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KM, A lot of modeling questions/answers apply to any modeler unless of course they are about the UI and specific functions/FX available only in certain modeling programs.
Gimp Tutorial Intro to Layers Part 1 - Here is a small project to introduce you to Layers in Gimp while learning more about using the Rectangle Select Tool. I've included 4 attachments to follow along. You can use these or use your own images. Just make sure that the images you use are saved in .png format and transparencies.
Gimp Tutorial Intro to Layers Part 2
Final Image from Tutorial
So, here is my final image from the tutorial. Hopefully, you managed to follow all of the steps. At some point, I managed to clip Willow03's hat in one of my steps. I'll have to go back and figure out which step in which that happened. If anyone following along has problems or I need to explain something further, please let me know. I think I finally got them all in the right order. I thought I had them uploaded in the right order to make it easiser to post, but I messed up somewhere and had to fix a few of them.
I'll be going into more details about Layers as we go along in future tutorials, but this should get you started. I use layers in every single Gimp project. Layers are one of your most useful tools. Learn how to use it and play with it.
We will be going into Layer Groups in its own tutorial. We will be doing a lot of future tutorials that make use of Layers.
I normally use Photoshop, but I figured I'd follow along. There may be somethings I might want to try in GIMP. I know it has that puzzle filter.
But I'm not sure what anchor selection does. I don't think I have to do that in Photoshop.
Anchor selection simply fixes a floating selection in place so it isn't floating anymore. From what I understand, this is something that is unique to Gimp. There are some filters and commands that need to use a floating copy of whatever it's working on while it's working. There is talk about changing how that works for some better way, but there are still some filters that require a floating selection to work. I'm guessing that most don't if they are talking about changing it. Basically, you just have to remember to anchor the selection (fix it back into being a layer) so you can work with it again. It used to bug me when I first started using Gimp because I would tend to forget to do that and then couldn't figure out why I couldn't do anything. Now, it has become second nature to Anchor the Selection and I don't even think about it anymore. It's just something you have to do in Gimp.
The following was taken directly from the docs on Gimp.org:
4.5. Float
The Float command converts a normal selection into a “floating selection”.
A floating selection (sometimes called a “floating layer”) is a type of temporary layer which is similar in function to a normal layer, except that before you can resume working on any other layers in the image, a floating selection must be anchored. That is, you have to attach it to a normal (non-floating) layer, usually the original layer (the one which was active previously), for instance, by clicking on the image outside of the floating selection (see below).
You cannot perform any operations on other layers while the image has a floating selection!
You can use various operations to change the image data on the floating selection. There can only be one floating selection in an image at a time.
If you display the layer boundary by using the Show Layer Boundarycommand, you may have difficulty selecting a precise area of the image which you want in a layer. To avoid this problem, you can make a rectangular selection, transform it into a floating selection and anchor it to a new layer. Then simply remove the original layer.
In early versions of GIMP, floating selections were used for performing operations on a limited part of an image. You can do that more easily now with layers, but you can still use this way of working with images.
Nice tutorial. The final product fleshes out the characters personality a bit more than a single figure render would. The characte is cute and proffesional, and the scale changes, background and the composition work really well together.
I usually use Photoshop for working with layers too. I tried to use GIMP awhile back, but I was so used to working with Adobes Creative Suite, that couldn't get past the differences in the UI.
I've got my issues with Adobe and the subscription model they've moved too. So seeing what some of the competition can produce is really helpful.
Glad to be of help. I wasn't sure if anyone would like the my approach to doing the tutorials, but they are quick and easy for people to follow along. I think giving little projects like the last tutorial and homework gives people a chance to do a simple project and build up to the complicated ones. At least, that is my thought. I'm not sure yet how many are actually following along. I'll keep doing them, though, because doing the tutorials actually help me to firm up my skills and since I actually do the tutorials inside of Gimp, I'm learning more skills there as well. :)
To be honest, I would use Photoshop is it weren't so darned expensive. Also, I have a problem with subscription based software. I don't like it. Perhaps I'm old school, but I don't want to rent my software long term like that. Lots of people have this thing where it's okay to do the subscription thing because it isn't much and is only the cost of such and such. Coffee is the usual example. Fine, but I don't drink coffee and, if I thought like that with every piece of software I use that suddenly decided to go subscription, I would go broke. It's only $10 or $20 or $whatever$ a month until you multiply that by 4 or 5 programs and then it becomes ridiculous.
Gimp is right in my price range. Does it have a learning curve? Yes, but then so does Photoshop and other Adobe products when you first use them. They just have the advantage of being first and being used by more people. Doesn't mean they are all that. So, I do my little bit. I am no Gimp expert. I have tons of things to learn, but I can, hopefully, help make Gimp a little easier for those folks like me who just can't afford to go the Photoshop route. Gimp can be easy if you step back and take it just one step at a time. :)
Adobe has always had the best software... it's too bad they are subscription now. I can understand where PA's might use it and write it off as a busisness expense. Oh well.
Thanks for the tutorial... Gimp seems to work a bit like PaintShopPro. Tell me what are these "Google NIK Filters" you've talked about before your into to Gimp? I Googled them but they appear to be Photoshop plug-ins... do they work with GIMP or PSP? I do have PS CS5 but hardly ever use it.
One more Gimp question... do it have a screen grabber built in?
Thanks for the explanation, @knittingmommy.
I'm still using CS4 :)
These are the NIK filters (they're free)
@wgdjohn The link @Fishtales gave is the same thing I am always referring to. Yes, they are a PS plug-in, but they are also a stand-alone program as well. Be careful if you use it as a stand-alone program as they do overwrite your original image so you should always work on a copy of your image with the stand-alone program. I don't know if the same is true in PS. They can also be used in Gimp. I like the fact that it is set up in Gimp so that it always works with a copy so you don't have to worry about it. It takes a little bit to get it working, but I think the filters are definitely worth the effort. As far as I know there isn't a build of Gimp 2.8 that comes with the NIK filters already set up. However, there is a build of Gimp 2.9 Beta for Windows that comes with everything all ready to use the NIK filters. See Partha's website for more information on that and to download his version of Gimp 2.9. You want the first download option for Windows and I believe he has a version setup for Macs as well. Gimp 2.9 Beta is pretty stable and I've been using it for the past few months since I learned about Partha's site and the NIK filters. Gimp 2.9 Beta is nice, too, because it can handle 8 bit images and can read the .exr files that are generated by the Iray canvases.
I'll have a little tutorial that shows how to get the NIK filters to work in Gimp 2.8, but I haven't worked on it yet. It will be a little different than when I did it on my regular system because I'm using Linux and I had to modify the Windows directions to get them to work in Linux. There are a few video tutorials on YouTube, though, to get them working in Gimp for Windows if anyone wants to give it a go before I get the tutorial together.
Hmm, I forgot to say that I used the version on Partha's site for awhile before I had the big Windows meltdown and switched to Linux for the most part. It worked really well and I have it installed on the small Windows drive that I have set up for emergencies and doing things like the Windows based tutorials. Although, so far, I haven't noticed any differences in how Gimp works in either operating system. In Linux, I have Gimp running natively and the NIK filters are run through Wine since they are a Windows based software. The Linux version of Gimp calls the NIK filters through a plug-in script just like it would if it were calling the filters in Windows.
Thanks Fishtales and KM
Glad you warned me about working on a copy.
I never use Save in PS always Save As that way I know where it is going and re-name it to something appropriate. Get into that habbit right from the start and there are less disasters :) According to my image filing program I have upward of 50,000 images dotted around various storage areas and I don't remember overwriting any of them during processing :)
Ah, I'm very happy to announce that I finally have cms working in DAZ Studio inside Linux. Yay!!!! I can now log into DAZ Studio from inside DS 4.9 and download those few Connect Only freebies I got and, more importantly, I have Categories again! I can't wait to get more organized at last! The last few weeks have just about driven me bonkers! I have the Product A-Z list back and Smart Content, although, to be honest, I don't use Smart Content much. I am SO happy to have the Categories back and the Product listing available again! Now, maybe, I can get some more work done instead of constantly looking for something.
So, I'm getting to test Strangefate's new armor. I love his stuff. It's a beautiful armor and I love the rigging on it. If anyone wants to see all of the test renders, you can find them in his thread, New here, and... WIP stuff... …
Here's my first test render with the armor. This is the postworked version, just a little bit. The original straight out of DS is on Strangefate's thread.
That looks great. Stunnning armor
Thanks, @FirstBastion. It is a wonderful piece of armor. I'm having fun playing with it. :)
I'm excited. I was just on Facebook and found out that I won @Collective3d's Facebook contest for his newest product that isn't out yet. I'm super psyched to see how it looks in person. The promos I saw looked really great. I'll have to try and come up with a really good render for it. While I'm glad I won, it didn't look like very many people signed up for the contest. Such a shame as Collective3d always does a such a great job with his sets. I love his baseball set that came out recently. I'm still working on a great scene for that. I finally got some baseball uniforms so I'll finally be able to play around with some ideas I've had for that. I have quite a few of his sets in my library and all of them have been great to work with.
Congratulations!
Congratulations!
So anyone reading this knows I'm testing Strangefate's new armor. I had another test render all setup, but 3 hours into the render I decided I just didn't like it or how it was turning out. It was done in Terradome 3 and while I love Terradome 3, it just wasn't working for me with this render. That render is this one, stopped early, straight out of DS with no postwork.
So, I changed some things around a little and I came up with this which I love much better. I'm actually amazed that I did something this good. Well, I think it's good anyway. I did do a little bit of postwork so here is the original out of DS. If you notice, I must have messed up some surface settings when I was upping the bump. This was a 3Delight set that I converted to Iray. No Iray textures, but it does pretty well with just a few minor adjustments and the Iray Uber Shader. Upping the Bump really helped. So, I fixed the surface setting on the one set steps so they both matched and did a spot render into a new window so I could fix that in Gimp. I did a little bit more post in Gimp. I'm starting to learn what I like and I have two or three set filters I use in the NIK Filters now that help me with postwork to really make things pop. Then, I switch the layers to overlays and play with the opacity sliders until I get the look I want.
Original:
Postworked version submitted to Strangefate's thread:
edit: fixed a spelling error
Congrats on the Collective3D win... kewl.
Great job on the skin tone.
Excellent news. Congratulations.
Thanks for the Gimp tutorial. Really appreciate it.
Congrats on the Collective3D win... kewl.
Great job on the skin tone.
Doesn't everyone keep their interdimensional portal under the dining table? I know I do! Easiest way to feed the hell hound dog scraps and leftovers too . . .
LOL!
Oh, yeah, I know I do. ;) And, let me tell you, they appreciate those scraps very much! :)
@wgdjohn Thanks for the complement on the skin. I'm getting there. Better at this whole 3D thing everyday. :)
@diomede You're very welcome. I'm glad it is helping someone. I'll get another Gimp tuturial up soon.
I can't believe Christmas is almost here. I am definitely not ready for it. Tomorrow, Sweden does most of it's main celebrations on Christmas Eve. I know at least one or two who read my thread are there so God jul to those of you in Sweden.
Also, to @Linwelly and @MN-150374 Frohe Weihnachten and to anyone else who reads this from Germany.
And, Merry Christmas to the rest of us. :)