GIMP

[Jaymack]

I was reading this post, so I decided to share a free shareware program that I use for patterns. I downloaded the jpg that Dan posted as a response. I used the program to clean up the surrounding colors leaving only the outline that you would use as the template. Took less than 5 minutes. The program is very powereful and comparable to photoshop and is absolutely free. Just google the word GIMP and follow the instructions.

Just thought I'd share since i've learned so much from this forum since I joined a few months ago! I may even have the courage to post some of the things I've made some day! lol

John

P.S. Don't copy the attachment as it was intended to show what the GIMP software is capable of doing. I could have done alot more to clean this up, but honestly, it took no more tan 2 minutes to do what I did.

Edited April 8, 2010 by Jaymack

[8thsinner]

The power of gimp has well been covered and recommended, But thanks for sharing also.

[Jaymack]

I was responding to the "Tandy Doodle Pages" thread. I wanted to show anyone interested how easy it was to modify a jpg picture into an outline for carving. I don't know how this response turned into a new topic.

I didn't realize or had seen where GIMP had been addressed in this forum. I just wanted to share.

[Zyurelaie]

Better for pattern drafting and vector graphics is actually Inkscape. I do a lot of artwork as well and gimp is wonderful but if I'm going to draft a pattern or a clean image template for transfer I go to Inkscape every time. It's a lot more powerful and lighter weight than gimp on CPU usage and if I want to draw something out free hand first I can always input and scale the image into Inkscape just like gimp can but I have access to inkscapes more powerful tools like measuring curves (handy for complex pattern drafting.) I tend to raster the full size image file with another free program called posterazor and then it will print out perfectly full sized pieces of the pattern on your choice of paper (size is not guaranteed using gimp trust me it doesn't keep track of overlap and printer margins well) best thing ... All programs are free. Definitely worth poking about these incredibly powerful programs.

[Cyberthrasher]

(size is not guaranteed using gimp trust me it doesn't keep track of overlap and printer margins well)

I've used GIMP for years but I've only recently started using it for anything like templates and patterns that require perfect sized output. I was struggling for a while getting the view on my screen to match the print size, so I did a lot of adjustments on the size and scale of my image trying to get it to match. Turns out the easiest way to do it was go to "view" and deselect "Dot For Dot". Ever since I found that I've never had a problem with sizing issues.

I've been wanting to learn inkscape but haven't had the time to really become efficient with any of the available vector programs.

Edited January 24, 2013 by Cyberthrasher

[Chief31794]

I have GIMP downloaded and run it occasionally, but I still go back to Photoshop, they do pretty much the same thing, PS just does them faster and better IMO. GIMP and Photoshop are great tools for touching up photos of your work. But Inkscape is better in my opinion for making patterns, more precise, more CAD features than Photo features.

Chief

[ledbetter]

I've always been partial to Photoshop, but I do graphic and web design as my day job. If you plan on doing a lot of retouching and custom editing of your work PS is the way to go. If you you just need simple retouching and you're on a tight budget, GIMP should do just fine.

[Cyberthrasher]

If you you just need simple retouching and you're on a tight budget, GIMP should do just fine.

Budgeting is the only reason I use it. I HATE buying software and the differences between GIMP and PS don't justify the price differences in my book.

[JustKate]

If you want perfect sized line drawings of your carving/cutting patterns, a vector-based illustration tool (such as Illustrator, Inkscape, CorelDraw, etc.) is a better choice, rather than a raster-based photo editing/retouching tool (such as Photoshop or GIMP). You can use either and get the results you want, one way or another. But after probably hundreds of hours of trials and research with all of these programs, Illustrator or Inkscape are the tools I reach for when I'm creating new patterns. If you're on a budget, definitely try Inkscape. I can do anything with it that I can do will Illustrator.

[Cyberthrasher]

If you're on a budget, definitely try Inkscape. I can do anything with it that I can do will Illustrator.

I've been meaning to sit down and take the time to learn Inkscape better. Every time I try I get confused pretty quick and realize I can get what I need faster in GIMP compared to the time it would take to learn how to do it in Inkscape. I know it's a more powerful tool for what I'm doing though, I just lack the time to sit down and do it

[JustKate]

I went back and forth like that for a long time, too. If you haven't stumbled-upon the post from Johan Potgieter (Leerwerker), where he shared a little tutorial of a (relatively) simple technique for creating clean vector-based line art from a photograph, you might want to have a look at it. This might be a good starting point for someone wanting to learn one good technique that is useful for a lot of things:

Line Drawings

The process he describes is more of a "manual" process, and can be a bit tedious for more complex elements, but there is also now an automatic trace function that both Inkscape and Illustrator have, that can automatically generate clean vector lines from images. It doesn't work perfectly in every case, but when it does, it's sweet! When it doesn't work, you can always fall back on the method Johan describes in his tutorial.

[Cyberthrasher]

The process he describes is more of a "manual" process, and can be a bit tedious for more complex elements, but there is also now an automatic trace function that both Inkscape and Illustrator have, that can automatically generate clean vector lines from images. It doesn't work perfectly in every case, but when it does, it's sweet! When it doesn't work, you can always fall back on the method Johan describes in his tutorial.

I looked at that one before and it did seem pretty tedious for what I'm looking for, but if there's a good automatic function that will help me to get comfortable a little sooner - I'm in!

Maybe vector work would be a good topic for one of the newsletters

[JustKate]

Hmmm, maybe.