Entries tagged with check this out!

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check this out!

Application recommendation: MyPaint

So, maybe instead of wrestling with GIMP for painting (because it's designed as a photo editor more than a painting program), you're looking for a nice open source program to play with your tablet.

I just found out there's one called MyPaint--open source, available for multiple platforms! I'm not experienced enough in anything like this to know if it's actually good or not, but so far I've had fun playing with it. It's pretty simple, with a wide variety of brush types, and you can pretty much be up and running right away.

Current Mood: good

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Update and the myth of DPI

The last couple of weeks, I've been adding more links to gimpgate on delicious. I think the collection covers most of the (English-written) GIMP tutorial/forum websites out there, but in case I've missed some, or you know of good websites in other languages, you can tell me by commenting here; comments there will be screened to avoid unnecessary spam or advertising in the future. Also, I'd like to hear if you know of good stock websites, websites with large font, brush, or texture collections, or any other kinds of resources that might come in handy when creating something with GIMP. Thanks for your help! :)

In other news, I've stumbled upon an article about the myth of DPI, in which the author explains what you need to know about the resolution in digital images bound for the web. He also explains what you need to keep in mind when using images in fluid-width layouts.

Current Mood: awake

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Inspiration & theory

Le Divan Fumoir Bohémien is a favorite blog of mine. It's a French blog that posts beautiful photography, wallpaper patterns, still life presentations, and so much more, and it will really expand your creative imagination. Even if you don't speak the language this site is well worth a visit.

I found this article about gamma error in picture scaling (via slashdot.org). This article provides a lot of facts and information about image scaling and at the end of it the autor provides also a solution for GIMP, but it is probably not a very interesting read for someone who doesn't know much (or cares) about the theoretical aspects of image manipulation.

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GIMP tweaks, brushes & tutorials

I've found an interesting article featuring how you can make GIMP a good Photoshop replacement option. Obviously, it's directed towards people who might still have doubts about using GIMP, but the article is also worth reading by people who already use GIMP (on a regular basis). The article explains how you can install plug-ins, brushes and filters, how you can install layer styles (layer effects), how to add CMYK color ceparation, what to do to install liquid rescale (the altering of an image without distortion) and the GIMP animation package, how to anchor GIMP's loose docks and toolbars if you don't like them, and how you can easily enable GEGL (Generic Graphical Library).

At the end of the article, there's also a link list of resources including 11 different GIMP brushes and a tutorial about how you can create your own brushes, and 30+ GIMP tutorials & resources.

Current Mood: sleepy

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Tips & tricks found in another DW community

I've been going through my bookmarks and found a few useful tutorials that are posted over at

graphic_tutorials (the community seems to be dormant though, since it has not been updated in quite a while). Here are three examples, but you can find a few more via the GIMP tag.

Animated Video Icons and Animated Text Tutorial by

htbthomas

A Comprehensive Text Tutorial by

rizny [different methods of using text, effects to make text look better or more readable, etc.]

Current Mood: hopeful

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Welcome to new members, and some photo editing tricks

I've seen that people have started subscribing to this community, so welcome everyone! I hope you enjoy this community and find lots of opportunities to share your GIMP love with other users.

As I've mentioned in an earlier post, I don't have much time at the moment to devote to this project as I would like, but I'll try to make weekly posts here, and I'll also try to add more useful stuff to the delicious link collection (I'm open for suggestions!). Anyway, this is a community, so feel free to post your own questions, ideas, thoughts, challenges and more -- as long as it's somehow related to The GIMP ^^

And here are the promised photo editing tricks: 10 Sweet GIMP Photo Editing Tricks to Wean You Off Photoshop. This is a post that goes out to people who might not know about GIMP, or think it's nothing like Photoshop, but obviously this kind of post is quite useful for GIMP users, too. It covers 1) photo batch processing, 2) how you can sharpen photos, 3) how you can make your own brushes, 4) how you can make a lightsaber, 5) how you can create a swirly wallpaper or water drop effect, 6) how you can create an explosion in outer space, 7) how you can convert photos to sketches, 8) how you can mix black & white with color, 9) how you can convert photos to neon, and 10) how you can draw graffiti.

EDIT: Added a list of the things the article covers (some of you might want to know before you click on the link...)

Current Mood: geeky

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Let's talk about logo and icon design

I often go to the Logo of the Day website, both to find inspiration and to laugh over some of the designs :) Because designing a good-looking and meaningful logo is not an easy task, even though it can look deceptively easy on the surface. There is so much to think about, like the message you want to bring across and the kind of emotions you want to evoke in people. It's very similar to designing small desktop or website icons; you want to say as much as possible, but you only have so much space. Very tricky indeed.

So, my question goes to the community: Ever tried your hands on logo or icon design with GIMP? Or is GIMP not the best tool for this kind of creative work? Any thoughts?

Current Mood: peaceful

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The Third & The Seventh

Yet another check-this-out & get-inspired post. It's a beautiful CGI (computer-generated imagery) video clip, and the music accompanying the clip is fantastic too. There is also a Making of for all the skeptics among us who can't believe that none of the shown objects are real...

From the vimeo description: A FULL-CG animated piece that tries to illustrate architecture art across a photographic point of view where main subjects are already-built spaces. Sometimes in an abstract way. Sometimes surreal.

The Third & The Seventh from Alex Roman on Vimeo.

Current Mood: creative

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A blog for creative nerds

I've come across the creativeNerds blog where you can get inspiration and ideas for graphic design and web design. Recently, for instance, they posted the 50 Best Free Fonts From 2009. It's worth checking out.

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Resource: Gimp Paint Studio

Paint Studio is a collection of brushes, presets and other useful bits for the Gimp. They are now being hosted on Google Code, so it's a wee bit easier to keep track of what's current.

Here is the full url: http://code.google.com/p/gps-gimp-paint-studio/

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