Snowflake Challenge #11

[debris4spike]

In your own space, recommend a fannish or creative resource.

I would imagine most of the links I have are ones that are popular anyway.

However I will recommend GIMP for anyone who wants to have a go at artwork, as this is a great MANIPULATION PROGRAMME. It is (apparently) very similar to Photoshop, but totally free. It is the one I use, and have done most of my icons on it. So, if you are thinking of having a go, or upgrading from a basic photo programme, this is the one for you.

A great CLIP ART programme that I use is Clickr ... another free resourse.

Comments

[muccamukk]

I really like GIMP. I used to have photoshop on an old computer, but their subscription thing put me off getting it again. I do find manipulating layers less intuitive on GIMP than it could be.

[debris4spike]

As I have never used Photoshop then I am used to how GIMP works - but have nothing to compare it to

[ysilme]

A great rec! I'm trying to learn GIMP since ages as I haven't had Photoshop since Windows XP times, or even earlier, but although I've always installed it, I never got around really learning the ropes, much to my shame. I'm mostly using some rather simple prog that came with my late scanner, or work with Faststone Photo Viewer also for batch conversion and resizing which is very comfortable. But I really need to get my gears going and learn how to use GIMP, and properly at that. ;oP (It's not that I found it particularly complicated or difficult or so, it just always was easier to make do yet another time with what I knew... )

[debris4spike]

As I have never used Photoshop then I am used to how GIMP works - but have nothing to compare it to

I think I started getting some screen caps, and then clicking on buttons! But being free means that if you can't get your head around it, you haven't spent any money

[ysilme]

My photoshop days are so long past that I don't remember a thing. It's more that I don't know in most cases what is what as there are so many more options than on my simple prog! *g* I will learn it eventually, as I need more sophisticated photo editing skills than I have a the moment. Also because I'm going linux and my little prog won't work there. You're right about the money question, but my main motivation about using open source software where possible is that I support the idea in general and want software available to as many people as possible, among other reasons.
I think I'm going to add "starting to use GIMP" also on my goals list for snowflake this year! *g*

[debris4spike]

My trouble is I keep adding things to "to-do" lists .... and adding more, and adding more!!

[ysilme]

Oh, not THAT to-do-list. That one would easily pass as a novel this day... *hides*
I'm purely speaking of the one of the snowflake challenge answer. ^^

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

Good to know!

[debris4spike]

No worries

[nondenomifan.livejournal.com]

Oh, cool! I finally found someone else who's still active who uses GIMP! I'm just starting out with it and using nothing but YouTube tutorials, but that only produces 1 icon/day. If you have any icon tutorials, textures, scripts, etc., for the current version, I'd be most grateful for any and all help!

p.s. Do you have a family history of dementia? My father has Alzheimer's type dementia, and he's at approximately stage 3, so I'm here if you need to talk about your fears. My mom and I have them.

[debris4spike]

Oh sorry, but I made it up as I went along". I got a largish 800 x 600 image from one of the fandom sights. I then started with duplicating it. Then on one of them I literally went down each of the buttons and saw what they did. Have you done computer-art before? Because apparantly a lot of the basic PhotoShop tutorials also work. eg Basic layers, drawing round images, etc. I will admit I still have problems with large complex pictures, like the banne on my LJ, etc

I got some great free brushes by Googling Gimp free brushes, but if you want I can send you them as I have most of them in one folder, that is now compressed.

The funny thing is, I saw it as a Snowflake answer, and wondered why you asked about dementia. I thought I had written something really weird! then I saw it was LJ, and my defaukt icon. I saw this image in B&W on the back of a caravan, and took the photo, as I love the idea.

My Dad had Alzheimher's for about 4 years before he died. However we were very fortunate that despite loosing his short term memory and getting confused on everyday tasks, henever forgot who we were. In the weeks before Mum died, I saw her memory going rapidly .. that would have been a problem, as she would have not accepted help at all. I basiclly cared for them the last couple of years of their lives ... and yes, it is hard. So, I will offer the same to you - if you ever want to "explode", please feel free.

[nondenomifan.livejournal.com]

Thank you. So far, we've been fortunate with my dad's memory in the same way. He can't keep most of the chore providers' names straight, but he remembers his family members--some who wish he didn't. (He has one grandson [my brother's oldest] who can't seem to forgive him for being verbally abusive to everyone but the grandkids, but said grandson is bipolar I and refusing to take his meds, so....) For me, a switch flipped in my brain as soon as I realized what was going on with Dad, and I forgave him everything and just loved him.

[debris4spike]

I will admit I found Mum harder to deal with, although she was only in the early stages when she died. She used to get so annoyed with me when she wondered why I had forgotten to do something she hadn't asked me to do. I was only just getting my head around re-thinking our relationship when she died. Although a huge loss, and a massive shock, I know that it spared us both a lot of heartache ... I do thank God for that fact.