since I am a classically trained artist, I really don't have the drive to learn this .... BUT on the other hand it is an AWESOME way for writers to add fun dimension to their repertoire.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant idea, Clarissa! :)
ReplyDeleteCool!
ReplyDeleteYou make it sound fun and simple!! I so want! Yay! Take care
ReplyDeletex
creating new paintbrushes is lots of fun in photoshop... looks like Gimp and photoshop have very similar controls.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a useful tutorial, Clarissa! And it sounds as though it's incredibly versatile, too. Thanks for coaching us through it.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really cool blog post series. I've always wanted to try GIMP and here's a tutorial!
ReplyDeleteI have gimp- have played around with it a little bit- but like some others find it intimidating.
ReplyDeleteClarissa, I think this a great idea and now I can really learn how to use this program. Between this and Lightroom 4, I might actually learn how to do something by the end of the year!!
ReplyDeleteYou are making Gimp look easy, Clarissa. I played with it a few years ago and could sure have used your posts back then--when I stumbled repeatedly.
ReplyDeleteHi Clarissa .. that's great you're giving us tutorials - I'd like to have the time to try .. for now I need to concentrate on the goals in hand ... but thanks for posting these up for us ..
ReplyDeleteCheers Hilary
Interesting. I've been wanting to learn Gimp, but haven't had the patience to even try beyond a cursory stab at it.
ReplyDeletewe do love programmes like this one.
ReplyDeletelove it!! I need to download the program again. I used it during my technical writing classes and remember little about the program.
ReplyDeleteI have a program called "Baby" that does it all for me. (aka - my husband. LOL!)
ReplyDeleteI think I don't have the right kind of talent for GIMP. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI love the GIMP. The path tool took me the longest to get comfortable with, but it is a powerful tool.
ReplyDeleteLooks like something I should avoid! Glad you're having fun with it though.
ReplyDeletehmmm this looks fascinating--i will share this!
ReplyDeleteYay for Gimp (although I'm a fan of photoshop elements myself).
ReplyDeleteI want to try this as soon as I have more time. I wish I had talent in the drawing department, but sadly I don't. But maybe I could do this:)
ReplyDeleteThanks Clarissa!
I found this so interesting as I only know basic computing skills......very basic.
ReplyDeleteI am Yvonne from Yvonnes Poetry Corner and is one of Arlee Birds Ambassadors for the A to Z Challenge. I look forward to reading some of your work during April.
Enjoy your week-end.
Yvonne.
WoW! You make it sound so simple!! I wish I had more time to explore some of this...
ReplyDeleteWow. I bow to you and your talents :)
ReplyDelete