Sneak preview of GIMP tutorial

[David Gillaspey]

Hi all,

Elsewhere on the forum, I've mentioned I've been hard at work on an online tutorial about GIMP, an open-source image editing program that some forum members have used (or wanted to use). I am using Adobe Captivate to make this tutorial, but Captivate exports to a Flash .swf file or movie.

Here is a sneak preview:

http://www.greatchurchwebsites.org/GIMP/GIMP_tutorial_test.htm

This is truncated, deliberately so as not to waste your time. I did this (the full version, not yet posted) for an Intro to CBT (Computer Based Training) class in art school. I've gotten feedback from fellow students, and now will be working to implement changes.

However (a big however), the Exit button (the little X button at bottom right) doesn't appear to work in Firefox, on the Mac or PC. Works OK in Explorer.

Anyone who has time, please play the movie and report whether the Exit button works for you or not. One member of the Captivate forum on the Adobe site said the Exit works for him in Firefox, but it doesn't for me!

Thanks in advance.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

[Ebroach n NC]

OH Maann. Its like a Great Movie. Left me wanting more.. LOL.

Great Job.. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

The X worked for me.

Billy B
Greensboro, NC

[flutem3]

WOW, David,

That is terrific!! I can't wait for the rest of it. I have a terrible time with The Gimp! I think it is a terrific editor, but there are many things I know I should be able to do that I haven't figured out how to do:

1. How do I change the format of one image, not a batch. from .jpeg to .gif?

2. How do I make a transparent .gif file? What do the alpha channels etc. mean?

3. How do I delete an image other than leaving the program?

4. I can crop images on other editors, but I have not done it successfully on The Gimp.

I just thought I would dump in my 2 cents worth. I think for many of us who are not overly familiar with image editors it is wonderful that you started with the basics. Are you able to make entire web pages on The Gimp?

I think this is great. I can't wait to see what else will be there. I didn't have trouble either. I think I am using IE 7 or 6. I think IE 7 downloaded the other day when I was updating files.

Hello to one and all,

Carol

[David Gillaspey]

Hi Billy and Carol (and all others):

I've provided a link below to the full version of the GIMP tutorial.

HOWEVER, it's a big file, and takes 3.5 to 4 minutes to download and start playing, even on Comcast broadband. However, you will see a Flash "pre-loader" movie right away, that shows the progress of the download by percentage. The good news is, the tutorial will start playing when about 60% of the movie has downloaded — it doesn't wait for 100% of the file to download.

Have headphones or computer speakers handy; there's an audio voiceover throughout the whole tutorial.

The tutorial may well amaze people, but it can be improved. Here are the improvements I feel should be made:

1. Add text equivalent to the audio throughout the tutorial.
2. Add an intro slide or two, explaining the tutorial and its objectives.
3. Ask what skill level the user currently possesses, then show or not show portions of the tutorial based upon the skill level. The tutorial is very basic — even explaining how to save a file in GIMP. Many people will know that already, and do not need to waste time viewing that slide.
4. Break up the 5M file into several smaller movies that will sequentially load.
5. Replace several dubs in the audio. (The dubs themselves replaced some of the original audio that I recorded, but the quality of the dubs isn't equal to the original audio.)

Carol, if you go through the whole tutorial, you'll learn how to crop.

The "X" button at bottom right (of the Flash movie, in the player control area) still does not work for me in Firefox; however, the Pause/Play button does work, and you can always close the entire window in which the tutorial plays by clicking the Close ("X") button at top right (Windows) or top left (Mac).

Here's the link. Click it and go get coffee or something while it downloads.

http://www.greatchurchwebsites.org/GIMP/GIMP_tutorial_1.htm

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites
and future online learning producer :)

[flutem3]

Hi, David,

THANK YOU!!! It loaded on my computer in less than a minute and started at about 60% as you said. I have the slowest DSL there is at $14.95 a month so I do not think you need to worry about loading time except for dial-up.

I also would not be concerned whether a person is a beginner or not. Many people know all kinds of short-cuts to doing something, but they are unable to help a beginner from the ground up. I think it is good for you to take it from the ground up. That, of course, is a personal opinion. I am not certain how you would make the divisions on ability. One person might know how to do something others might consider advanced but not do something which others consider easy.

I think dialog at the bottom of the screen would be good. I am just delighted that you have done this project. I don't know how many others will benefit from it, but I know that I will. I switched from The Gimp to Irfanview because I was having so much trouble. Now, I will have a better choice...and know how to work the editor as well.

Thanks!!

Carol