Lesson 2 - Part A: creating an avatar

**Astaroth** · May 05, 2009, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by ClimhazarD

So I managed to get the layer toolbar and all that back, but when opening a new image to work on it has no layers... I can create a layer for it but it only applies to the image and doesn't show up on the layers toolbar... Any idea whats going on?

I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling but it had no effect, same problems in the new install..

Well, if you open an image there should be a single layer in your layer menu, the "background" layer as PubliusKhannus pointed out already. If you create a new layer (via Layers -> New layer or by opening another image via File -> Open as a layer) it should appear in your layer menu as well, on top of the existing "background" layer.

Originally Posted by PubliusKhannus

Well images dont show up with layers, merely the background layer, you create the layers to WORK on the image as you go, that said when ever i reopen a saved project, all of my layers in gimp are folded into one, which makes it nigh impossible to modify text. Please correct me if i am wrong astaroth

If you want to save an image but don't want its layers to be merged, you have to save it as an .xcf file (see lesson 1). The layers will remain the way they are and you can continue where you stopped last time. However, .xcf files cannot be uploaded so once you are finished, merge the layers and save it as a .png file.

Good job, Imperator-Rex although with a rather small avatar like that I personally would go for a thinner border.

**RobinCato** · May 05, 2009, 12:57 PM

And again here is Bach

**Lü Bu** · May 05, 2009, 04:24 PM

nice

**Conquistatore** · May 05, 2009, 05:52 PM

Ok so I managed to get layers back but the first layer when opening a new image is set to being the background. How can I change this? Because when I create the background layer to use the grow function it is selecting the entire canvas and not the outline of the image.

**PubliusKhannus** · May 05, 2009, 08:14 PM

Thanks a lot Astaroth, that will help me a lot in the future.

**Killerbee** · May 06, 2009, 12:41 AM

Originally Posted by ClimhazarD

Ok so I managed to get layers back but the first layer when opening a new image is set to being the background. How can I change this? Because when I create the background layer to use the grow function it is selecting the entire canvas and not the outline of the image.

Yea , i had this too .. try the following :

Press CTRL+L to open layer panel .. you'll see one layer called 'Background' . now make a new layer , that's fully transparent . After you did that , right click on the background layer , and press 'Alpha to selection' . make sure that the background in your 'Background layer' is transparent ! Now , after you pressed the 'Alpha to Selection' button , left-click on your new layer (so the fully transparent one) . Now , go to 'Edit' -> 'Selection' -> 'Grow' , or something like that .. then grow by 2 or 3 , and follow steps of the guide

Make sure you are busy on your new layer though , so that your image doesn't become black

**Astaroth** · May 06, 2009, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by PubliusKhannus

Thanks a lot Astaroth, that will help me a lot in the future.

You're welcome.

Originally Posted by ClimhazarD

Ok so I managed to get layers back but the first layer when opening a new image is set to being the background. How can I change this? Because when I create the background layer to use the grow function it is selecting the entire canvas and not the outline of the image.

KingTheoden1 explained it very well. You're supposed to select the background layer, then press "choose from alpha". Afterwards, create a new transparent layer behind the background layer, select it and choose "Grow" afterwards. As KingTheoden pointed out already, you're supposed to work with the new layer, not the background one. I hope that helps.

**Templar Hospitaller** · May 06, 2009, 10:51 AM

Another Witchking photo. YAH!

**Scandinavisksoldat** · May 06, 2009, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by Astaroth

You're supposed to select the background layer, then press "choose from alpha".

I've been using "Alpha to selection." These are the same right?

**Conquistatore** · May 06, 2009, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by KingTheoden1

Yea , i had this too .. try the following :

Press CTRL+L to open layer panel .. you'll see one layer called 'Background' . now make a new layer , that's fully transparent . After you did that , right click on the background layer , and press 'Alpha to selection' . make sure that the background in your 'Background layer' is transparent ! Now , after you pressed the 'Alpha to Selection' button , left-click on your new layer (so the fully transparent one) . Now , go to 'Edit' -> 'Selection' -> 'Grow' , or something like that .. then grow by 2 or 3 , and follow steps of the guide

Make sure you are busy on your new layer though , so that your image doesn't become black

Thank you very much for your help I managed to select the outline but have run into a few more issues. When selecting outline and applying the fill colour do I just click on the image itself, clicking anywhere else does nothing. Also when applying blur and the fill and then turning the opacity down, it appears the entire image has been blurred and is darker due to the black fill, not the outline..

With step 3, after merging the old background layer with the image I create a new layer, set it to transparent but when I use the gradient tool the gradient background obscures my image.. how do I make the image of I worked on appear as a foreground in front of the gradient background??

EDIT:

I've been using "Alpha to selection." These are the same right?

That's what I've been using aswell as I don't have a choose from alpha option.

**Astaroth** · May 07, 2009, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by Scandinavisksoldat

I've been using "Alpha to selection." These are the same right?

That's what I meant, yeah. My bad.

Originally Posted by ClimhazarD

Thank you very much for your help I managed to select the outline but have run into a few more issues. When selecting outline and applying the fill colour do I just click on the image itself, clicking anywhere else does nothing. Also when applying blur and the fill and then turning the opacity down, it appears the entire image has been blurred and is darker due to the black fill, not the outline..

With step 3, after merging the old background layer with the image I create a new layer, set it to transparent but when I use the gradient tool the gradient background obscures my image.. how do I make the image of I worked on appear as a foreground in front of the gradient background??

EDIT:
That's what I've been using aswell as I don't have a choose from alpha option.

You have to put the second layer behind the avatar's layer. Simply left click on it and move it down with your mouse. Afterwards, select your avatar's layer again, choose "Alpha to selection" and go back to your transparent layer. Then apply "Grow" and continue as described in the lesson. If it still isn't working, simply post screenshots of what you have been doing and I'll see what I can do.

**Eöl** · May 08, 2009, 06:08 PM

Sorry for the late reaction. I had some personal things. I hope I can make lesson 2b in time. Here is 2a http://www.twcenter.net/forums/album...ictureid=16236

**Astaroth** · May 09, 2009, 03:07 PM

Here is the list of everyone who has completed this lesson (part A) so far:

In case I have forgotten you, don't be afraid to tell me.

The lesson has now been open for 8 days and it will end soon. However, apparently some of you are still interested in finishing it so I'll leave it open for a bit longer. ClimhazarD, if you still have any problems, feel free to ask and I'll do my best to help you out.