Help
Let me first show you what we are going to make.
What you are going to learn today is how to make a 3d looking thing in gimp, yes you hear me right only gimp and nothing else.
So the most basic thing you need to know is the basics of 3D. If you don't know about it then you are recommended to go through part 1 else feel free to skip it.
I recommend you read through the tutorial first before attempting to create the animation because it may get a little tricky. Just a suggestion though.
Part 1:
So in this part I am going to teach what is 3D. Well it's just any object showing it's length, breadth, height(in objects like cube, cuboid, etc.) or more technically it is any object in which you can determine between the x, y and z coordinate. For an example I'll tell you about a simple formula: V(olume) = l(ength) x b(readth) x h(eight)
This may seem similar because it is the formula to calculate the volume of a cube. So why is it's length, breadth and height multiplied?? Simple because it's a 3D object so it's unit also comes in a cube(cm3).
Still confused?? No Problem!! I'll give you another example. Think of a sphere(no circle a circle is a 2D object) to find out it's volume what you do is: 4/3 x pi(22/7) x r(adius)3. Notice the r(adius)3 why is it 3 again?? Simple because it's a 3D object but in this sphere's case you calculate the coordinates, X-Y-Z.
So what are these X-Y-Z which I have been talking about for so long??
It's called coordinates. In school you must have learnt something called X & Y(remember those graph papers). X resembles any horizontal surface similarly Y resembles a vertical surface whereas Z resembles the front and back faces of an object.
The point where the X Y and Z meet is usually named "O" or it's 0. The furthur you get to the right the zero increases (1,2,3 ...) and the furthur you go to the left the zero decreases(-1,-2,-3 ...)
Still confused?? Now I think I should show you a demo.
Ok open up Gimp and create a new document(256 x 256 would be more than enough) and navigate yourself to the Filters > Map > Map object.
A new window must have popped up.
In the newly opened window you must have a dropdown(default value "Plane" selected) click on that dropdown and select "Box".
Now check the "Show Preview Wireframe" box(That's below the "Preview" button).
You must have seen a wierd looking shape in the viewport it's seems quite useless now but you'll experience it.
Go to the "Orientation tab". You must have seen some things we have already discussed above(The X Y Z remember??) For the time forget about the Position and take a look on the Rotation.
Now comes the fun part and the most important throughout this tutorial. Move the X slider a little farther to the right increasing the X(Around 20-23). To see the effects hit Preview. Now again move the Y slider a bit forward too(Around 30-33). Voila!! You have a cube.Hit preview to see the effects. The Z slider is not much of importance but you can play around with it. I hope until now you have understood the basics of 3D(I hope I am right, if you find any mistakes then please inform me).
Part 2:
So let the (real)tutorial begin and let us come back to our point.
Step 1: The first thing you need to do is create a new document(I am using 256 x 256 because the computer is getting slow). And navigate to Filters > Map > Map object. Change the dropdown selection to "Box", check the box below the dropdown(Transparent Background), also check the box labeled "Show Preview Wireframe" and go to the "Orientation tab"(pictures above).
Step 2: So let's begin with a basic shape move the X(rotation fieldset) slider a bit to the front like so(you may be able to see the changes with the wireframe):
Step 3: And do the same with the Y(rotation fieldset) slider like so:
Step 4: And hit "Preview". Remember the values you inputted in the fields(the X, Y and optionally if Z).
Now hit "OK".
So how do you place all the frames in the same place??
Step 6: Well Gimp has a nifty tool for it on the Image > Transform > Autocrop menu, go ahead.
Step 7: Again go to the unboxed layer(the first image you created 256 x 256) and go through Step 1 several times until you get your needed animation.
Step 8: Copy the new image and paste it in the boxed(the new 3D box layer).
But remember to move the slider in the proportion of the second time you go through all the steps(if you want a smooth animation. Something like(first time: 39, second time: 2, third time: 2 ...)
Something like this:
First time:
Second time:
Third time:
and so on ...
So that ends my tutorial, if you have any questions, comments then please post them here.
Not very detailed but I hope this does it. Sorry for my english.
:l:
