GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free cross-platform image editor. After all my searches for a cost-free application, I ended up choosing the one that I already had on my laptop. I didn’t choose GIMP to begin with because I was looking for an app that could also offer digital animation opportunities. But for the purposes of this first learning goal – GIMP meets the requirements.

This said, GIMP is a raster based editor, and in my last post I noted that I needed to work with vectors. Some IRL chats have me thinking I might be OK using raster files for the purposes of my project. So, I’m going ahead with GIMP and I’ll learn by doing!

I began with this How To Use Gimp (Beginners Guide) video.

I’m going to be working on collaging a few different images together.

These are the images I’m starting with:

I found that the video got me started in creating my project, setting a background, adding layers, and uploading images I wanted to use. 

But that was as far as this video got me. It didn’t offer the steps needed to edit my images in the way I wanted. 

I watched a few more videos. But they only provided simple overviews                       OR went way over my head.

I had questions and searching through videos was taking too long.

Here is where learning a new skill online can be frustrating and time consuming. Searching for the learning tool that is going to help you with the specific path or trouble shooting issue can take a lot longer than just being in the same room as someone to answer direct questions and show you things in real life. 

I asked my partner to sit with me and answer a few questions. In half an hour I was able to get quick and direct instruction on some specific actions I wanted to know how to do, including:

• Transforming an image
• Creating transparency and fill options
• Specifics around how to work with the layers
• How to use a layer I create for other slides I’m building
• Saving my work in progress and specific finished slides

Here’s what I created with the help of someone sitting beside me while I learned. 

It was the fasted part of this whole learning process so far.

Is it because I’m such a beginner at this that searching for the learning tools involves a layer of learning in itself? 

Is it that online learning lacks the ability for immediate and direct questions to be answered along the way?

What have you found in your online learning experiences? 

What does this tell us about the role of teachers in the classroom and where/how we embed technology in our students’ learning journey?

And then there are the things I’m learning BY DOING. Like, the importance of saving your work along the way….which I learned the hard way as I was trying to save my final image and GIMP stalled out. But that also reminded me how much we learn through repetition…and when I had to redo everything I’d just been taught – I realized there were a lot of things I’d already forgotten. Another good take away as an educator! Learning by doing….and then doing AGAIN!

Anyways, I now have some specific questions that even my IRL tech support couldn’t answer – but I have a framework of understanding and some basic tools. I feel I can now search online for answers to some of the specific questions with a bit more ease! 

Setting Goals:   I’ve been feeling overwhelmed about getting started.  So I’ve decided to set specific learning goals:

1. Collage separate digital images into one image
2. Draw and save a digital drawing that is high enough resolution to be used for projection.
3. Learn how to use basic ‘tweening’ to animate from a few drawings (if I get time).

Digital ‘Collage’  I’m working on a project with kids from Riffel HighSchool’s integrated theatre program, That’s Possible.

They have drawn separate images and I want to merge them into one image that will be used as the backdrop projection for the production.

A quick google suggests that if I want to resize my scanned images to collage together without getting pixelation or quality distortion – I need to convert my images to Vectors. 

What is a Vector???   This quick video shed light on the different image files. 

What I learned:                                                                                                            JPG, PNG, GIF  =  Raster Files (pixelate when you resize them).

PDF, EPS, AI  =  Vector Files (maintain their sharpness when enlarged)

This leads me to ask : Can I just use PDF files to create my digital collage?          After quite a bit of googling, I’m not fully confident in the answer I’ve come to…but I think I should stick with a TIFF if I can.

<<< One issue I’m having is that I don’t have the tech language and terminology to research what it is I want to do. I’m spending a lot of time trying to find an application that can teach me what I need…..in part because I’m so graphic design illiterate. >>>>

The search for a cost free application continues…  Because Adobe suites are $$, I spent time looking for a free alternative. Adobe Express came up as a free option, but I spent nearly an hour looking at videos trying to figure out if I could create the 16×9 1080 resolution format I need for this projection project….. I never found the answer I was looking for.

Phone-A-Friend 

Photo by Momentmal on Pixabay

 I’ve decided to call in some NON-digital tech support so I can get things moving! My partner has GIMP on our laptop and I usually defer to him if I need small graphic created for social media or projection. The inter-web is just getting me tangled up, so I’ve decided to use GIMP for this project. This way, I’ve got some real human assistance as I get myself oriented.

What have I learned?   When you are really just getting started with learning a new skill, it can be just as hard to find the online training and information you need as it is to learn the skill.

Photo by klimkin on Pixabay

And in this case – I think having a someone to teach me some foundations (in person) is really important!

Where To Start?

I want to be comfortable with a program that will allow me to digitally manipulate images, draw, and possibly animate. 

I’m pretty illiterate when it comes to using digital design programs. So to begin this learning process I need to begin with some really foundational research.

I started by asking:

• What beginner-friendly programs exist. 
• What do they offer?
• Will it align with the technology I currently have access to?
• What is the cost involved?

Because I’m kinda keen to learn some basic animation, I began my research with beginner-friendly Animation Apps.

After some googling and skimming a few YouTube videos, this video on Brad Colbow’s youtube channel helped direct me. 

It offered a really clear breakdown of what FREE apps work best to replace Adobe Animate, based on these criteria: ability to draw directly in the program, ability to import sound to do voice overs and sound effects, symbol library, and a timeline that allows tweening. I liked these criteria and like now straightforward this video review was.

However, what I took away from this video was that Adobe Animate is a tried and true application that does all of these things AND is a familiar program that is often used by organizations and businesses. As part of the Adobe family – this felt like a safe bet….If I’m going to learn a program, it makes sense to choose one that I might come across within future workplace & education sites. 

Next task…. 

I need to learn a bit about Adobe (because while I’ve heard of it and my pdfs open up in Adobe Acrobat Reader….thats about ALL I know!

Searching Adobe, I quickly realized that I have in fact used photoshop before. Back in 2004, I was given a few key tips on how to scan a transparency/ photo slide (old school – pre digital photography styles). From what I remember, I was scanning, cropping, and adjusting the resolution. This was around the time that arts councils and granting bodies were beginning to accept digital images instead of submitting ACTUAL sheets of transparencies with an application. 

Anyways – the point is, my exposure to Adobe suites is pretty archaic and was limited to digital image sizing. So, I went back to Brad to get his breakdown on the difference between Illustrator and Photoshop to help me understand which of these might offer the program capacity that I’m searching for. 

I really like Brad’s videos because he clearly breaks things down right from the start of the video. You don’t need to listen to him talk for 5 minutes to find out where things are going. The videos are fast paced, animated (and engaging), and quickly identify what he’ll be reviewing and how. Also, he mentioned in an earlier video that he Does Not have an education in design and animation. Being self taught, he brings an awareness of the questions and frustrations he had as a learner and incorporates that experience into his approach to teaching.

My next step is take what I’ve learned, get myself set up with the software I’m going to start out with…and start learning!