Can't thank you enough. I'm a visual learner. Your explanation at the start with the projector, masks and transparency's was brilliant and helped me finally lose some of my frustration with the process.. It had to take a lot of time to put the video together so I just wanted to say cheers and thanks from the other side of the pond.
This is the way it should be explained. Anyone who starts using gimp (photoshop) should first see this. Excellent video. I appreciate it. It helped me a lot. Thanks!
Dear Ian, Thank you very much for this high-quality tutorial. I'm learning how to use gimp, and the layer masks are finally making sense! I know it took a great deal of effort to produce this and I am so grateful!
Other people have explained how to use masks for specific purposes but here you have explained what masks are an how they work. I loved 'looking under the bonnet'. Great video - thanks.
Thank you so much for a concise and clear visual of how layers/masks work. Everyone flies thru this stuff without explaining it. Separating out the layers and comparing to classic photography technique was a genius way to illustrate the effects
Thank you for the clear and organized tutorial. I'm a beginner, and it's nice that you actually took the time to explain the theory and the "why". It was much more helpful than the typical UA-cam tutorial where people just blow through the steps and tell you the keystrokes to use.
Thank you very much. Seven years later you have still got the best video on GIMP for beginners that I have seen. These tools look like something one ought to be able to figure out intuitively. It turns out that the program is really difficult to use without a proper understanding. It is so difficult I hoped to fork the project on GitHub and redesign it in an understandable way. You have definitely impressed me that there is a way. One idea might be to have radiant sources as part of the graphical user interface. So that layer selection window may be the target of some heuristic device that looks like a light box with filters in it. Programs have such good graphics today it would be cool if the layers were presented in perspective and having light shining through them. That kind of graphics in the user interface might communicate what you very carefully explained. I hope it is time soon for a more intuitive GIMP. Take a look at the Wikipedia page on "Alpha Composition" which I guess is supposed to explain Alpha Channels and this layer stuff. No one should feel embarrassed that they don't understand this stuff. Experts are coming to pilfer the public domain.
That is very kind of you Drake. I've had to use my own tutorial to re-learn this several times and I would love to redo it, because I think I handled the operations very clumsily. The GIMP is a great free package, but it does have its funny quirks. I never found it 'intuitive'. I'm sure there must be a better way to present layers, but, I suppose, as soon as we get more than one layer we're technically into 3D and that is always difficult to represent on a 2D screen. Maybe even if each layer was given a little numbered tabbie that highlighted when you had that one selected.
Oh my goodness! This is SO HELPFUL!!! Thank you! So many tutorials don't actually explain WHAT is happening with Layer Masks which I need to understand before I can do them myself, so THANK YOU!
...this is the FIRST GIMP tutorial on layers and masks that i have actually understood...!!! i was pulling out my hair with frustration, but now i can understand how layers and masks work... thank you so much, my friend... ...also, i never understood how to set-up the GIMP work area before... i just used your example here, and finally set-up my workspace for the first time in a year....before that i was simply muddling-around in the dark...now i can finally make some creative progress...!!! woo hoo..!!! ...Rita Maye
I am genuinely delighted to help. I put this together after watching an expert working with layers in photoshop and decided to try to work out how to do it in Gimp (because it is free). It is not a feature I used much, so I often come back to my own tutorial to remind myself what to do!
Bruh I kno this video is forever old but THANK YOU! You did what nobody else does and that's explain the PRINCIPLE behind the process. Showing the old way of doing it and the purpose behind it is fantastic and helped me understand WHY I'm doing what I'm doing. You're the greatest. ✊
What a clear, well constructed exploration of masks and layering. Loved the darkroom-photo lab connection, makes sense of this odd terminology. Hopefully you'll continue posting these. Suggestion - enhancing lo-rez, misfocused, blurred, distorted etc images.
Ian, you have just hit a hole in one on a par 5. I have been using GIMP for about 6 weeks, making icons for the sheer hell of it, understood the layers concept but not the masks. Now the use of the black brush becomes clear, masking tape! Thank you so much. Farm West
Terrific explanation and instruction on using masks. Really helped me (and I see others) understand more about how masks work and how to use them. Thx for creating and posting!
oh that is very kind of you Jessica. I've actually learned more about layers for taking macro photography and 'stacking' layers, but I doubt I will record it now. Sadly, I had a stroke a couple of years ago and I don't find it so easy to narrate so fluently now. (I've not lost my speech, but I sometimes find it a struggle to find words and I don't like how I am not as fluid as I used to be).
you might like this tutorial too - I think it is where I am going next with layers for taking macros and night sky shots ua-cam.com/video/P3hNs-xMWi0/v-deo.html
the moment i saw you explain - the back to basics segment - i liked the video. as a beginner, i am still not comfortable using layers and masks - but atleast you have made the concept clear to me. Thank you!
Thanks! ... like any new skill it improves with practice .. you can see me tripping over myself in the demo, but I did get the hang of it...... if I've not worked with layers constantly for a while I still need to go back and watch my own tutorial to re-learn the principles again.
I created the first part of the video in Second Life as 3D objects. I quite often use it as a "studio" to create sets for tutorials and demonstrations.
Here is another gimp tutorial that demonstrates a good example technique using layers that will let you see how people use these in a practical way. ua-cam.com/video/2n4muudgKqY/v-deo.html
well...judging by the comments, I believe it did. I think it is helpful to just take a couple of minutes to get back to first principles sometimes, especially when it isn't live - so I can't verify if people understand already. (or viewers who don't need that can skip ahead) Adults learn best if they can relate the learning to something they already understand.
What a patronising and ignorant comment. Ian has responded far more politely than you deserve. GIMP is great but not intuitive. Relating it to a process which I used for about 30 years is immensely helpful and it's your problem if you are too stupid to understand that.
I am sorry that your expectations have been set by watching a movie about the seamier side of my country. I am pleased to say some people like my accent. I actually get paid to do voice-overs too!
youre not gonna learn anytNice tutorialng with that ntallity, if you want to learn sotNice tutorialng stick with it, if youre not willing to do that maybe its not
Thank you. Seven years on and you're still helping. It was the mask demo that helped. I now have a whole new avenue of exploration. Thank you.
Can't thank you enough. I'm a visual learner. Your explanation at the start with the projector, masks and transparency's was brilliant and helped me finally lose some of my frustration with the process.. It had to take a lot of time to put the video together so I just wanted to say cheers and thanks from the other side of the pond.
Great ideo, good educating, very slowly easy to understand for beginner.
This is the way it should be explained. Anyone who starts using gimp (photoshop) should first see this. Excellent video. I appreciate it. It helped me a lot. Thanks!
Hands down, tNice tutorials is THE best beginner video I've watched. Others want to brag about all the sample, loops, etc they have. You keep
Dear Ian,
Thank you very much for this high-quality tutorial. I'm learning how to use gimp, and the layer masks are finally making sense! I know it took a great deal of effort to produce this and I am so grateful!
Other people have explained how to use masks for specific purposes but here you have explained what masks are an how they work. I loved 'looking under the bonnet'. Great video - thanks.
still useful after 6 years, illustrated and very well explained, thanks a lot
Excellent tutorial. I appreciate the amount of time and effort you invested to pull this together too.
Thank you so much for a concise and clear visual of how layers/masks work. Everyone flies thru this stuff without explaining it. Separating out the layers and comparing to classic photography technique was a genius way to illustrate the effects
Thank you Jeremy that's most kind. I am pleased this was of help to you.
Thank you so much for sharing your 'beginner's' insights. Such clarity is priceless amidst all manner of convoluted explanations.
Thank you for the clear and organized tutorial. I'm a beginner, and it's nice that you actually took the time to explain the theory and the "why". It was much more helpful than the typical UA-cam tutorial where people just blow through the steps and tell you the keystrokes to use.
Thank you very much. Seven years later you have still got the best video on GIMP for beginners that I have seen. These tools look like something one ought to be able to figure out intuitively. It turns out that the program is really difficult to use without a proper understanding. It is so difficult I hoped to fork the project on GitHub and redesign it in an understandable way. You have definitely impressed me that there is a way. One idea might be to have radiant sources as part of the graphical user interface. So that layer selection window may be the target of some heuristic device that looks like a light box with filters in it. Programs have such good graphics today it would be cool if the layers were presented in perspective and having light shining through them. That kind of graphics in the user interface might communicate what you very carefully explained. I hope it is time soon for a more intuitive GIMP.
Take a look at the Wikipedia page on "Alpha Composition" which I guess is supposed to explain Alpha Channels and this layer stuff. No one should feel embarrassed that they don't understand this stuff. Experts are coming to pilfer the public domain.
That is very kind of you Drake.
I've had to use my own tutorial to re-learn this several times and I would love to redo it, because I think I handled the operations very clumsily.
The GIMP is a great free package, but it does have its funny quirks. I never found it 'intuitive'.
I'm sure there must be a better way to present layers, but, I suppose, as soon as we get more than one layer we're technically into 3D and that is always difficult to represent on a 2D screen.
Maybe even if each layer was given a little numbered tabbie that highlighted when you had that one selected.
It's been a while but I'm glad to have discovered your video. It's great. Thanks!
Oh my goodness! This is SO HELPFUL!!! Thank you! So many tutorials don't actually explain WHAT is happening with Layer Masks which I need to understand before I can do them myself, so THANK YOU!
...this is the FIRST GIMP tutorial on layers and masks that i have actually understood...!!! i was pulling out my hair with frustration, but now i can understand how layers and masks work... thank you so much, my friend...
...also, i never understood how to set-up the GIMP work area before... i just used your example here, and finally set-up my workspace for the first time in a year....before that i was simply muddling-around in the dark...now i can finally make some creative progress...!!! woo hoo..!!!
...Rita Maye
I am genuinely delighted to help. I put this together after watching an expert working with layers in photoshop and decided to try to work out how to do it in Gimp (because it is free). It is not a feature I used much, so I often come back to my own tutorial to remind myself what to do!
Bruh I kno this video is forever old but THANK YOU! You did what nobody else does and that's explain the PRINCIPLE behind the process. Showing the old way of doing it and the purpose behind it is fantastic and helped me understand WHY I'm doing what I'm doing. You're the greatest. ✊
What a clear, well constructed exploration of masks and layering. Loved the darkroom-photo lab connection, makes sense of this odd terminology. Hopefully you'll continue posting these. Suggestion - enhancing lo-rez, misfocused, blurred, distorted etc images.
Ian,
you have just hit a hole in one on a par 5. I have been using GIMP for about 6 weeks, making icons for the sheer hell of it, understood the layers concept but not the masks. Now the use of the black brush becomes clear, masking tape! Thank you so much.
Farm West
Excellent! Thank you. Really clarifies the use of masks. Still relevant in today's version of GIMP.
Thank you! You cleared my confusion. Your tutorial is the best and most helpful for beginners like me!
Thanks, you made all this so simple to understand.
Fantastic. Excellent method. Thank you
As an American girl, love love love your wording and accent. very charming and easy to listen to. and very helpful as well!
Aw, thanks Starlight, that is very kind of you. Glad you liked the tutorial. I am sure it could be improved if only I had the time.
most excellent tutorial for us beginners, glad i finally found it after 2 hours of searching for a comprehensive video for us novice gimpers!
Thanks Sharon, that is most kind. Glad I was able to help you. Gimp is a great tool, though it took me a while to really understand its power.
My GMS soft really electric and notNice tutorialng like a app. Any tips how to fix?
Thank you. This helped me I am having a difficult time understanding GIMP.
Terrific explanation and instruction on using masks. Really helped me (and I see others) understand more about how masks work and how to use them. Thx for creating and posting!
Thanks for your kind comments.
You are a master teacher. Salutations.
Love the tempo of your video, the content, and RTFM advice. Thank you!
producer's version? I just want to make sure I get the right one for .
Superb explanation ,thanks a million
Love your voice! Awesome tutorial. Layers and masks have confused me so much and has kept me from pursuing GIMP. This helps illuminate things a bit.
oh that is very kind of you Jessica. I've actually learned more about layers for taking macro photography and 'stacking' layers, but I doubt I will record it now.
Sadly, I had a stroke a couple of years ago and I don't find it so easy to narrate so fluently now. (I've not lost my speech, but I sometimes find it a struggle to find words and I don't like how I am not as fluid as I used to be).
you might like this tutorial too - I think it is where I am going next with layers for taking macros and night sky shots ua-cam.com/video/P3hNs-xMWi0/v-deo.html
@@borlani I am very sorry to hear that you had a stroke, but I'm glad you didn't completely lose your speech. Stay well and thank you for the link!
I downloaded the program but everytNice tutorialng still says trial version on it??
Thank you so much! This is so clear! I am just amazed!
Thanks for this. It really helps to go back to basics!
Thank you so much Sensei! You are a blessing!
You explain these things that simple, that I had no problems following you! And that means a lot... Of course I subscribed!
you remind me of Bob Ross the painter. Very good class.👍
Use keyboard shortcuts: CTRL-Z = undo, CTRL+C = copy CTRL+V = paste
how to stop hearing yourself in headphones when recording softs?
awesome video...really well explained
Excellent explanation and tutorial! Thank you!!!
more complicated one. your lody needs to soft nice. 808(app) should also fit with the lody and the rythm. snare and percussion
Thank you very very much for your patience and time for your excellent tutorial. :D
Amazing tutorial. I just ca from lmms (a free daw software) and i decided to switch since it didn’t offer enough convenience. It was
the moment i saw you explain - the back to basics segment - i liked the video.
as a beginner, i am still not comfortable using layers and masks - but atleast you have made the concept clear to me. Thank you!
Thanks! ... like any new skill it improves with practice .. you can see me tripping over myself in the demo, but I did get the hang of it...... if I've not worked with layers constantly for a while I still need to go back and watch my own tutorial to re-learn the principles again.
What program you used for the 3-d 360 rotating objects?
I created the first part of the video in Second Life as 3D objects. I quite often use it as a "studio" to create sets for tutorials and demonstrations.
Thanks Ian
good work and thank you so much, Greetings from Egypt
The channel rack tNice tutorialngy isnt on my screen?
Very helpful, thank you
dont even soft like anytNice tutorialng, was that a problem for more experienced people here as well?
you have explained it very well, thank you
Thank you, I really needed to hear tNice tutorials!!
Clear and useful
there! Thanks a lot for the help, I'm going to subscribe to your channel and keep up with all the videos!
All of my computers got the softwares here. I first install them on virtual environnt to make sure they're not malware. So I can assure
Tell us how it been!!
100% I make the sickest soft in my head all day long then the mont I open a DAW...
Here is another gimp tutorial that demonstrates a good example technique using layers that will let you see how people use these in a practical way.
ua-cam.com/video/2n4muudgKqY/v-deo.html
The basics for anyone. Definitely putting tNice tutorials in my notes.
Did it really help to trawl through prehistory?
well...judging by the comments, I believe it did.
I think it is helpful to just take a couple of minutes to get back to first principles sometimes, especially when it isn't live - so I can't verify if people understand already. (or viewers who don't need that can skip ahead)
Adults learn best if they can relate the learning to something they already understand.
What a patronising and ignorant comment. Ian has responded far more politely than you deserve. GIMP is great but not intuitive. Relating it to a process which I used for about 30 years is immensely helpful and it's your problem if you are too stupid to understand that.
after watching trainspotting recently I was half expecting to hear "i'll fookin chib ya" lol with that accent.
I am sorry that your expectations have been set by watching a movie about the seamier side of my country. I am pleased to say some people like my accent. I actually get paid to do voice-overs too!
I love the scottish accent.I was just having a bit of fun with you.
haha, nice one!
That's the first GIMP tutorial I see recorded by Batman
I don't know what you mean by "recorded by Batman",... but I hope it is a positive thing. (made me chuckle anyway) :)
Hehe I was referring to the voice! For me it was like Christian Bale's Batman.
True
this is without the most confusing video i have seen on the subject
It is a video I did a very long time ago now, but it seemed to be well received, judging by the comments, so I just leave it online.
omg that how I feel!
Is it just or does he soft a little bit like Sansa Stark from ga of thrones?
aight imma head out
Fell asleep twice
I give up on learning at tNice tutorials point.
I like this tutorial on stacking layers in Gimp - it might be a good one to follow on from mine. ua-cam.com/video/P3hNs-xMWi0/v-deo.html
etc.
please help
a s m r
I think I'll take that as a compliment :o)
youre not gonna learn anytNice tutorialng with that ntallity, if you want to learn sotNice tutorialng stick with it, if youre not willing to do that maybe its not
I'm afraid I have no idea what you're trying to say here.