[How To] use GIMP to convert textures
[How To] use GIMP to convert textures
-How to- step by step (Kinda)
1 - If you do not have it installed yet, download it from http://www.gimp.org, is completely free.
GIMP runs on both Linux and Windows. This "tutorial" is for the 2.6 series, you can download the latest stable for windows from here: http://downloads.sourceforge.net/gimp-w ... etup-2.exe
2 - Go to File > Open... (or Ctrl+O) this will open a new window where you can locate and open the textures we need.
3 - with the textures opened, we gonna need a grid to help us. Go to Image > Set Grid... this will open a new window. In this windows we chose Spacing where we can set Width and Heigth of the grid, 4x4, 8x8, 16x16, 32x32, 64x64, etc depending on the size of our texture.
4 - Go to View and choose Show Grid, a grid will appear over the entire image, making it easier selection of areas (be sure that Snap to grid is marked too).
5 - In the Toolbox choose Rectangle Select tool (or just press R), select the part that you want in the texture (aided by the grid) and copy it to the Clipboard Edit > Copy (or Ctrl+C).
Go to File > Create > From Clipboard (or simply Ctrl+Shift+V) this will create a new image with the contents of the Clipboard.
Go to File > Save As... (o Ctrl+Shift+S) this will open a new window where you can specify where to save the file, the filename extension, etc. (be careful with this because sometimes GIMP automatically saves files as ".xcf") saving always in .PNG format, compression level 9. (thanks Calinou)
6 - Repeat step 5 until you complete the task
1 - If you do not have it installed yet, download it from http://www.gimp.org, is completely free.
GIMP runs on both Linux and Windows. This "tutorial" is for the 2.6 series, you can download the latest stable for windows from here: http://downloads.sourceforge.net/gimp-w ... etup-2.exe
2 - Go to File > Open... (or Ctrl+O) this will open a new window where you can locate and open the textures we need.
3 - with the textures opened, we gonna need a grid to help us. Go to Image > Set Grid... this will open a new window. In this windows we chose Spacing where we can set Width and Heigth of the grid, 4x4, 8x8, 16x16, 32x32, 64x64, etc depending on the size of our texture.
4 - Go to View and choose Show Grid, a grid will appear over the entire image, making it easier selection of areas (be sure that Snap to grid is marked too).
5 - In the Toolbox choose Rectangle Select tool (or just press R), select the part that you want in the texture (aided by the grid) and copy it to the Clipboard Edit > Copy (or Ctrl+C).
Go to File > Create > From Clipboard (or simply Ctrl+Shift+V) this will create a new image with the contents of the Clipboard.
Go to File > Save As... (o Ctrl+Shift+S) this will open a new window where you can specify where to save the file, the filename extension, etc. (be careful with this because sometimes GIMP automatically saves files as ".xcf") saving always in .PNG format, compression level 9. (thanks Calinou)
6 - Repeat step 5 until you complete the task
Last edited by Melkor on Mon May 07, 2012 01:24, edited 1 time in total.
well, in my GIMP version "Snap to grid" is "on" by default, but myabe im wrong , thanks for the extra tips
Last edited by Melkor on Sun May 06, 2012 08:06, edited 1 time in total.
- LolManKuba
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This is pretty easy.
400th Post!!!
400th Post!!!
Last edited by LolManKuba on Sun May 06, 2012 15:21, edited 1 time in total.
GIMP just released version 2.8 and I think I heard that "Save As.." will save to native format (xcf).
Use "Export As.." if this is the case.
Use "Export As.." if this is the case.
Last edited by Roflo on Sun May 06, 2012 15:37, edited 1 time in total.
Unless otherwise specified: I use linux and run (and compile) the latest dev.
- LolManKuba
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- VanessaE
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Roflo is correct - version 2.8 and up of The GIMP has a different save feature, with the idea being that "Save" and "Save As" should save only into GIMP's XCF format, as if it were a project file. The "Export" functions handle the creation of PNGs, JPGs and everything else.
They did this because XCF can losslessly store all of the data associated with the current image and nothing important will get lost, while any other format is guaranteed to throw away at least some small piece of data (PNG can't handle layers, GIF can't do true alpha, JPG is lossy, etc.).
Personally I'd have preferred they leave it the way it was in 2.6, but whatever.
They did this because XCF can losslessly store all of the data associated with the current image and nothing important will get lost, while any other format is guaranteed to throw away at least some small piece of data (PNG can't handle layers, GIF can't do true alpha, JPG is lossy, etc.).
Personally I'd have preferred they leave it the way it was in 2.6, but whatever.
You might like some of my stuff: Plantlife ~ More Trees ~ Home Decor ~ Pipeworks ~ HDX Textures (64-512px)
- LolManKuba
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Nope it's kind've confusing but sometimes when I tried to save as it made is .xcf but I figured out I did it wrong.VanessaE wrote:Roflo is correct - version 2.8 and up of The GIMP has a different save feature, with the idea being that "Save" and "Save As" should save only into GIMP's XCF format, as if it were a project file. The "Export" functions handle the creation of PNGs, JPGs and everything else.
They did this because XCF can losslessly store all of the data associated with the current image and nothing important will get lost, while any other format is guaranteed to throw away at least some small piece of data (PNG can't handle layers, GIF can't do true alpha, JPG is lossy, etc.).
Personally I'd have preferred they leave it the way it was in 2.6, but whatever.
Okay
1) Name the file ect. LOL.png
2) Where it says All Images make it ect. PNG image
3) A menu pops up and you should know the rest.
Last edited by LolManKuba on Sun May 06, 2012 22:22, edited 1 time in total.
- VanessaE
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If the "File -> Save[ As]..." function is behaving inconsistently in your copy, you should file a bug report about it, as they've definitely declared that it should work the way Roflo and I indicated. From the official release notes for 2.8:
Save And Export
A rather big conceptual change is that saving and exporting images now are clearly separated activities. Saving an image can only be done in the XCF format which is GIMP's native file format, able to save all kinds of information necessary for works in progress.
To export into other formats File->Export... needs to be used. This distinction makes it clearer if all available information is stored in a file, or not. [...]
You might like some of my stuff: Plantlife ~ More Trees ~ Home Decor ~ Pipeworks ~ HDX Textures (64-512px)
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