I decided to download GIMP 2.6.6 and learn to use it. However, I went on the GIMP website and found some beginner tutorials - but they don't explain exactly what buttons to press. Now being very experienced in photoshop, I managed to weasel my way around a bit, but this program is much different and WAY harder to use on first try! I just gave up!

I really want to learn to use GIMP, for a few reasons - one of which is that Photoshop can do all this cool showy stuff, but when it comes to actual shapes or things like that (such as the Mozilla Firefox logo sort of thing) or other sorts of art, it is really hard for me to do it in Photoshop when other programs can do it much better.

So if anybody has any tips, any AT ALL that could get me to actually use it for more than 20 minutes, please post them here!

Thanks in advance.

I found that you can make some really cool effects with the smudge tool if you use the fade. Also, if you use the scissors, you can set the brushes to clipboard and make some cool effects with bothe airbsrush and dodge/burn. Just some tips.

Thanks for the tips. I was, however embarrassing, looking for even more rudimentary instruction that that. It seems the scissors tool works in some different way andn I am not sure what a fade on a smudge tool would do, especially in this.

Excuse my ignorance, but I am brand new to this program which I am swiftly growing to hate. I could do more on my first 5 minutes of Photoshop than my first 20 minutes on GIMP.

Hokays, I started out on GIMP too, it's not that difficult once you get your head around it.

First place I found a tutorial that I could follow was here. This tuorial is very very very basic, but it gets you to grips with the GIMP UI. Just look around there for other beginner tutorials.

More people could help in Graphics. Moving..

The way I use scissors is to just cut around and once you have all of the dots connecting, just hit enter. It's pretty easy once you get the hang of it.

Thank you for the link, mtbanger, but it doesn't load. Has the page been moved or something?

Hmm, I get the feeling that the server axploded.

Try again later? xD.

Ah, it's back up. Looks interesting. I'll try it tomorrow.

Thanks for the help! (May need somemore later on.)

A fade on a smudge tool means that the smudge effect is less prominent. AKA you can do more delicate work

Also, I'd say fool around with filters. There are some cool effects there.

Also, smudging and blurring helps meld the render into the background.