How to render on gimp

Singapaw · **Posted:** Fri May 18, 2012 6:28 pm

Hello. A while ago i taught a friend how to Render in Gimp, so i thought i'd post it here.

If you don't have Gimp you can download it here

Note :: Understand that you might not be as good as the preview images on your first time. If you are as good, that is amazing!^^ But i have had about a year of practice, you might be days new to this c:

You Have to CLICK the image {open in new tab} to see it in full view...Sorry if this is inconvenient

Right lets start,

Below, i have shown the main tools you will be using and need to play around with ::

I'll Detail the Tools;

Fill Tool/Bucket :: For filling in places in one colour.
Pencil tool :: This tool has a hard edge to it and makes it easier to colour with.
Brush tool :: This tool has fuzzy edges, not to easy to colour with. I suggest you don't use this tool for a while.
Eraser :: To erase a mistake.
Opacity {on brush panel} :: This makes your brush more or less transparent.
Opacity {on layer panel} :: This makes your layer more or less transparent.
Brush :: You can choose from different brushes here. You can Also make your own brushes and save them so they go here!
Brush size :: A scale where you can change the size of the brush.
Your Layers :: This is where all your layers are kept. Make sure you click the right layer, it's bloody annoying when your work on the wrong layer...
New layer :: Create new layers with this button.

I suggest you now open a Screenshot in Gimp...^^
Create a New Layer and set your HARD Brush, It MUST be your Hard brush aka Pencil tool, to the Brush "circle (11)" and scale it to 0.12 ::

Making sure you are on your New Layer, you can start drawing your lineart {make sure your brush colour is Black btw^^}. Don't rush this bit, take your time. If the lineart looks rushed the rest of the render will be ruined. I suggest you Zoom in when you make the lineart, the hot Key for Zooming in and out is 'ctrl+the scroll wheel on your mouse' ::

Oops! You've made a mistake in you lineart! What do you do? Get out your eraser, of course. Um yeah, make sure you eraser is set to 'Hard edge' other wise you will have an annoying problem when it comes to colouring ::

Tip! :: If you can't get a good straight line simply click at the start of where you want a straight line then press 'Shift' and hold this while you click at the end of where you want the straight line! DO NOT USE THIS FOR THE WHOLE RENDER. YOUR RENDER WILL LOOK UN-NATURAL AND STRAIGHT! ::

Finish drawing your lineart. Then back on your Layers Panel you will be an Eye beside the layer, if you click the eye it will hide the layer. So now hide the screenshot layer and you will be your lineart more clearly! ::

Now it's time to clean up our lineart. You need to erase all the line endings, you might see how they kind of just...stop! It doesn't look very good, so you erase upwards, so it gets thinner as the line finishes ::

Our lineart! ::

Time to colour! Create a new layer underneath your lineart layer. You can move layers up and down by dragging them, you can Also re-name them by double clicking the name...you must press enter once you have typed your new name otherwise it just returns to its old name. Anyway fill the layer with the base colour of your character ::

Now go back to your lineart layer and click the select tool {shown on image where it is}. This tool selects an closed area. With your select tool click around/outside the lineart. If it selects more than just outside your lineart {like some of the wolf as well} you have a gap, somewhere in your lineart there is a gap. You will have to find it, fill it then select around the lineart, ALSO make sure your on the right layer!^^ ::

Now now back down to your colour lineart. Right click, a menu should come up, follow this; Edit > cut. It will delete around the dog! So it only colours the wolf! C: ::

Now on your Colour layer tick the box that is just above your layer. This will lock your layer so you can only colour over what isn't transparent! ::

See! It doesn't go outside the lines! ::

Right! Finally time to colour...xD It's pretty simple, get the colour of the character's markings and start drawing them on {on the COLOUR layer!}

Tip! :: For quick colourings like ear insides or eyebrows; go to your Lines layer and select inside the eyebrow/ear, then go back to your colour layer and fill it with a colour! ::

Wow look, the base colour is finished! ::

Eyes time! I don't know if you have noticed yet, but you can only select one thing at a time...which is a hassle. But no need to fear! I know how to fix it. Once you click your select tool the window comes up for it down in the panel, yes? Well in it you may see a bunch of coloured squares, click the one with the two coloured squares that are overlapping. This will now allow you to select more than one thing. Now select your eyes {on the lines layer} then go back to the colour layer.

Now colour your eyes c: ::

Don't forget little details! ::

Now you can Either add your own background or keep the original screenshot! ::

Time to save your amazing render!

Name :: Give your creation a Tittle
Browse for other folder :: Save it in a good place, i have a folder for all my art.
Select file type (by extension) :: There are many different types of files. I normally use .png for renders, NEVER use .jepg the file ruins the render.

I hope this helped some people. Don't for get to vote on my poll, and send me your render! C:

Amnesaii · **Joined:** Thu Apr 28, 2011 10:58 am **Posts:** 66

This helped me a lot! =D I have my own style and way of rendering now and I believe i'm improving =D ^ ^

Celeste. · **Joined:** Thu Apr 12, 2012 3:38 am **Posts:** 68

Great tutorial Singapaw. This is indeed helped me a lot c: I'm going to try and use this soon c:
You've made lots of points clear, so it's easy to follow. Well done^^

I'm going away to render this way now

RootBeerWolfDog · **Posted:** Wed Jan 23, 2013 8:43 pm

I know this topic is old but I need to know, how do I open the second toolbox with the render options? Because on your images, I see that there are two toolboxes. I only have one. Please help.

xArcticGx · **Posted:** Thu Jan 24, 2013 10:59 pm

Generally, you make use of three windows in GIMP. The first is the "Image Window" where the active picture shows up; The second, the "toolbox", which contains brushes, selection tools, and options for both; and the third, titled "Layers, Channels, Paths, Undo - Brushes, Patterns, Gradients, Palettes."

They can all be accessed via the toolbar under "Windows" One of the last three options should be what you are looking for.

Here's the link to the GIMP Documentation if you ever get lost again: http://www.gimp.org/docs/

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How to render on gimp