GIMP 2 (paint program)

i manequin i

i manequin i

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Aug 2009

N/

01 Sep 2009 at 00:21 - 1
Hi, I'm new to art and so as to spare my dignity, will nto post any of it on this thread. but anyways, photoshop costs much more money than I am willing to pay. Has anyone used GIMP (GNU image manipulation program)? It's a free download that i use for texmod and to mess around with drawing. Is it no differant from photoshop (as far as i can see it is not), or should i stick to paper/pencil because it will nto yield nice results ever.

note: i know that any program can make a nice picture if you are good at it, I am just wondering if GIMP will be easier to make nice than the other programs out there.

Thank you all!

BlueXIV

BlueXIV

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Mar 2006

CA

N/

01 Sep 2009 at 00:39 - 2
Never tried GIMP,

Hmm if you want, I'll try drawing something in GIMP, and i'll report if it's gud or not? :P

Tools I've also heard was gud and cheap/free:
http://www.systemax.jp/en/sai/ <painttoolsai, free I think
opencanvas, pretty cheap, but they stopped doing engrish versions, so you can probably just find a free version on the net. It's pretty nice as well

Winstar

Winstar

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2006

London

01 Sep 2009 at 00:59 - 3
I'm fairly familiar with GIMP and I think its a great program. There is a tonne of online documentation and information availble. Highly recommeneded if you're looking for something free and open source.

i manequin i

i manequin i

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Aug 2009

N/

01 Sep 2009 at 01:36 - 4
Thank you both! I am somewhat familiar with GIMP, but have always been thrown off by the layer option. If you have time, please try drawing something then posting through GIMP, but if you don't, I know time may be tight.

Thank you all!

Chthon

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Apr 2007

01 Sep 2009 at 02:19 - 5
GIMP is quite remarkable. It's feature set differs from photoshop (both for better and for worse), but not until you reach a level of power-user-dom that most people never reach.

i manequin i

i manequin i

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Aug 2009

N/

01 Sep 2009 at 02:28 - 6
so your sayin I gotta do lots of tutorials 'till I can use GIMP well?

End

End

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2008

Rubbing Potassium on water fountains.

LF guild that teaches MTSC (did it long ago before gw2 came out and I quit...but I barely remember)

N/A

01 Sep 2009 at 03:03 - 7
Nah I think Chthon was talking about the differences between GIMP and Photoshop are found in the higher lvl junk. I taught myself gimp I can't draw though so I can't help you there

subarucar

subarucar

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2006

New Zealand

None

01 Sep 2009 at 03:42 - 8
If you don't mind going down the not so legal route, the latest Photoshop is quite easy to find on various download sites.

BlueXIV

BlueXIV

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Mar 2006

CA

N/

01 Sep 2009 at 04:46 - 9
Well I tested GIMP. Was an extremely frustration experience.

Don't get me wrong, GIMP seems to be an excellent program. It has almost everything you would need.

Except one thing. PHOTOSHOP HOTKEYS.

GIMP hotkeys are mapped to other stuff, so when someone is extremely used to photoshop, using GIMP is like switching your dominant hand.

Verdict: use if you have not used photoshop for years.


^What I got after 15 minutes of trying to figure where things are and scribbling.

gremlin

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Oct 2006

GWAR

Me/Mo

01 Sep 2009 at 04:49 - 10
or you can visit http://www.oldversion.com/

They have many older versions of commercial programs and amongst the art packages is Paint Shop Pro 9

I used gimp some years ago it was pretty good and there are a few others around if you check the free sites.

Espadon

Espadon

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2007

USA [GMT -5]

State of the Nolani [gusy]

A/

01 Sep 2009 at 05:45 - 11
D: Paint Shop Pro bleehhhhhh

I hate unoptimized Corel products.

GIMP is exactly as Blue said. It's GRRRREAT until you learn Photoshop hotkeys are better.

BlueXIV

BlueXIV

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Mar 2006

CA

N/

01 Sep 2009 at 05:57 - 12
Paintshop Pro is something you don't want to get into unless you are very patient and very good at saving very often.

gremlin

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Oct 2006

GWAR

Me/Mo

01 Sep 2009 at 09:46 - 13
Art packages are like beauty in the eye of the beholder what one person may like another will hate.
Paint shop pro has a lot going for it

I know one professional that uses Corel Draw and considers all else rubbish while I find it overly complex.

I began with Gimp then tried Pixia both were good enough for my needs.
Then I was given Paint shop pro which I found brilliant and easy to use, until some years later I discovered Adobe Photoshop.

PSP and Adobe remained installed till I had learned the controls of Adobe, the only bad point about adobe is the price.

Elephantaliste

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2008

adblockplus.or

01 Sep 2009 at 10:41 - 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by Espadon View Post
D: Paint Shop Pro bleehhhhhh

I hate unoptimized Corel products.

GIMP is exactly as Blue said. It's GRRRREAT until you learn Photoshop hotkeys are better. He said that once you are used to one of hotkeys mapping it is hard to switch program.
That doesn't mean any of shortkey mapping is better or not.


to OP : apparently you need to learn and use some tutorial about layers, masks, etc.

This tools are included in any advanced editing software.
Keep in mind, that mastering a tool doesn't make you an artist.

Winstar

Winstar

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2006

London

01 Sep 2009 at 15:38 - 15
I'd post some paintings and drawings, but they weren't backed up and my laptop where they were located is dead in the shop.

I'd agree that the interface has a bit of a learning curve, but once you spend an afternoon working it with and reading a bit (or a simple video tutorial) and get warmed up to the program its a very powerful tool. I remember I wanted to make comic text bubbles and it was a pain, but once I learned how, I had picked up quite a lot of general information about the functioning of the program/layers etc which I could apply more generally.

Layers are great. Think of them as a pile of transparencies that you can stack on top of one another that form 1 picture. The advantage is you can work on distinct parts of the work without disturbing others. When you're done with it all, they get all merged together in one sheet. Maybe this was unnecessary commentary that you already knew, if so I apologize.

Found this in my email...keep in mind its pretty much garbage and I was just messing around with painting clouds in gimp and doing some very basic learning things...anyway...embarrassed...

hoodiestarfish

hoodiestarfish

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2007

State of Nolani

When the trolling stops, the drawing stops too

W/

01 Sep 2009 at 17:48 - 16
gimp is awesome. its actually better than PS for things like pixel art.

Espadon

Espadon

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2007

USA [GMT -5]

State of the Nolani [gusy]

A/

01 Sep 2009 at 18:55 - 17
Quote:
Originally Posted by hoodiestarfish View Post
gimp is awesome. its actually better than PS for things like pixel art. It probably is, but I still use MS paint for my pixel pushing needs xD

i manequin i

i manequin i

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Aug 2009

N/

01 Sep 2009 at 19:53 - 18
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueXIV View Post
Well I tested GIMP. Was an extremely frustration experience.

Don't get me wrong, GIMP seems to be an excellent program. It has almost everything you would need.

Except one thing. PHOTOSHOP HOTKEYS.

GIMP hotkeys are mapped to other stuff, so when someone is extremely used to photoshop, using GIMP is like switching your dominant hand.

Verdict: use if you have not used photoshop for years.


^What I got after 15 minutes of trying to figure where things are and scribbling. lol i know how ya feel, it si quite hard to start using. but i guess I'll just have to keep trying

i manequin i

i manequin i

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Aug 2009

N/

01 Sep 2009 at 21:28 - 19
y'know that clamy feeling you get when you realise something then decide that your not anywhere near what is really going on? do i need one fo those pads that you can draw on to do art on comp? or is mouse fine?

i manequin i

i manequin i

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Aug 2009

N/

01 Sep 2009 at 22:08 - 20
denver2.jpg here's the only photo editing I ever did, so thats about the extent of my art in GIMP. i did some stuff on paper, but don't rlly wanna scan in. the picture is UFO over denver colorado if people can't view it

BlueXIV

BlueXIV

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Mar 2006

CA

N/

02 Sep 2009 at 01:55 - 21
Mouse is pretty terribad unless you are vectoring. I'd really recommend buying a tablet, even a cheaper one is MUCH MUCH better

hoodiestarfish

hoodiestarfish

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2007

State of Nolani

When the trolling stops, the drawing stops too

W/

02 Sep 2009 at 02:02 - 22
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueXIV View Post
Mouse is pretty terribad unless you are vectoring. I'd really recommend buying a tablet, even a cheaper one is MUCH MUCH better
agreed, tablet ftw

i manequin i

i manequin i

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Aug 2009

N/

02 Sep 2009 at 03:15 - 23
k, would like one off of craigslist be ok u think?

BlueXIV

BlueXIV

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Mar 2006

CA

N/

02 Sep 2009 at 03:28 - 24
link
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i manequin i

i manequin i

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Aug 2009

N/

02 Sep 2009 at 03:46 - 25
xD thank you. and i regret to say i will eb gone for a month (vacation ftw!!) so can someone keep this bumped? or at elast pm my acc any pertinant info if you can on guru? thank you!