DIGITAL ART USING

GIMP & INKSCAPE

PRESENTED BY

Máirín Duffy
Fedora Design Team Lead &
Sr. Interaction Designer, Red Hat, Inc.

This presentation is under a Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 License.

Please enjoy and share.
 Who am I?
QUICK STATS:

Operating System It's complicated

Desktop Environment GNOME
Occupation Interaction Designer at Red Hat
Fedora Design Team Lead

Last used OS X, Windows, Early 2006

or any Adobe stuff
 TODAY'S TOPICS:

#1 Which program do I use?

#2 Where can I get source materials?

#3 Dive into Gimp!

#4 Dive into Inkscape!

#5 How to learn more!

 #1
Which program do I use?
Photo credit: “Yellow” by Jenny Downing on Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 license.
Gimp/Bitmap tasks
Photo manipulation

Screenshot cropping/slicing

Digital Painting

Animation

Special Effects
Graphic credit: “Realistic Coffee cup” by mokush on Open Clip Art. Public Domain.
Inkscape/Vector
UI / web mockups
tasks
Icon creation

Logo design & manipulation

(Single-page) poster/flyer design

High-resolution for-print designs

Cartooning

Pattern generation

Text effects
 #2
Where can I get source
materials?
You want a pony.
 BRIEF FLOSS ARTISTS' PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE #1:

Pay attention to licenses.

YOU SHOULDN'T JUST USE RANDOM IMAGES OFF OF GOOGLE IMAGES.

WE ALL DO KNOW THAT, DON'T WE?
Pony credit: “White horse” by liftarn on Open Clip Art. Public Domain.
 Gasper Llamazares thanks you.

Gasper Llamazares.
“Llamazares2” by Chesi Photos CC on Flickr.
Used under a Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0.

FBI Simulated Photo of Osama Bin Laden,

created using a photo of Mr. Llamazares from
Google Images.
Right photo credit: Public Domain: work of the United States Federal Government under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of US
Code.
 BRIEF FLOSS ARTISTS' PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE #2:

Give credit where it's due.

LOOK BELOW. THAT'S A FORM OF ATTRIBUTION. NOT SO HARD, RIGHT?

Pony credit: “With practice I can sleep standing up” by exfordy on Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 license.
Where to find openly-licensed materials!

Open Clip Art Vector artwork; SVGs and PNGs. All Public Domain.
openclipart.org

Wikimedia Commons Photos and illustrations. Usually Creative

commons.wikimedia.org
Commons, GNU, or Public Domain.

CC Search Filters Google Images, Yahoo Images, and Flickr for CC-
search.creativecommons.org
licensed content including imagery.

CompFight Nice interface for searching Flickr for CC-licensed

compfight.com photography.

DeviantArt Has some CC-licensed imagery (hard to search for) but

deviantart.com also has CC-licensed Gimp brushes (not hard to find)!

ColourLovers Offers Gimp Palette Files (compatible with Inkscape too!)

colourlovres.com for all their color palettes.

Yourself Take your own photos or generate your own

Yes, you! illustrations. :)
 #3
Dive into Gimp!
 GIMP TOPICS

#1 MASKS:
How to extract objects from
photographs.

#2 LAYER BLENDING MODES:

Easy but impressive effects.

#3 MASKS + LAYER MODES:

Unbelievable photo effects.
 MASKS

“Despite all my rage,

I am still just a pony
in a cage.”

BEFORE
Pony credit: “Sleeping Pony” by erix! on Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 license.
 MASKS

“Despite all my rage,

I am still just a pony Yippee! I'm a
in a cage.” free pony now!

BEFORE AFTER
Pony credit: “Sleeping Pony” by erix! on Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 license.
 BRIEF GIMP UI PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE #1:

Don't use the erase tool!

How rude!

IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE WITH THE ERASER, YOU RELY ON LIMITED UNDO HISTORY.
WITH MASKS, YOU CAN EASILY CORRECT MISTAKES WITHOUT UNDO.
 MASKS

A simple equation.
Thanks for
freeing me!

+ =
Pony in a cage Pony mask Freed pony!
 MASKS

A simple equation.
Thanks for
freeing me!

+ =
Pony in a cage Pony mask Freed pony!

Let's try it!

 BRIEF GIMP UI PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE #2:

Tool options is your friend!

That's right.
I rule.

SOMETHING WORKING UNEXPECTEDLY? CHECK TOOL OPTIONS.

TOOL OPTIONS ALWAYS REFLECTS THE CURRENTLY SELECTED TOOL.
THERE'S LOTS OF GOODIES IN THERE, TOO!
 LAYER BLENDING MODES
Blend the same image on top of itself...

Blur + Overlay Burn

It's a tad bit
bright here
isn't it?

Dodge Hard Light + Subtract + Grain Extract

 LAYER BLENDING MODES
Blend a color or texture on top...
Yes, you CAN
have a pink pony!

Pink Pony (Color Blend) Wooden Pony (Lighten Only + Burn)

Rock Pony (Burn) Bubble Pony (Grain extract)

 LAYER BLENDING MODES
Blend different photos...

Burn Blend Dodge Blend

Wow, I can see
right through you!

I'm a
ghost!!

Overlay Blend Difference Blend

2nd Pony credit: “Iceland Pony” by cheesy42 on Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 license.
 LAYER BLENDING MODES

The basics:

+ + Blending Mode
(ex. Burn) =

+ + Blending Mode
(ex. Grain Extract) =
Word.

+ + Blending Mode
(ex. Dodge) =
Let's get
together!
Hmm, this

Let's try it! is slightly

uncomfortable.
 MASKS + LAYER BLENDING MODES
Combine both techniques!
Like my new
'do?

Hair mask of pink color blend layer Pony brand (Pony mask on wood pattern)

I'm a
ghost!!

Painterly brush mask, overlay blend Pink pony layer with masked friend pony
 MASKS + LAYER BLENDING MODES
Combine both techniques!
Like my new
'do?

Hair mask of pink color blend layer Pony brand (Pony mask on wood pattern)

I'm a
ghost!!

Painterly brush mask, overlay blend Pink pony layer with masked friend pony

Let's try it!

 #4
Dive into Inkscape!
 INKSCAPE TOPICS

#1 BITMAP IMPORT & TEXT TOOL:

Make a simple LOLCAT.

#2 TEXT TOOL:
Create a simple logotype.

#3 SHAPES, PATHS, & NODES:

Create a simple logomark.

#4 BLUR & PATH FUNCTIONS:

Bling-ify your logo!
 BRIEF INKSCAPE UI PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE #1:

Don't forget this lock.

IF YOUR DRAWINGS AND TEXT ARE GETTING STRETCHED, TRY CLICKING IT!
 BRIEF INKSCAPE UI PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE #2:

Ctrl & Shift are magic!

WHEN IN DOUBT, TRY THEM OUT!

SCALING, ANGLES, ROTATION, MOVING, UNDO, STROKE v. FILL ...
 BRIEF INKSCAPE UI PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE #3:

Don't get lost!

STUCK IN LALA LAND? HITTING '5' WILL BRING YOU BACK TO CENTER.
 BRIEF INKSCAPE UI PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE #4:

Use Ctrl+D.

SELECT OBJECT & HOLD DOWN SHIFT A PERFECT COPY.

HIT CTRL+D AND KEEP PRESSING MODIFY AS NEEDED.
ARROW DOWN

IT WILL SAVE YOU SO MUCH TIME.

Ctrl+D really saves you time.

16 OBJECTS FROM 4, ALIGNED AND SPACED PERFECTLY.

 BITMAP IMPORT & TEXT TOOL
LOLCATs made easy.

Tux-hatin' kitty. LOLCAT Tux-hatin' kitty!

Let's try it!

Kitty credit: “Tux attacked” by rore on Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0 license.
 TEXT TOOL
Line height.

100% line height. 70% line height 200% line height

Font credit: HVD Comic Serif by Hannes von Döhren, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0, hvdfonts.com/freefonts.php
 TEXT TOOL
Letter spacing.

Normal letter spacing Tight letter spacing Loose letter spacing

Font credit: HVD Comic Serif by Hannes von Döhren, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0, hvdfonts.com/freefonts.php
 TEXT TOOL
Kerning.

Just one letter! Up and down! Rotate, too.

Font credit: HVD Comic Serif by Hannes von Döhren, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0, hvdfonts.com/freefonts.php
 TEXT TOOL
Text on a path.

Font credit: HVD Comic Serif by Hannes von Döhren, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0, hvdfonts.com/freefonts.php
 TEXT TOOL
The basics.

Line spacing. Letter spacing.

Kerning. Text on a path.

Font credit: HVD Comic Serif by Hannes von Döhren, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0, hvdfonts.com/freefonts.php
 TEXT TOOL
The basics.

Line spacing. Letter spacing.

Kerning. Text on a path.

Let's try it!

Font credit: HVD Comic Serif by Hannes von Döhren, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0, hvdfonts.com/freefonts.php
 ROTATE & FLIP

ASPECT RATIO LOCK

SELECTOR

NODE EDIT

RECTANGLE

ELLIPSE
POLYGON

CALLI-
GRAPHY

TEXT

GRADIENT
DROPPER

PALETTE
 SHAPES, PATHS, & NODES
Inkscape makes shapes easy.

Polygon:
Calligraphy Circle Rectangle Polygon: Star Spiral
Pentagon
 SHAPES, PATHS, & NODES
They're also customizable.

Rounded Randomized Modified Spiral

Cut Circle Polygon: Star
Rectangle Polygon

Each shape tool has a specialized toolbar with lots of hidden goodies!
 SHAPES, PATHS, & NODES
Tools for working with paths & nodes.

Pen tool. Node tool.

Used to create paths. Used to modify nodes.

Node tool toolbar.

Rich node-editing controls.
 SHAPES, PATHS, & NODES
Types of nodes.

You can convert between the types using the node toolbar:
SHAPES, PATHS, & NODES
Let's give it a try.
 PATH FUNCTIONS
What can you do with two circles?
 BLUR & PATH FUNCTIONS

Convert the letters to paths, then use

intersection to create gloss.
BLUR & PATH FUNCTIONS

Add a touch of blur!

BLUR & PATH FUNCTIONS

Add a touch of blur!

Let's try it!

 #5
How to learn more!
 LEARNING MORE!

#1 My Inkscape class :)
http://mairin.wordpress.com/category/inkscape-class/

#2 Nicu's Howto
http://howto.nicubunu.ro

#3 Screencasters.HeathenX.org
http://screencasters.heathenx.org/

#4 Meet The Gimp! Video Tutorials

http://meetthegimp.org/

#5 FLOSS Manuals
http://flossmanuals.net

#6 Inkscape Tutorials Blog

http://inkscapetutorials.wordpress.com/
 Questions?
This presentation is under a Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 License.
Please enjoy and share.

This presentation was created through the exclusive use of free software and content:
Fedora 13 • OpenOffice.org Impress • Inkscape • GIMP
Creative Commons licensed artwork • Openly-licensed fonts

Cartoon credit: María 'Tatica' Leandro, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0