Help please - Paint brush thickness in GIMP

[Razorburne]

I've been creating a pattern off of a photograph to create a portrait.  I've scaled the image to 8x10 and changed pixels according to the University videos.  The problem I'm having is when I'm trying to darken in certain facial features (wrinkles), the paintbrush just seems too thick for what I want to do. For example, I trace a forehead line that will add nice detail to the portrait, but the black line I end up drawing just seems too thick.  This seems to be the case even if I use a brush that says it has a radius of 1.5

Not sure if I'm doing something wrong, or if I am looking to do too fine of detail with GIMP.

Any ideas?

[JimErn]

I made myself a cheat cheat.  I drew lines starting at 0.5, incremented each line by .5, labeled each line, and printed it.  I find that the screen view and the page print is somewhat different to my eyes, so this helps me out.

I got that idea from a much more detailed cheat cheat I saw.  The one I saw was glued to wood, and was restricted to lines widths that could actually be cut.  Each line had a drill hole for each size drill where he kept the actual drill bit and it was labeled for the size of blade that fit that hole.

[Travis]

A lot of it depends on your resolution.  If I remember right, we set up the document for 150 ppi.  I find that 3-5 pixel brush is about the size of a kerf of a scroll saw blade, especially if it's a spiral blade.  But it's a good idea to run a few tests with different brush widths to find which one you're most comfortable with.  Some folks can cut finer detail, some prefer something a little more forgiving.  Just make a few scribbles with each brush size and label them and print it out.  Then you can find the perfect brush size for you.

[Razorburne]

2 hours ago, Travis said:

A lot of it depends on your resolution.  If I remember right, we set up the document for 150 ppi.  I find that 3-5 pixel brush is about the size of a kerf of a scroll saw blade, especially if it's a spiral blade.  But it's a good idea to run a few tests with different brush widths to find which one you're most comfortable with.  Some folks can cut finer detail, some prefer something a little more forgiving.  Just make a few scribbles with each brush size and label them and print it out.  Then you can find the perfect brush size for you.

Thanks Travis. I will give that a shot.  I want yet at the point of cutting the pattern...I'm still at the point of using the brush to blacken in areas (lakes and peninsulas), and it seemed like even the smallest brush was creating thicker lines relative to the wrinkles on the face etc, and didn't know if I was doing something wrong. 

Mi did make the photo an 8x10. Would it help at all do you think by enlarging the photo itself to a bigger size?  Or actually making the original picture further zoomed in (although may not be possible)?

[Travis]

You can enlarge the picture to get more detail, but when you shrink it down, that detail becomes difficult or impossible to cut.  So I'd recommend you to make the picture whatever size you want to cut it.  If you're cutting it 8x10, that's what I'd do.  If it's 11x14", resize it that way.  That way the brush size reflects the detail you can cut with the scroll saw.

If you want, you can upload your project file and we can take a look at it to see if there's anything unusual.

[Razorburne]

20 hours ago, Travis said:

You can enlarge the picture to get more detail, but when you shrink it down, that detail becomes difficult or impossible to cut.  So I'd recommend you to make the picture whatever size you want to cut it.  If you're cutting it 8x10, that's what I'd do.  If it's 11x14", resize it that way.  That way the brush size reflects the detail you can cut with the scroll saw.

If you want, you can upload your project file and we can take a look at it to see if there's anything unusual.

Thanks, Travis.  What I did was resize the picture to an 8x10 based off of your instructions in the videos.  I'm going to take you up on your offer to upload the GIMP file and let you take a look to see if you find anything unusual.  The GIMP file has all layers including the 'photocopy" layer.  I deleted my initial attempt at filling in the pattern with black and white brushes.  Please take a look and let me know if you feel the #5 and #3 brushes are creating strokes that are too thick and will have me lose details or if you think this will still work out ok.  I really appreciate all the help!  I can't wait to get your feedback.  Thank you again!

Jubilee.xcf

[Travis]

It's been a while since I was in GIMP (I typically default to Photoshop), but it looks like they treat their brushes differently than when I originally made the video.  It looks like the Brushes palette is used for shapes and brush properties.  Now, they are setting the size based by using the Tool Options.  So try this:

• Make sure your Tool Options is open (Windows>Dockable Tools>Tool Options)
• Make sure your Brush palette is open (Windows>Dockable Tools>Brushes)
• Select a round brush int he Brush palette.  Make sure it's doesn't have a soft edge.  You can find out by double clicking the brush and checking that the Hardess is set to 1.  If it's not, either select a new one, edit it (if you can), or create a new brush.
• Then in your Tool Options, set the size to 3px or 5px (I prefer 5px, but it's what you're comfortable cutting at).  Also, make sure the Opacity in Tool Options is set to 100.

You should be able to use the tool and get the proper widths.  Let me know if that's not what you're looking for.

 

[Razorburne]

On April 25, 2017 at 7:51 PM, Travis said:

It's been a while since I was in GIMP (I typically default to Photoshop), but it looks like they treat their brushes differently than when I originally made the video.  It looks like the Brushes palette is used for shapes and brush properties.  Now, they are setting the size based by using the Tool Options.  So try this:

• Make sure your Tool Options is open (Windows>Dockable Tools>Tool Options)
• Make sure your Brush palette is open (Windows>Dockable Tools>Brushes)
• Select a round brush int he Brush palette.  Make sure it's doesn't have a soft edge.  You can find out by double clicking the brush and checking that the Hardess is set to 1.  If it's not, either select a new one, edit it (if you can), or create a new brush.
• Then in your Tool Options, set the size to 3px or 5px (I prefer 5px, but it's what you're comfortable cutting at).  Also, make sure the Opacity in Tool Options is set to 100.

You should be able to use the tool and get the proper widths.  Let me know if that's not what you're looking for.

 

Hey Travis. It worked!  I followed your last suggestion and now when I choose a #5 brush it is much smaller than it was before and I seem to be able to get the detail I was hoping for. It was very weird - before if I chose a #5 or #3, the brush was still WAY too big. Now it seems to be just fine. Thank you soooo much for the help and guidance. You saved me!  This is to be an upcoming gift and I was starting to fear it wasn't going to happen. Thank you!