Creating Brushes for GIMP

[RobA]

To expand on what Joe said-

There are 4 basic brush types in Gimp.

1) Parametric - these you create simply by clicking the New Brush button in the brush pallet. This pops up a dialog to let you define how the brush looks:



These are quite useful and often neglected. For example I have defined a number of calligraphic brushes in various "nib sizes" and angles that are handy in my brush dialog.

2) Image Based, Shape Only - Simply create a new greyscale image (NOT RGBA). Make sure it is flattened (one layer) and save it as a ".gbr" file in your brushes folder. The white corresponds to the transparent color and the levels of gray are used as value for the foreground color. when using this brush:


3) Image Based, Colour - Simply create a new RGBA file and also make sure it is flattened to one layer and save it as a ".gbr". It will paint just like it looks, not respecting the foregound colour choice:


Here is an example of those three in use:


4) Image Hose - These are knows as animated brushes or angular brushes, or random brushes. They can be RGBA (like the vine brush) or B&W/alpha mapped. These will require a whole different post

-Rob A>

[jfrazierjr]

4) Image Hose - These are knows as animated brushes or angular brushes, or random brushes. They can be RGBA (like the vine brush) or B&W/alpha mapped. These will require a whole different post

-Rob A>

Perhaps when you can find some time, you can do a short tut on your tree brush pipe you created? I generally know the process and have done a few, but newbies might welcome seeing a true master at work...

[Absinth]

...but newbies might welcome seeing a true master at work...

I second that! I'm really baffled seeing so great replies to my newbie question and the effort you put in explaining the different brush types. Even with example pictures! This is just great! I couldn't ask for more!! Thank you very, very much! I'd like to somehow return the favour!

Judging by the explanations it seems to be the best to create an Image based , Shape only brush for houses, trees and so on? As I understood it, it'll be possible to fill in colours later, right?
And is it possible to rotate the so created image with the rotation tool?

[jfrazierjr]

Judging by the explanations it seems to be the best to create an Image based , Shape only brush for houses, trees and so on? As I understood it, it'll be possible to fill in colours later, right?
And is it possible to rotate the so created image with the rotation tool?

I tend to prefer using color brushes for anything that's not going to be one color. If your idea is to create houses as in just plain shapes, then Shape only is fine. If you plan to actually create something that has some type of bump mapping or even lines to indicate roof slope, I tend to think more in terms of color. My shape only brushes just don't come out right for me when I try to apply some color to them. What might be nice is if you can map a greyscale brush to a gradient when you lay it down.