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GIMP Tutorial 2.0


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#1
N664US

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The pinned tutorial is from 2011, and has lost relevance. Wsoliman's tutorial is woefully inadequate. Many denounce GIMP as being simple, and complex to use. I present to you my own, complete tutorial on GIMP and its inner workings. Note that this tutorial is based on the macOS operating system.

 

Step 1. Download

The official website for GIMP is www.gimp.org. From there, you may download and install it onto your computer. Note that GIMP works for Windows, macOS, and Linux (pick your poison). From there, add it to your list of applications and launch it. You should get a blank screen that looks somewhat like this:

 

Step_1.png

 

Step 2. Add Templates

You guys all know where Med's templates are. As a refresher, they're here. Download them, and then keep them in a safe and organized place so you know where to access them later (and while you're at it, consider helping Med out with a donation or something?). Once you've done that, double-click on the template to add it into GIMP. The .psd should be recognized by GIMP and opened automatically. If it does not, right-click on it and then click "Open With" and then select "GIMP." As an example, I've picked the 737-800. It should look something like this:

 

Step_2.png

 

Step 3. Layers

A key aspect of GIMP (and most painting programs) is the layering options. Think of them like an onion, in which one layer goes over another. Note that Med has arranged his templates so that the base layer is in white ("FUSELAGE," for example), and all details (ie. "FUSELAGE EFFECTS") go above it. When painting, make sure that your paint goes in a new layer between the base layer and the detail layers. That way, the paint looks accurate. Also know that some templates, like the 737, offer multiple variants. Clicking on the eyeball will make layers visible or invisible: you can make the regular wing invisible and the wingletted wing visible, for example, to change the variant. That looks something like this:

 

Step_3.png

 

Step 4. Painting

Now is when you can really get to town. I'm going to use a real-life airline for an example, in this case, something simple like Delta. First and foremost, remove all unnecessary layers. In my case, I've removed the eyebrow windows and the metal overlay.

 

Now, you get to add a new layer. Directly below all the layers are the layer modification tools: the left-most one will add a new layer. Position it where you'd like, and then name it something memorable. Below, I've created a new layer for the fuselage, and called it "FUSELAGE_PAINT."

 

Step_4a.png

 

Here's the fun part. Select a colour with the two swatches of colour on the left-hand side: change the top one to the colour of your choice. In Delta's case, it would be their signature blue colour, which I've added.

 

But, how do you paint within the lines? The answer: select tools. The left-hand side is full of tools for this purpose. Most are self-explanatory: the rectangle select tool makes rectangles of the size you drag, the ellipse select tool does basically what the rectangle select tool does, but for ellipses, etcetera. Free select lets you either hand-draw what you want or make a custom polygon out of straight lines. My favourite tool, however, is the paths tool, which is arguably the most complicated. Basically, it works like the free select tool, except you can click-and-drag to add curves to your pathways. When you're done, click "selection from path." I've done this below with the Delta 73H's belly paint.

 

Step_4b.pngStep_4c.png

 

You may ask now: what about the overhang? This is solved with layer masking, which is straightforward when you figure out what it is. This is going to differ from SKY's tutorial, but the principle is roughly the same. Using the base layer ("FUSELAGE," in this case), go to Layer > Mask > Add Layer Mask > Layer's Alpha Channel. On the paint layer, use the rectangle select tool to crop the layer to be the same size as the fuselage's (Layer > Crop to Selection). From there, repeat what you just did with the base layer, adding a layer mask to the paint too. Both layers should now have a layer mask on them. All you have to do now is hit Cmd-C on the fuselage's layer mask, and Cmd-Z it to the paint's. From there, hit the anchor below the list of layers to adhere the new layer mask. Voilà, conforming paint. 

 

Step_4d.png

 

All you really need to do is keep doing this for all the other layers (tail, engines, etc.) until you get a plane that resembles your aircraft. You can also use other tools to add touches you want (ie. the text tool for registrations or aircraft titles), or use File > Open as Layers in order to add logos or whatnot to your livery. 

 

Step 5. Finishing Touches

In order to add realism, consider adding details to make your livery realistic. You can do this by blocking windows, changing door outline colours, etc. in order to get an aircraft that looks like it could work in the real world. I've finished the Delta 737-800 below, complete with registration. 

 

Step_5.png

 

Step 6. Exporting

To export a GIMP image, just use Cmd-E and hit enter. It'll create an exported .png image directly next to the .xcf file in which you've saved the image. From there, all you need to do is upload it and add it here.

 

DL_Boeing_737-800.png

 

 

And voilà! You have successfully created a livery! Most stuff on GIMP is relatively straightforward, but if you need any help (gradients, colour exchange, etc.), feel free to ask me. I highly recommend trying to replicate a real-world livery, getting to know how to use GIMP successfully before you go on to try to make your own unique livery. 


ISh4RPm.jpg

 

 


#2
Sami H

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I used gimp as N664US.



#3
Sami H

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http://www.airline-e...-download-here/



#4
Pasti

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New GIMP sucks, to be honest.

2.8 is way simpler to get around for me and it’s much easier on my eyes.

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#5
N664US

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New GIMP sucks, to be honest.
2.8 is way simpler to get around for me and it’s much easier on my eyes.


I downloaded new GIMP for the tutorial and I honestly have no idea how to do anything anymore.

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#6
S K Y

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This is a nice one. Good job!

 

Tbh, GIMP is not my favourite. I've it in my computer but haven't opened it for years.

I don't know why. I think it's because I don't like the interface.


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#7
N664US

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This is a nice one. Good job!

 

Tbh, GIMP is not my favourite. I've it in my computer but haven't opened it for years.

I don't know why. I think it's because I don't like the interface.

 

GIMP is no one's favourite. It's hideous, unusually complex, and unintuitive. The only thing it has going for it is that it's free and powerful: something that has kept me with GIMP as much as I dislike it. I'm changing over to Photoshop first chance I get.


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#8
Boeing Flight Simmer

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Me being a man of Photoshop am totally confused by this,

but you have some tools that intrest me. I might want to mess around with it a little later. Great tutorial! :hug:  


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#9
Sami H

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@N664US my gimp livery made now!

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#10
OtakuWeebster!

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@N664US my gimp livery made now!


This hurts my eyes and c'mon, Toronto Maple Leaf, you can get a Maple leaf instead of an ice hockey team logo.

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#11
Sami H

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This hurts my eyes and c'mon, Toronto Maple Leaf, you can get a Maple leaf instead of an ice hockey team logo.

I searched maple leaf.That is the real logo,made by tronto maple leafs (owner).



#12
N664US

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I searched maple leaf.That is the real logo,made by tronto maple leafs (owner).

 

Perhaps what OtakuWeebster was saying was that you should try making your own logos. Pre-existing logos you download from a Google search is 1) stealing, but perhaps more importantly, 2) uncreative (and yes, I know that people do it anyway). If you look into the gallery, I just made Northeastern's maple leaf a few days ago in GIMP. If you want, I can help you make your own logo.


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#13
OtakuWeebster!

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I searched maple leaf.That is the real logo,made by tronto maple leafs (owner).

I meant The Toronto Maple Leaf logo cannot be materialized as a logo of an airline because it's pretty unethical to use this corporate logo for your design. You can use and make an interesting logo that can symoblize both the team and the Canadian culture unless you created this livery as a fan plane or a special livery, I can't really argue with that.. And also Canadian Airways does exist, back in 40's that is. N664US's reply has a good point. It can be good but that's just lazy and uncreative.

 

So, i'll advise to use good maple leaf design, not to overboard resizing the whole logo, and add some realistic details. that would work. :)

Anyway, nice Gimp Tutorial N664US, haven't used GIMP, but would try it out for experiment. :thumbsup:


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#14
Sami H

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Lufthansa 777-9x!

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#15
Sami H

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I meant The Toronto Maple Leaf logo cannot be materialized as a logo of an airline because it's pretty unethical to use this corporate logo for your design. You can use and make an interesting logo that can symoblize both the team and the Canadian culture unless you created this livery as a fan plane or a special livery, I can't really argue with that.. And also Canadian Airways does exist, back in 40's that is. N664US's reply has a good point. It can be good but that's just lazy and uncreative.

 

So, i'll advise to use good maple leaf design, not to overboard resizing the whole logo, and add some realistic details. that would work. :)

Anyway, nice Gimp Tutorial N664US, haven't used GIMP, but would try it out for experiment. :thumbsup:

That is fake sorry that is a special livery um...



#16
sam_hof

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I have a question when  i put add mask in the alpha layer it tends to delete it who do i solve ?



#17
Danielsonjin

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This Tutorial is not complete and missing some steps. 

 

"All you have to do now is hit Cmd-C on the fuselage's layer mask, and Cmd-Z it to the paint's."

 

Don't know what a "Cmd-C or Cmd-Z" on the key board. Tried all the combinations I can think of.

Thanks for the effort at any rate. 






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