GIMP 2.0 Basics

WALL OF TEXT WARNING



Here I'll describe some basics of GIMP.

First off, gimp isn't nearly as known as it's cousin Photoshop. Gimp is basically just a smaller version, and free version of Photoshop. Though Photoshop has much more little tricks up it's sleeve, and more effects and such. Gimp can do more than enough to please the person using it.

http://i54.tinypic.com/2n15ks9.jpg

Here we go.

#1. Rectangle Selection Tool: This tool is used to select a certain area of an image. But it is limited to what it can choose. As it can only choose in an rectangular shape. So it's not very good for complicated things as you can't choose round edges. Etc..
#2. Elipse Select Tool: This tool can choose rounded edges, and can go from a perfect circle shape to an oval. Good for making buttons, or highlights for userbars.
#3 Free Select Tool: This tool will select whatever you want, wherever you want. But you need a VERY steady hand to use it well. As wherever your mouse goes, is where it will continue selecting. Good for selecting whatever you want. Prefered to have either a mac for this seeing as it's mouse sensitivity is slower than windows, or a tablet.
#4 Fuzzy Select Tool This tool, I don't exactly know how it works. But it selects certain areas. Usually used to render. I use it just to get out a big chunks of one color.
#5-7. I have no info on them, seeing as I've never used them before.
#8 Path Select tool: This tool works by just clicking, and it'll make a dot on the screen. Thats where the line is. And you keep clicking around wherever you want, more dots will appear. Basically this is the free select tool, but more easy to control. Used for rendering as well.
#9 Color Picker Tool: Use this to pick a specific color. What color you click with this will then become your foreground color. Good for using the right colors for blending, or gradients.
#10 Magnifying Tool: Self explanatory really. Used to zoom in or zoom out.
#11 Measure Tool: Not really important, just used to measure distances/angles and stuff. Never really used it.
#12 Move tool: This will move layers, or object in your work. Whatever you need moved, choose this. But make sure you've selected the correct layer. Or you'll move the wrong thing.
#13-14 No idea, never used them. Never found a reason to use them.
#15 Rotate tool: Used to rotate things. Layers, or full backgrounds. Whatever you selected will be rotated.
#16 Resize Tool: Used to...Well resize things. I only use this to resize a render in a signature, or a c4d I have. That's all it's really good for, since it's, it's only effect. :P
#17-18 I really forgot what they were used for. But I remember needing to use them for making a folder icon for my computer. They like... Increase the size of certain areas or something. Haha sorry:bouaaaaah:
#20 Text Tool: Used to input your text. Clicking it will bring a drop down menu in the lower settings, to choose the font you wish.
#21 Paint Bucket Tool: Used to fill in a selection with a color. Same thing as in MS Paint.
#22 Gradient Tool: A very complicated yet basic tool. It has numerous settings and options, to create nifty effects on your artwork. Use it to find out. It's simple to use though. Use it on a blank layer, over your artwork so you can fiddle around with layer modes to make cool effects. ( You'll read mode's later. )
#23 Pencil Tool: Basically a thin brush tool. Nothing special.
#24 Brush Tool: Used for a lot of things. There are many brushes you can download online from places like Deviant Art. But brush tool can be made for anything really. Drawing, effect, writing, whatever really.
#25 Eraser Tool: Used to erase stuff of course.
#26 Airbrush Tool Basically another brush. But a bit different. Nothing special though. You'll see it's effects as you use it.
#27-30 Never used these. So I don't know what they do. But never really heard about them in tutorials at all. So they don't seem to have very important uses.
#31 Blur Tool: Used to blur specific areas.
#32 Smudge Tool: Used to smudge specific areas. Smudging is kind of like, an exaggerated blur. Distorting the whole view of it.
I apparently messed up on the picture and made 33 a 34. So yea..
#34 Dodge/Burn Tool:Dodge, is to brighten a certain area. Burn is to darken a certain area. The tools especially Burn, is used a lot in... X-Raying ;]. Haha.
#35 Foreground Color:It's your main color. It will be used while brushing, or will be the main color in a gradient.
#36 Background Color:The secondary color. It won't be used except during certain effects. Like Gradients, or gradient maps. And other effects.
#37 Mode: This effects a certain layers effects. It has plenty of effects to alter the look of the piece. Such as screen, overlay, hue, grain merge. And plenty more. They're fun to play with. And can make you waste a lot of time picking the right one.
#38 Opacity: Alters the opacity of the layer. Lower makes it less visible, higher makes it more visible..


~Thanks for reading, and I'll be making more GIMP tutorials in the near future :relief: