The Vman's Incredible Editing Tutorial! (GIMP not Photoshop)
151 replies, posted
:siren: [highlight] If you are a good editor, feel free to add your own editing tips and tricks! If I think it is important I will add it to this post for all to see![/Highlight] :siren:
Do you feel that you are a good poser, but think that your pictures lack the "punch" of an edited one?
Have you attempted editing a picture, but never really knew where to go once your editing program started up?
Well look no further. In this tutorial, I shall teach you most of the basics of editing your Gmod picture.
[U][B]-First Off[/B][/U]
If you are going to attempt to edit a picture. It will be a futile effort if the pose its self isn't that good. Allow me to put this into a tasty food metaphor. Lets say that the pose is a cake and the editing is the icing. If you have a nasty tasting cake, you can't just put good icing on it and expect it to be good. The opposite is true too, if you have a really good cake, bad icing will ruin it. So only edit a picture that is good, and if you find that you are no good at editing, chances are that the unedited picture will be received better than the edited one.
[U][B]-Getting to know the GIMP[/B][/U]
[B]IF YOU ALREADY KNOW HOW TO USE GIMP YOU CAN SKIP THIS PART[/B]
[IMG]http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss236/Ineedascotch/tut1.jpg[/IMG]
[I]This... is GIMP[/I]
GIMP stands for The [I]GNU Image Manipulation Program.[/I] GIMP's interface may not be as straight forward as Photoshop's, but its good if you want Shop-like results without shelling out ungodly amounts of cash. As you can see you have your basic selection, path, transformation, brush, and stamp tools, and your layer window (if you don't see the layer window just hit Ctrl+L) The context box that you see under all of the tool icons is where you can change your tool's parameters like opacity, brush type, scale, etc. This isn't too complicated, but the thing that confuses most people is when you open a picture.
[IMG]http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss236/Ineedascotch/tut2.jpg[/IMG]
[I]What? Why are there two file tabs? Where am I supposed to look? The GIMP window or the picture window!?[/I]
Those were my first impressions, but don't worry, GIMP is easy to get used to.
For all of your things like filters, color changes, and image resizes you look at the picture window. The GIMP window is only for the tools. Also, if you are in doubt of which File tab to use, just use the one in the picture window. Only with that one can you do things like save your picture.
[U][B]-Isolation[/B][/U]
Isolation is probably the first thing you are going to want to do when editing your picture. Isolation is the task of outlining a subject in your picture, then pulling them onto a different layer so you can edit them without changing the background. It is a grueling task, but the result will be 100 times better than if you didn't.
First off, you need to pick your subject. In this case I will be using the gangster with the tommy gun here.
Now, zoom in enough so that you can practically see the pixels. You need to be able to outline the maximum amount of detail.
[IMG]http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss236/Ineedascotch/tut3.jpg[/IMG]
[I]Beauty is only pixel deep...[/I]
Click on the "Paths" Tool, and find a starting point on your picture (I usually begin with the lower left corner, but that's just me)
[IMG]http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss236/Ineedascotch/tut9.jpg[/IMG]
Now, begin clicking around the edge of the subject, creating a path around them. [B]BE SURE TO BE AS DETAILED AS POSSIBLE[/B] no one likes isolation errors. Remember, you only need to create a path around the outer edge, there is no need to outline things inside your subject.
[IMG]http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss236/Ineedascotch/tut4.jpg[/IMG]
[I]A long road is ahead...[/I]
[B]BE VERY CAREFUL[/B] to not accidentally select a different tool while you are isolating. Should you select a different tool, the entire path that you have been creating will disappear, and will be irretrievable. If you wish to do something like zoom in or out while you are isolating, [B]Do Not[/B] use the magnifying glass tool. Instead, hold down your Ctrl key, and scroll with the mouse wheel, it will zoom without deleting your path.
As you finish up your outline, to connect the end of your outline to the beginning, select your last point, and click on the first point while holding the Ctrl key, It will connect the two points together with a line.
[IMG]http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss236/Ineedascotch/tut5.jpg[/IMG]
[I]The Final Product[/I]
When you have your outline. Click on the button that says "Selection from Path" in the Path tool's context box (seen to the left) This will select the area that you have outlined, allowing you to freely manipulate it with the other tools.
[IMG]http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss236/Ineedascotch/tut6.jpg[/IMG]
[I]Click here...[/I]
[IMG]http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss236/Ineedascotch/tut7.jpg[/IMG]
[I]...To get this![/I]
Now that he is selected, right click on him, select the "Edit" tab, and select "Copy" (You can do the same thing by simply clicking on the Edit tab at the top of the window)
Then, [B]without clicking elsewhere on his body[/B] (we don't want to get rid of the selection path quite yet) create a new layer by clicking on the New Layer button in the layer window. Then, right click again, go to the Edit tab again, select Paste, and click anywhere on your screen with any of the selection tools (This should remove your selection path). Your subject should be pasted in the same place that he originally was, but now he is in a new layer! (You can check this by clicking the eye to the left of your background layer. This will make the background invisible, but your subject should still be there)
[IMG]http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss236/Ineedascotch/tut8.jpg[/IMG]
[I]"Hey, where did my background go?!"[/I]
Congratulations! You have successfully Isolated your subject! Repeat this process for any other subjects that you want to be able to edit. (However, if there is a subject, say, who is very small, or in the background, you can usually get away with not isolating them, as they are not the subject of the picture.)
[U][B]-Dodge and Burn[/B][/U]
Dodging and Burning is the process of adding more realistic light and shadow to your subject. You will be using the Dodge and Burn tool.
Zoom in a bit on your subject (this isn't necessary but it makes things easier)
Select the Dodge and Burn tool, change the brush to "Circle Fuzzy (19)", change the scale of the brush to about 3 (depending on how big you want your base shadows to be), select Burn, and change the exposure to about 15-25 (depending on how heavy you want the shadow to be. Generally it is easier to use lower exposure levels)
[IMG]http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss236/Ineedascotch/tut10.jpg[/IMG]
[I]Your screen should look like this.[/I]
Now begin brushing on your subject. Put shadows wherever you think the light isn't hitting (in this case, where the light from where the muzzle flash will be is the central light source, so I will want shadows around the left edge of his body, on his legs, under his hat, and behind his arms.
As you brush, keep in mind that Dodge and Burn "stacks" If you brush over an area that you darkened, it will become darker, so you need to be careful that you don't make somewhere too dark or too light, and that you make the progression from light to dark as even as possible.
[IMG]http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss236/Ineedascotch/tut11.jpg[/IMG]
[I]"Gah! Get this black stuff off me!!"[/I]
As you can see, even with some very simply burning, the left half of the gangster already looks hugely improved.
[IMG]http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss236/Ineedascotch/tut12.jpg[/IMG]
[I]"Whoa! I have lighting![/I]
Now that you have done the basic shadows, set the scale of your brush to something smaller to get the more detailed shadows (set the scale to around 1 to 1.5) Then zoom in some more, and begin on the smaller shadows.
[IMG]http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss236/Ineedascotch/tut13.jpg[/IMG]
[I]The Final Product[/I]
There you go! Your subject now has some impres
I sure hope this is in the right section...
[QUOTE=The Vman;14557106]I sure hope this is in the right section...[/QUOTE]
Don't worry it is
Nice Tutorial by the way
Also before anyone asks, this works for photoshop too
Yeah, it's fine.
I'm surprised you don't use your very own muzzle flash skins. Or Photoshop. :0
It's an alright tutorial, But i prefer photoshop. [img]http://sa.tweek.us/emots/images/smile.gif[/img]
Good job.
[QUOTE=A big ass;14557188]Yeah, it's fine.
I'm surprised you don't use your very own muzzle flash skins. Or Photoshop. :0[/QUOTE]
I didn't use my skins because this is an [B]editing[/B] tutorial. Not a "Use my skins" advertisement. And as Fire Kracker said, this works just like photoshop.
[QUOTE=kp3;14557205]It's an alright tutorial, But i prefer photoshop. [img]http://sa.tweek.us/emots/images/smile.gif[/img]
Good job.[/QUOTE]
All of these tips work in photoshop too, so you can still use the tutorial!
Now do a Photoshop tutorial.
Also- great pose.
doubble pots
[QUOTE=Hoboiam;14557476]Now do a Photoshop tutorial.
Also- great pose.[/QUOTE]
you can do it for photoshop too :D
[QUOTE=Hoboiam;14557476]Now do a Photoshop tutorial.
Also- great pose.[/QUOTE]
I don't have photoshop. Why don't [B]You[/B] get GIMP!
Also, Is no one reading Fire Kracker's post? [B]This works for Photoshop too![/B]
Well gimp users sure will like this.
Nice work on the tutorial.
[QUOTE=The Vman;14557522]
Also, Is no one reading Fire Kracker's post? [B]This works for Photoshop too![/B][/QUOTE]
I'm what my math teacher calls a "visual learner."
This is like reading some kids lousy handwriting to me.
I'm going "whut" for everything.
Gotta see photshop to know what the hell to do :science:
I can't afford Photoshop, lol. That's why I use Gimp.
Thank you so much for this tutorial, too! I was waitin for you to release this tutorial, your editing is epic!
Thanks. I never knew about the dodge and burn technique and the muzzle flash!
Most people use Photoshop but nice tutorial.
For me is better Photoshop but is the same,to do this with photoshop is more or less the same I think...
Cool tutorial^^
So that's how you do the kickass muzzleflashes.
Simple, decent. Editing is all based on personal taste but at least this gives something GIMP users can work with.
[QUOTE=Jim_Riley;14570424]Simple, decent. Editing is all based on personal taste but at least this gives something GIMP users can work with.[/QUOTE]
Thanks! That's what I intended, to help out people who are at a loss for editing. If people are happy with how they edit, they might pick up a thing or two, but I don't expect them to be blown away by the tips in here.
(In other news, Update soon, will cover things like smoke, motion blur, and rim lighting!)
Douple Bost
I demand more!
Can you do a tutorial about tracers and sparks and stuff?
[QUOTE=heathendevil;14572845]Can you do a tutorial about tracers and sparks and stuff?[/QUOTE]
I will. Like I said, this isn't the complete tut and I will be updating it regularly.
After I do the update today, requests from people sounds like it would be a cool idea!
I like the picture
Something about the brim of his hat just doesn't look right though
[QUOTE=SilverHammer;14573179]I like the picture
Something about the brim of his hat just doesn't look right though[/QUOTE]
Hm, what do you mean? I can't really see anything wrong with it...
You just made me download GIMP for this haha :p. Good job on the tutorial though.
OH, good! Thanks for making something for us Gimp users... I'm bad at it, but I definitely don't have enoug money to dish out the ridiculous amount photoshop asks for.
Also, for the next one, please tell us the secret to some nice blood.
[QUOTE=The Vman;14557097]
[B]BE VERY CAREFUL[/B] to not accidentally select a different tool while you are isolating. Should you select a different tool, the entire path that you have been creating will disappear, and will be irretrievable. If you wish to do something like zoom in or out while you are isolating, [B]Do Not[/B] use the magnifying glass tool. Instead, hold down your Ctrl key, and scroll with the mouse wheel, it will zoom without deleting your path.
[/QUOTE]
Uuum what? seriously? Stick with PS kids.
PS: clean up your desktop:)
[QUOTE=Omnifoe_Zwei;14582578]Uuum what? seriously? Stick with PS kids.
PS: clean up your desktop:)[/QUOTE]
Has it ever occurred to you that maybe not everyone has photoshop? I think you shop users are jealous because you went through the trouble of pirating or (god forbid) actually [I]buying[/I] photoshop? And yet little old free GIMP was always there to edit your pics?
(And I like the way my desktop is. 100 plus shortcuts FTW!!)
