I Started Working With Layers -- Do You Guys Like? Tips?

[rzr]

So, I started working with layers now. I'm really getting into it and they seem to be the best tool I've used so far in terms of quality. Here's a few samples with explanations of how I worked on it. Before the samples, if anyone can find me a GIMP Tutorial I'd love it. I have GIMP 2.4.7 and I think the only tutorial I found is for a higher version, so I'm still just teaching myself everything. Anyway, without further adieu, the samples:



This one, as you can see, is my avatar. I hate it, but I was sick of my old one and didn't have anything else. I put a fractal as the last layer, first. Then laid a border on. Then a black gradient. I made the border and gradient almost transparent so you can see the fractal and then moved the gradient layer down and right so a bit of the fractal shined while still fading into the center. Then I added some gay pattern to the font.



I was playing around with some extensions and found this cool one that looked like burnt paper. It had a white background, so I changed the BG to transparent. Then, I added a lightning layer. Then I filled all the parts I think look like a maze in with this cobalt pattern and changed around the opaqueness of the layers to get what I wanted.



So, pretty basic. I made a red sphere with a drop shadow. Added the whirly blue pattern to the drop shadow layer and dimmed it. Added a lightening pattern to the background and dimmed it. I thought the ball looked cool so I stopped. Then started back up and made this:




Same thing except the layers are more opaque with a fractal cropped into the ball.



I made a logo. Darkened the drop shadow and used the clipboard brush, which is a mirror image of the text, to stamp it once behind the original text. I highlighted the original text and used this cool brush with a firey gradient on the letters. Then, I added the Cool Blue pattern in the back and threw in a semi-transparent fractal.



No idea how I made the background but then I took a rainbow gradient and set it to swirl and made the swirls small and kept doing it until I got when I wanted. Then I made it less opaque and centered it.



SOTA logo, 33.67% opaque lightening background, fractal background2.



This one took a lot of work. I had a fractal and I filtered out a bunch of **** by filling it in with black then a cool pattern. Took the fractal and duplicated it 3 times facing all 4 in a different direction. Changed the opaqueness so all would be visible. Played with a brush in the background. Then I made a new layer on top as white. Took a wide rainbow gradient over it and dimmed it. Moved the rainbow layer down 4 so the fractal was still visible.

[MooMoo_Cowfreak]

They all seem very forced. Like the Mitch one. The fact that the lightning is in the layer above it makes it seem, just, awkward. Same with the ball one. These could look great if you allowed the star of the image to pop out, not go behind all the layers that you have.

Also, your avatar was way to dark, so I fixed it up a bit. I kept it dark like you originally had it, but the letters were in dire need of popping out.



EDIT: It appears to me you understand layers, but now you need to figure out how to truly harness their power. Overall though decent work.

[ELRayford]

Nice work there! I have no skill or patience for shooping things. Check this page out it may be helpful for the tutorials. http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials.php

[rzr]

Yeah, the Mitch one, for my friend, was the very first one I did with layers. Pretty bad. Thanks, you guys. Ansd MooMoo, what do you use?

[MooMoo_Cowfreak]

Originally Posted by rzr

Yeah, the Mitch one, for my friend, was the very first one I did with layers. Pretty bad. Thanks, you guys. Ansd MooMoo, what do you use?

I use photoshop, but only because my dad has it. I don't use it very often, but I know how to use it do some pretty basic things.

[rzr]

If I could find a free version of PS that wouldn't overload the RAM in my Win 2000 laptop I'd use that. But, I'm getting a lotr more familiar wit GIMP, so I stick with it. I use MSPaint a lot, too.

[sarahxjane]

Photoshop can be your very best friend.

Layers there are a godsend.

[rzr]

rzrstubbedhistoe (9:51:56 AM): hey
ELRayford (9:52:09 AM): sup
rzrstubbedhistoe (9:52:23 AM): stomach hurts =/
ELRayford (9:52:44 AM): thats no good
rzrstubbedhistoe (9:52:54 AM): i know, i think it's anxiety
rzrstubbedhistoe (9:53:17 AM): http://www.flashflashrevolution.com/vbz/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=102410
rzrstubbedhistoe (9:53:24 AM): post what you think =]
rzrstubbedhistoe (9:57:45 AM): =/
ELRayford (9:57:48 AM): posted
rzrstubbedhistoe (9:57:50 AM): kk
ELRayford (9:57:51 AM): :p
ELRayford (9:58:02 AM): =/ ?
rzrstubbedhistoe (9:58:09 AM): i had to edit it so i havent read anything
ELRayford (9:58:16 AM): lol
rzrstubbedhistoe (9:59:15 AM): lol @ shoopingt
ELRayford (9:59:23 AM): :p
rzrstubbedhistoe (9:59:27 AM): <3
ELRayford (10:00:47 AM): http://www.techzilo.com/install-plugins-brushes-gradients-in-gimp/
rzrstubbedhistoe (10:00:54 AM): o
rzrstubbedhistoe (10:00:55 AM): m
rzrstubbedhistoe (10:00:55 AM): g
ELRayford (10:00:56 AM): imma just leave sum things here
rzrstubbedhistoe (10:01:03 AM): ive been lookin 4 that!!!!!
ELRayford (10:01:36 AM): http://gimper.net/viewforum.php?f=8
ELRayford (10:01:39 AM): lurkthar
rzrstubbedhistoe (10:01:44 AM): lulz
ELRayford (10:02:06 AM): http://netpreneurzone.blogspot.com/2008/10/gimp-tutorial-cool-pipe-effects.html
ELRayford (10:04:24 AM): http://www.fpsbanana.com/tuts/7102
ELRayford (10:05:29 AM): and im spent
rzrstubbedhistoe (10:05:36 AM): <333333333333333
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:10:27 AM): theres no download,,, i dont get it
ELRayford (11:10:35 AM): ?
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:10:45 AM): on the plug in page
ELRayford (11:10:50 AM): link
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:11:00 AM): http://www.techzilo.com/install-plugins-brushes-gradients-in-gimp/
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:11:01 AM): lol
ELRayford (11:11:27 AM): Plugins are bits of code that work with GIMP to add to the functionality. They may offer several exciting ways to extend the utility of the program. Plugins can be saved by unzipping the downloaded folder (if it is in a .zip format), and placing them in x:\Document and Settings\<username>\.gimp-<version>\plug-ins\, where ‘x’ is the drive of Windows XP installation (username and version are self-explanatory). If you have GIMP open, exit and open it again, and the plugin will be activated.
ELRayford (11:11:35 AM): Some of the plugins are actually scripts, ending with a .scm extension. In such cases, drop them to x:\Document and Settings\<username>\.gimp-<version>\scripts\ instead.
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:11:36 AM): ...
ELRayford (11:11:40 AM): etc
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:11:43 AM): i dun get it
ELRayford (11:11:48 AM): thats the how to
ELRayford (11:11:58 AM): once u get the plug ins scripts or brushes
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:12:09 AM): how do i get em?
ELRayford (11:13:25 AM): http://registry.gimp.org/
ELRayford (11:13:38 AM): http://registry.gimp.org/list_content
ELRayford (11:13:54 AM): http://gimpscripts.com/?cat=1
ELRayford (11:14:40 AM): http://www.techzilo.com/gimp-brushes/
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:14:45 AM): they dnt just gop automatyically in?
ELRayford (11:14:50 AM): not sure
ELRayford (11:14:53 AM): i dont use it :P
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:15:15 AM): thx =]
ELRayford (11:15:23 AM): np
ELRayford (11:15:31 AM): if u get stuck later i can help u install prolly
ELRayford (11:15:38 AM): but i dont know gimp
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:15:49 AM): yay
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:16:01 AM): can u text? w/ my brokenm arm its so hard 2 type
ELRayford (11:16:07 AM): yeah
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:16:12 AM): yaaaaaay
ELRayford (11:16:12 AM): 843 283 2213
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:16:27 AM): nayyymmmme?
ELRayford (11:16:30 AM): Eliot
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:16:32 AM): kk
ELRayford (11:16:33 AM): or el
ELRayford (11:16:35 AM): or rayford
ELRayford (11:16:36 AM): /e
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:16:38 AM): kkx2
ELRayford (11:16:38 AM): w/e
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:16:39 AM): lol
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:17:11 AM): k?
ELRayford (11:17:14 AM): k
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:17:19 AM): u gotz it?
ELRayford (11:18:51 AM): gats wut
ELRayford (11:18:54 AM): lol
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:19:00 AM): wuuuuuuu
ELRayford (11:19:27 AM): no i dont have the gimp ****
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:19:53 AM): i no that
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:25:17 AM): i just dont get it...
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:25:19 AM): http://registry.gimp.org/taxonomy/term/128
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:25:30 AM): wut do i do 2 get it in my program?
ELRayford (11:27:32 AM): kk one sec
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:29:03 AM): kkkk
ELRayford (11:30:02 AM): k u have that original link for the how to?
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:30:11 AM): which 1?
ELRayford (11:30:18 AM): the walkthrough
ELRayford (11:30:23 AM): about scripts brushes
ELRayford (11:30:46 AM): here are some scripts
ELRayford (11:30:47 AM): http://gug.sunsite.dk/articles/scripts-01/
ELRayford (11:31:04 AM): u have to follow the steps
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:31:11 AM): i have itr, yea
ELRayford (11:31:41 AM): k link it to me and ill walu thru it
ELRayford (11:31:44 AM): walk*
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:31:52 AM): http://www.techzilo.com/install-plugins-brushes-gradients-in-gimp/
ELRayford (11:32:38 AM): go to this folder
ELRayford (11:32:40 AM): x:\Document and Settings\<username>\.gimp-<version>\scripts\
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:32:53 AM): x=j?
ELRayford (11:33:02 AM): should be c
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:33:05 AM): j=drive?
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:33:07 AM): c?
ELRayford (11:33:14 AM): u on windows?
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:33:18 AM): i have it on my flash drive
ELRayford (11:33:22 AM): oh ok
ELRayford (11:33:26 AM): err
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:33:39 AM): lol 
ELRayford (11:33:41 AM): well ur scripts will and should be on the C drive
ELRayford (11:33:44 AM): lets get that first
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:33:50 AM): i xcant
ELRayford (11:33:51 AM): then u can copy paste to jump drive
ELRayford (11:33:53 AM): oh
ELRayford (11:33:55 AM): on school pc
ELRayford (11:33:57 AM): kk
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:34:06 AM): well, home, but yeah
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:34:11 AM): same point
ELRayford (11:34:12 AM): hmmm
ELRayford (11:34:22 AM): in ur jumpo drive look for a scripts folder
ELRayford (11:34:26 AM): fukkit ill install it
ELRayford (11:34:27 AM): lol
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:34:27 AM): gimp's on my lap top = no internet
ELRayford (11:34:29 AM): dam u
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:34:32 AM): wut
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:34:33 AM): lol
ELRayford (11:35:37 AM): 2.4.7
ELRayford (11:35:37 AM): ?
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:35:42 AM): mhm
ELRayford (11:37:15 AM): onstallin
ELRayford (11:37:18 AM): installin*
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:37:42 AM): iight
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:37:50 AM): u can get portable, too
ELRayford (11:39:09 AM): -_- well in the install folder that gimp creates there is no spot for scripts
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:39:16 AM): ...
ELRayford (11:39:28 AM): C:\Documents and Settings\ElRayford\.gimp-2.4
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:39:28 AM): ?
ELRayford (11:39:38 AM): is where u need to be able to get
ELRayford (11:39:53 AM): i cant help u unless it has been installed on the computer
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:40:09 AM): its on my laptop...
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:40:17 AM): we good w/ that?
ELRayford (11:40:18 AM): ok then
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:40:23 AM): it dont have internet
ELRayford (11:40:23 AM): yeah
ELRayford (11:40:27 AM): kk
ELRayford (11:40:44 AM): ok well when u get to laptop ull have to go to C:\Documents and Settings\ElRayford\.gimp-2.4
ELRayford (11:40:50 AM): and find scripts
ELRayford (11:40:55 AM): u will see it
ELRayford (11:41:09 AM): all u do is save em to the correct folder
ELRayford (11:41:22 AM): so we will get u scripts brishes and plugins and u put them on flashdrive
ELRayford (11:41:30 AM): then copy them to correct spot on laptop
ELRayford (11:42:19 AM): u got me?
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:42:31 AM): just got m,y laptop =p
ELRayford (11:42:35 AM): cool
ELRayford (11:42:50 AM): u will see what i mean once u open the folder
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:42:53 AM): k
ELRayford (11:43:46 AM): http://gug.sunsite.dk/articles/scripts-01/
ELRayford (11:43:47 AM): go here
ELRayford (11:43:55 AM): might take a sec to load its slow
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:45:38 AM): error
ELRayford (11:45:53 AM): f5
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:45:58 AM): cant find not there
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:46:00 AM): ummm
ELRayford (11:46:23 AM): it loaded fer me
ELRayford (11:46:49 AM): ill find another site
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:46:54 AM): no
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:46:56 AM): i mean
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:47:08 AM): my comp cant find the path
ELRayford (11:47:16 AM): hmm u on windows xp?
ELRayford (11:47:19 AM): or vista
ELRayford (11:47:31 AM): prolly vista
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:47:51 AM): 2000
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:47:55 AM): lol
ELRayford (11:47:55 AM): oh ok
ELRayford (11:47:58 AM): :
ELRayford (11:47:59 AM): :P
ELRayford (11:48:03 AM): click start
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:48:07 AM): k
ELRayford (11:48:07 AM): then my computer
ELRayford (11:48:14 AM): then ughhhhhhhh thinking one sec lol
ELRayford (11:48:19 AM): documents and settings
ELRayford (11:48:25 AM): u ave that>
ELRayford (11:48:30 AM): have*
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:48:35 AM): wooooo
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:48:44 AM): no doc/settings thing
ELRayford (11:48:55 AM): ok my documents?
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:48:59 AM): k
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:49:00 AM): lol
ELRayford (11:49:05 AM): go in that folder
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:49:07 AM): k
ELRayford (11:49:12 AM): do u see a folder called gimp?
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:49:34 AM): thaty would be on my deswktop, shall ui go there?
ELRayford (11:49:47 AM): sure its been a while since ive used 2k
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:49:51 AM): kk
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:50:24 AM): if i click the gimp thiny it executes the program
ELRayford (11:50:31 AM): hmmm
ELRayford (11:50:42 AM): ok so gimp creates a folder just for scripts and things 
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:50:43 AM): where did i save it...
ELRayford (11:50:45 AM): whenever it installs
ELRayford (11:50:55 AM): one sec lurkin
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:51:17 AM): gimp reasd me?
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:51:19 AM): read*
ELRayford (11:51:23 AM): no
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:51:33 AM): all i have is read me, gimp, and uninstall
ELRayford (11:52:02 AM): it wont be in that area. it will be in the user profile folsder of windows
ELRayford (11:52:10 AM): im tryin to find it for u now
ELRayford (11:52:51 AM): ok u can try searching for one of the file names in that folder lol
ELRayford (11:52:58 AM): click start then search
ELRayford (11:53:15 AM): search for
ELRayford (11:53:16 AM): gimprc
ELRayford (11:53:33 AM): mght be find
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:53:40 AM): got 2
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:53:43 AM): 3
ELRayford (11:53:46 AM): ok lol
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:53:50 AM): its still gouin
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:53:51 AM): but
ELRayford (11:53:57 AM): dam
ELRayford (11:54:08 AM): what im tryin to do is locate the folder we need
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:54:15 AM): the icon is that funny folder that makes u select wat 2 open it in
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:54:19 AM): kk
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:54:20 AM): dun
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:54:24 AM): 4 files found
ELRayford (11:54:28 AM): if u can "open containing folder"
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:54:29 AM): files, not folders
ELRayford (11:54:33 AM): or something along the lines of that
ELRayford (11:54:35 AM): yeah
ELRayford (11:55:47 AM): u see/have that option available?
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:56:06 AM): no =/
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:56:07 AM): lol
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:56:10 AM): **** it?
ELRayford (11:56:14 AM): ok clos that one
ELRayford (11:56:16 AM): close
ELRayford (11:56:20 AM): then new search for
ELRayford (11:56:28 AM): fractalexplorer
ELRayford (11:56:34 AM): it will be a folder
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:58:10 AM): 5 rersults
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:58:20 AM): 3 folders 2 programs
ELRayford (11:58:23 AM): k
ELRayford (11:58:32 AM): right click the first folder and explore
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:58:55 AM): dammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
ELRayford (11:59:05 AM): ?
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:59:07 AM): lots o stuff
rzrstubbedhistoe (11:59:09 AM): lol
ELRayford (11:59:21 AM): ok now in the window of the folder u just opened
ELRayford (11:59:40 AM): there should be an "move up a directory icon"
ELRayford (11:59:46 AM): usually a folder with an arrow pointing up
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:00:23 PM): wat u mean?
ELRayford (12:00:38 PM): like u know when u are in a folder u can go back or forward
ELRayford (12:00:48 PM): u can alsoe jump a up a directory but no worries
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:00:53 PM): yea
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:00:58 PM): k
ELRayford (12:01:00 PM): kk click it once
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:01:18 PM): k
ELRayford (12:01:19 PM): now do u see brishes curvers etc?
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:02:23 PM): yea
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:02:27 PM): but not there
ELRayford (12:02:55 PM): not sure wha u mean
ELRayford (12:03:00 PM): no folders there
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:03:02 PM): on the side
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:03:08 PM): is weere i c it
ELRayford (12:03:10 PM): oh ok
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:03:12 PM): like
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:03:23 PM): a **** load a foldrs
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:03:34 PM): some have a + to open more
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:03:38 PM): n stuff
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:03:44 PM): i opend the gimp 1
ELRayford (12:03:48 PM): kk at the top of those row of folders is another folder
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:03:51 PM): and got brushes n ****y
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:03:54 PM): k
ELRayford (12:03:59 PM): expand that
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:04:09 PM): wat it xalled?
ELRayford (12:04:14 PM): so u can see brushes and ****
ELRayford (12:04:16 PM): i dunno
ELRayford (12:04:20 PM): its on ur laptop :P
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:04:40 PM): o i did lol
ELRayford (12:04:54 PM): ok so now u see all the folders
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:05:00 PM): ya
ELRayford (12:05:06 PM): brishes curves scripts etc
ELRayford (12:05:09 PM): ok
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:05:28 PM): brishes?
ELRayford (12:05:32 PM): can u copy paste me the adress of that folder
ELRayford (12:05:35 PM): brushes...
ELRayford (12:05:41 PM): ive been up 24 hours :P
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:06:00 PM): h/o
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:06:02 PM): wtf
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:06:10 PM): my subby is gone?
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:06:36 PM): is urs?
ELRayford (12:07:00 PM): nope
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:07:04 PM): ...
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:07:12 PM): /pissed
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:07:13 PM): k
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:07:19 PM): we got bigger problems
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:07:53 PM): dude
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:08:00 PM): u got an extra 10 bucks?
ELRayford (12:08:03 PM): ...
ELRayford (12:08:05 PM): nope
ELRayford (12:08:06 PM): :P
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:08:18 PM): my sub shudnt be gone till fkn christmas
ELRayford (12:08:26 PM): what do u miss about sub?
ELRayford (12:08:29 PM): the beta?
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:08:32 PM): yup
ELRayford (12:08:36 PM): one sec
rzrstubbedhistoe (12:08:38 PM): n forum

??

[customstuff]

Nice.

[EDEdDNEdDYFaN]

filters filters filters

[Renevatia]

you need MOAR power.. i mean more coherency
your edits, they can be nice, the problem is color. don't play with filter before you get the colors to match

start out with ..harmonic colors..say.. black and gray, blue and green..blah blah.

if u have them on different layer..find color adjustment..i am pretty sure gimp has it..and match color on each layer.

[Tokzic]

how did you just discover layers right now

i mean layers were pretty much the first thing i familliarized myself with in photoshop

and this was about a five minute process

[chidori!]

your using filters and that lightning/rain brush too much

[rzr]

I like the lightening, lol. It's my graphic fetish. And I just don't know how to use anything else...

[chidori!]

Originally Posted by rzr

I like the lightening, lol. It's my graphic fetish. And I just don't know how to use anything else...

*GASP* you'll be like that one person. download new brushes, get better lightning brushes, make your own, plz!

[sarahxjane]

You could always go on DeviantART and find some beginner tutorials.

DeviantART also has brushes and fonts you can download and experiment with.

[Renevatia]

Originally Posted by rzr

I like the lightening, lol. It's my graphic fetish. And I just don't know how to use anything else...

try fractual brushes..haha you don't need to know how to use them ;D

[Izzy]

Originally Posted by EDEdDNEdDYFaN

filters filters filters

That's what i was thinking. Everything looks way to jagged and ugly. Try following some tutorials.

[rzr]

Izzy, I already said I can't find the right tutorial.

[EDEdDNEdDYFaN]

hell by the looks of things you need ANY kind of tutorial. all you do like i said is use filters over and over. that's not really art.