Guide: The GIMP

All images have been tinypic'd. If you have any problems, post on this guide stating such.


Guide: Using The GIMP
Learn the Basics(and Advances) of GIMP, and how to Animate with GIMP.
Table of Contents
.Why Gimp?
.Downloading and Installing Gimp +Resources
.Basics of Gimp
.Animating on Gimp
.Tips & Tricks on Animating
.Advances of Gimp
.Credits & Extra Notes

Why GIMP?
Gimp is a file-editing program, much like Photoshop.
They are however different, Photoshop has a price and has more filters and effects. (Which will not affect your animating)

Gimp, is also, OH SO MUCH SEXIER THAN NEOPAINT! (Take that Twame! >:D)
Neopaint, is low quality. Neopaint, is like a .jpg file. Gimp, however, is a .png file.
Plus, from all the time I've been on this forum (Secondary-Veteran), most of the Neopainters have left and/or failed at animating, or they converted into Gimp or Photoshop.

Gimps is a good program, very similar to Photoshop, and Gimp is free.

Whether you read that all of not, you should DOWNLOAD GIMP. :D

Downloading and Installing Gimp
Gimp 2.4.7
Wait for it to download and install. Yea, that's basically it.

Resources
DaFont - Font Resources

dA - Gimp Brushes


Note: Fonts and Gimp Brushes are not needed for animations, but they can improve the animation. I suggest beginners not use them yet.

Basics of Gimp
-Create a new file by clicking File>New. Then select the size of your image.

Tools:
Move - Move layers, selections, and other objects.
Zoom - Adjust the Zoom level. (Tip: Use the '+' or "-" on your keyboard)
Text - Create or edit Text layers. (Font resources.)
Pencil - Hard edge painting with a brush. Basically pixel editing.
Eraser - Erase to background or transparency using a brush. (Note: Tick on 'Hard Edge' when you use the eraser, erases more efficiently.)
Flip - Reverse the layer, selection, or path horizontally or vertically.

Useful Short Cuts:
-Ctrl+z redoes your last action.

-Holding Shift after marking you point A with a brush, will make a straight line to point B when you mark it with a brush. (This method applies to many tools, such as Eraser and Pencil.)

-Holding Ctrl while using a pencil or brush will allow you to use to Color Picker Tool. Self explanatory. It will only be in Color Pick Tool as long as you hold Ctrl. (Note: You do not need this for animating. This is just a short cut I use a lot when editing.)


Layer (Channels, & Paths Management):
-At Startup, File>Dialogs>Create New Dock>Layers, Channels, & Paths if the dock isn't already open. This will help you manage your Layers (Channels, & Paths).

Visible - Tick this 'visible eye' off and on, whether you want to see your image-layer or not.
New Layer - Create a layer and add it to the image stack.
Raise - Raise a layer one step up in the image stack.
Lower - Lower a layer one step down in the image stack.
Duplicate - Create a duplicate of a layer and add it to the image stack.
Delete - Delete a layer.

-Each layer, can have a different image on it. (Imagine it as a black transparency paper, and you're the one editing an image on it.)

-An 'image stack' is a layer of images used to create a bigger image. (Imagine it as a stack of transparency papers with images on them. The transparency paper on the top will overlay all the other images. The transparency paper on the bottom will be overlapped by all the other images.)

Look at second part of Guide: The GIMP to continue.

Guide: The GIMP continued

Animating on GIMP
An animation is a (rapid)sequence of images, or frames.
Frame-by-frame a
In this section of the guide, you will learn how to sprite animate MapleStory sprites. Once you learn this, you can apply your skills to other sprites.


I will try to make this as noob-friendly as possible.


1. Open up a new image. (File>New) Set your image size.

Spoiler:

If you want to make a signature-size animation, make the image 400-700(pixels) x 100-130(pixels).
If you want to make an avatar-size animation, make the image 100-130(pixels) x 100-130(pixels). (Remember, this is my personal preference, you do not have to abide to those rules.)

2. In your image window, open your background. (File>Open as Layers>Select your background)
If the background is already around the size of your animation, you can just open it up from the main GIMP window. (File>Open>Select your background)

Use the tool and move the background vertically so you only see 5-20 pixels of the actual underground part of the background. Then move the background horizontally until you find a place where the background just looks best.(:



3. Find a latitude in which all characters' feet will align to first. (All your characters feet will be on this line at all times, unless your character is suppose to be in the air.)

I suggest you create a new layer () and make it transparent, draw a line at the latitude I was talking about earlier.

Spoiler:

Use the tool so the line will be hard edge. Make sure the Brush size of the pencil looks like this:

(The new layer you're drawing on should be shaded in in the Layers tab in the Layers, Channels, & Paths dock.)

Try to make the line of latitude a couple pixels deep into the background's floor, but make sure it's at a latitude that doesn't make it look like your character is actually sunken into the concrete or that you're character is super-light and it standing at the tips of grass.

Keep the line of latitude on visible at all times. It's only has to be one-step above the background in the layer-stack.



4. Open the sprites you're going to use as layer. (File>Open as Layers>Select sprite(s))

[img] http://i44.tinypic.com/2iqo8aw.pngimg] http://i44.tinypic.com/34xj5t4.png " alt="" />
I have put a background, a line of latitude, and the sprites I'm going to start off with.
I have already aligned my character sprites' feet together and moved them on top of the latitude.
I am using my own custom map.


5. Now that I have all my sprites I need for my animation (Alert stances 0, 1, and 2), it's time to take my sprites and merge them down onto the background.
So first, I need to duplicate () the background (Blue Crystal Dungeon)
3 times, because I have 3 individual sprites. Then I must raise () the layers of background so that 1 background is one-step below each frame.




6.Then we must merge the sprite (which are one-step above the background) down into the background that's one-step below the sprite.

So merge each sprite down into the background that's only one-step below it. When you merge a layer down, it'll merge down with the layer underneath it that has the 'visible eye' ticked(). So remember to have both the sprite and the background underneath it to be visible.
Do this with each sprite you have.


7.This is the end result :


Delete() the latitude line and background layers, you know longer need them.


8. Now we test our animation. Filters>Animation>Playback
Press play and this is probably what you see :
http://i42.tinypic.com/28v3a8.gif " alt="" />
There are 2 big problems about this animation!
1. It does not loop! Which means the animation doesn't not replay itself looking in a good manner. It restarts abruptly in this animation.
2. I'm moving too fast...I think I'm having a seizure.

So, I'm going to fix it. Step 9~!



9. The first thing is to make the animation loop. The alert animation goes in this sprite pattern: 0, 1, 2, 1, 0, 1...
Which basically means the order of sprites for it to animate will is frame 0, frame 1, frame 2, frame 1, frame 0. (This sprite pattern only works for alert and stand sprites. All other sprite patterns go 0, 1, 2, 3, 0, 1, 2, 3, 0... They just start all over, but alert and stand sprites go to their highest number, then reverse. Got it?)
So here's the Layers Dock :

I renamed the sprites that are already merged down with the background.
Remember? 0, 1, 2, 1, 0, 1...

So duplicate() Alert 1, and raise() it one-step up, so now it's above Alert 2.
So now we have 4 layers, frames0, 1, 2, and 1. Then it restarts, so it's really 0, 1, 2, 1, (restart) 0, 1, 2...

So we fixed to loop!



10. Now we have to change how fast the frames are. In GIMP, you can set how many ms, milliseconds, each frame has. (In some other animating programs they have FPS, frames-per-second.)
In order to set the ms for each frame, we must save the animation.
File>Save As>Name.gif
A window should pop up labeled Export File.
Click on Save as Animation.

Don't do anything with the conversion, leave it as Indexed. (Cause if you click Convert to Grayscale you're animation will be, well, gray; as in no color, and we don't want that. [...Right?])
Click Export.

If you see this :

Just press crop. It's just that you're background was bigger than the image size you made for you animation. (At step 1, remember?)


You'll see this:

Okay, maybe you won't see the "ololololol Khmer is sexy ;D" part, but the GIMP never lies. :hehe:
Make sure Loop Forever and Use disposal entered above for all frames are ticked, and don't forget to set the Frame disposal is set Cumulative layers (combine).

Now, you see the 100 milliseconds part? Set it between 60 - 90. This will be your signature milliseconds, you will use it for all your animations. I personally use 70, because I like the number seven. :D

Save.

The outcome :

Oh shiz! I'm still spazzing out.

Okay, well, I really do spaz out a lot in real life. >:[
But I'm sure you don't. So we still have the same problem, slow down the frames.



11. Okay, honestly, the speed problem still wasn't planned. It was my fault. D: But it still helps the guide, show's you how to fix your mistakes. (:

Go back into your animation.
Duplicate() each frame 3 times. (There will be 4 layers of each frame now)



That fixes the problem. Also note that there should be 4 layers of each frame for standing sprites too. Though it really depends on what's your signature ms you use. The lower the ms, the more layers you have to put. This also gives the animator more originality. :D

Now just repeat step 10.

Spoiler:

10. Now we have to change how fast the frames are. In GIMP, you can set how many ms, milliseconds, each frame has. (In some other animating programs they have FPS, frames-per-second.)
In order to set the ms for each frame, we must save the animation.
File>Save As>Name.gif
A window should pop up labeled Export File.
Click on Save as Animation.

Don't do anything with the conversion, leave it as Indexed. (Cause if you click Convert to Grayscale you're animation will be, well, gray; as in no color, and we don't want that. [...Right?])
Click Export.

If you see this :

Just press crop. It's just that you're background was bigger than the image size you made for you animation. (At step 1, remember?)


You'll see this:

Okay, maybe you won't see the "ololololol Khmer is sexy ;D" part, but the GIMP never lies. :hehe:
Make sure Loop Forever and Use disposal entered above for all frames are ticked, and don't forget to set the Frame disposal is set Cumulative layers (combine).

Now, you see the 100 milliseconds part? Set it between 60 - 90. This will be your signature milliseconds, you will use it for all your animations. I personally use 70, because I like the number seven. :D
Save.

Here's the final outcome :
70 ms /4 frames for each sprite
70 ms /5 frames for each sprite
70 ms /6 frames for each sprite

The ms of each alert sprite you see, is suppose to be near 400. So my ms is 70. So I have to use 6 frames to get the closest I can get too 400.

Here's a table for your guys.
60 ms should have 7 frames.
70 ms should have 6 frames.
80 ms should have 5 frames. (Exactly 400 ms)
90 ms should have 4 frames.

Look at third part of Guide: The GIMP to continue.

Guide: The GIMP continued.


Tips and Tricks on Animating

Walking
I'll teach you how to making a walking animation from one end of a screen to another end.


1. Open a new image and select your image size.

2. Open your background as layers and adjust() it to your image frame.

3. Create a new layer () and draw your line of latitude with a 1 pixel pencil ( ).

4. Open your walking sprite 0 as layers, move() the sprite onto the top of the latitude. Move your character all the way to the right, make sure you see the ear.
This what you should have :


5. Now move() your sprite all the way out of the image frame. Make sure it's just right outside of the image frame. (As in, if you moved it one pixel left, one pixel of the sprite would be in the image frame.)
Okay, now move() the sprite 5 or 7 pixels to the left. (Pick 5 or 7. This will be the number of pixels you'll move() your sprites to the left for the whole animation)
Duplicate() the sprite and move() it 5 or 7 pixels to the left again. Repeat.
In the end you should have 3 frames, each 5 or 7 pixels apart.


6. Open as layers walking sprite 1 and align() the ear to the last sprites ear (The one on top of the image-stack) ,but make it one pixel higher.
Move() it 5 or 7 pixels to the left. Duplicate(), move 5 or 7 pixels, etcetera.

Then do the same with walking sprite 2, but make it one pixel lower. (It's the same height as walking sprite 0)

And also do the same with walking sprite 3, but make it one pixel higher. (It's the same height as walking sprite 1)
It's basically two pixels higher than the latitude line. (Since 1 pixel higher than the latitude line is the same as being on the latitude line)

So here's what we have, I moved it 7 pixels to the left, not 5.


Then repeat, starting from walking sprite 0 until your last frame is not visible. (Not within the image frame)

7. Here's what you should have :


Delete the line of latitude.
Now we merge down them with the background.
Duplicate() the background and raise() it until it's below the first frame. Duplicate and again and raise. Repeat.

Once you have a background layer below each frame, merge down each frame into the background.

8. Now we just have to save it as a gif.

Spoiler:

10. Now we have to change how fast the frames are. In GIMP, you can set how many ms, milliseconds, each frame has. (In some other animating programs they have FPS, frames-per-second.)
In order to set the ms for each frame, we must save the animation.
File>Save As>Name.gif
A window should pop up labeled Export File.
Click on Save as Animation.

Don't do anything with the conversion, leave it as Indexed. (Cause if you click Convert to Grayscale you're animation will be, well, gray; as in no color, and we don't want that. [...Right?])
Click Export.

If you see this :

Just press crop. It's just that you're background was bigger than the image size you made for you animation. (At step 1, remember?)


You'll see this:

Okay, maybe you won't see the "ololololol Khmer is sexy ;D" part, but the GIMP never lies. :hehe:
Make sure Loop Forever and Use disposal entered above for all frames are ticked, and don't forget to set the Frame disposal is set Cumulative layers (combine).

Now, you see the 100 milliseconds part? Set it between 60 - 90. This will be your signature milliseconds, you will use it for all your animations. I personally use 70, because I like the number seven. :D

Save.

Congratulations, you've learned how to walk! -le gasp- YOU'RE A BIG KID NAO!





Credits
All Credits to making this guide (and screenshots) to Khmer.
Twame's background site and forum is featured here.
DaFont is featured here.
dA(Deviant Art) is featured here.

And most of all, GIMP!


Extra Notes
Feel free to ask questions!
I will make a Q&A or add them into the guide.

Updates
-Saturday, September 06 : Starting of this guide.
-Sunday, September 07 (12:56 Morning) : Main Completion of Guide
-Sunday, September 07 (6:80 Afternoon) : Completed Walk Section
-Sunday, September 28 (10:13 Evening) : Small edit.
-Sunday, October 12 (5:56 Afternoon) : Copy and Pasted off MSF to BSBG
-Sunday, October 12 (5:56 Afternoon) : Fixed BBcode.
-Sunday, March 8 (11:18 Morning) : Fixed images


If you have any GIMP-related questions, PM me or post in this thread.

God fucking damn. Took me 3 posts to post this guide. >_>

First post on teh sexy guide.
But i use Flash ^^

Aro wrote:First post on teh sexy guide.
But i use Flash ^^

Cause you fail.
f3

I'm making one animation on GIMP but it's taking me a lot of time i can't finish it in this week i don't have time for nothing!

Taysuke wrote:I'm making one animation on GIMP but it's taking me a lot of time i can't finish it in this week i don't have time for nothing!

Okay.

Wow the tutorial is REALLY long but you missed one thing. Your suppose to say FLASH IS BETTER IT OWNS ALL ANIMATING PROGRAMS! No just kidding it just depends on the user.

Flash is a great program for lazy bastards like me :)

my signature is made of Gimp kind of easy to use but need a lot of time because it got hell lot of step lol.

I need to learn how to do fighting animations. x_x.

But Khmer i try to put more frame , i made to GIF but u say can chop it cut ,i chop it ,but it chop almost half of the animation.

0soultiger0 wrote:But Khmer i try to put more frame , i made to GIF but u say can chop it cut ,i chop it ,but it chop almost half of the animation.

What?
In english please.

Khmer wrote:

0soultiger0 wrote:But Khmer i try to put more frame , i made to GIF but u say can chop it cut ,i chop it ,but it chop almost half of the animation.

What?
In english please.

I think he's says he put more frames into his animation and cropped it and it cropped of almost half of his animation.

almsot the same as Fw ;o

That's one nice guide you got thar.
It's FUNKAY

My avatars made using gimp
it took me seven minutes to make, I know. o_O

this is a really good guide! It really helped me... when i used to use GIMP. now i use flash. its da bomb

Uhm, Khmer, what does the writing on the right of the zoom % on the bottom mean?

It says *Whatever layer you are on* (*some random number* MB)

Once it said Background #17 (120 MB)

But I saved it as a gif, and it was way less than a megabyte.

Okay, Khmer. I tried making an animation in GIMP. I had some problems, though:

When I was saving it as a gif, the export file thing came up, right? But, the top part with "save as animation" and "merge visible layers" didn't come up. O;

Then, when I got to the save as gif screen, I couldn't change any of the "Animated GIF Options".

To top if off, the animation doesn't work. :/

I don't understand the problem.

...
Netto, MSN nao. Send me the SS.

Yeah...every time i try to install GIMP i get some bugs address error Ive tried to download it from multiple areas but i got nothing any help?

thx khmer!!!u rock!! o yah can i ask how to make a fighting animation??im new

umm I really want to use GIMP, but the photos in your tutorial says ''banwidth exceeded, upgrade to pro tday!'' what should i do??

Wait until the pictures get back on.
And for god's sake, you're copying what's written on PB's warning, at least type it correctly.