ScrapbookWithPDN

PS, only when posting on this forum I seem to have two digit and three digit little 'number friends' that refuse to leave me. I don't know what they are all about or why, but, for any who are wondering, you're not the only one but they have nothing to do with anything I type. I have ran virus scanner, the full Norton and then some....they still show up when I post here. Oh, well. I now ignore them. 95

83 Cc, I want to thank you for posting that, along with the link to where that actual plugin is. I didn't see it under "Plugins" and if I did there was simply so much to take in that I somehow didn't even see it. I just installed it, along with the author's (Red ochre and "Red ochre plugin pack V9") pack all updated for PDN 4.06. and his link here: http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/topic/22500-red-ochre-plug-in-pack-v9-updated-30th-july-2014/ I, too, now love that effect and am glad I found it EASILY with you posting about it with the link. I have been using PDN for a few years, now. I figured out a lot by myself but there was and still is SO MUCH MORE that it does You see, so many features that I have and see all of the time, I just don't know HOW they are useful, what to even do with them, or how to work them. I can't always use tutorials as some are for prior versions of PDN and in some cases have a different set of selections than it did have for using it. Also, some are no longer used. So, the thread you started is a good starting point for the latest version of PDN, or potentially a great starting point for a lot of people who wonder the same thing you shared; "Where to get started". Since there is SO MUCH to sort through at this forum, I get bits and pieces here and there. I now also have a notebook I keep by my computer to jot down various functions, how I use it, what it does, how it is useful. With other functions, I either didn't realize it did this or that or it is simply a more recent addition to PDN. It's normal that a newbie or person further trying to figure out PDN doesn't want to stay glued to the forum on any free time they have just to do what might be HOURS of reading to sort through so much, old and new, useful and obsolete information. Having stated that, it says so much about the selflessness of 98% of the moderators who ARE on this forum, night and day, all the time, in between their own daily life of obligations, family, friends, WORK THEY DO GET PAID FOR TO MAKE A LIVING, etc...and their patience (Let's not forget everyone has an off-day, off-week, goes through a not-so-great time period, etc). Some have the patience of Gandhi....or at least the wisdom to be classy, emotionally mature, and a professional about what they post as opposed to what first comes to mind when they read some of the stuff....all of this adds to how PDN, as in "the big picture" of PDN, is such a great software. Pain in the butt it may SEEM to often have to come here a lot to learn more about PDN, the basics, more than the basics, updated plugins, what they do, how they function, etc, it's actually more like an interactive manual for PDN. CstomBrushesMini:http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/topic/18959-how-to-use-custombrushesmini-v19/ I just installed, AGAIN (why, if I had a dollar....), another FREE software comparable to PDN, it starts with a "G". "G" and I go way back. If "G" and I we were dating we never would have dated for any long duration--ever. "G" is more like a one night stand for me, few and far between. The only reason I "used" "G" is for the "brushes" function and with layers because it all works very smoothly in "G". One can also adjust the brush sizes in "G" larger than I have been able to in PDN using "CustomBrushesMini" (EFFECTS>TOOLS>CustomBrushesMini)----until recently, that is. In PDN, I now have figured out a way to use a brush, in it's largest form, using AbrViewer.Net (it's most recent version) info also at the link above this paragraph. AbrViewer.Net extracts .png images from all of those endless free .abr files (brushes) saturating the internet. After I extract the .png images from the .abr file I open my selected .png image (brush image) in it's largest form, I then copy and paste it onto its own layer. Next, I choose a color I want it to be on my color palette. After that, go to ADJUSTMENTS on the Menu Bar--Top left area of PDN and select "ALPHA TRANSFORMATION". One can play with the two sliders to get the result you want from that particular adjustment. (ADJUSTMENTS>ALPHA TRANSFORMATION) while using "Alpha Transformation" I also check the box (by clicking on it) that says: "REPLACE RGB With Prime Color".....this process seems to also do the job, as long as the .png images are grayish and blackish, which they are 99.9% of the time. If they or any image is not black or is not gray to easily modify its colors, using "black and white" or "Desaturate" (or both?) (ADJUSTMENTS>BLACK AND WHITE...or ADJUSTMENTS>DESATURATE...or both) can make recoloring an image easy. These two ways are the only ways I have figured out how to use brushes within PDN. If there is, yet, another way, or a more simplified way, I haven't figured that out, but, to me, this is still simple. I'm just glad we can use brushes in PDN, and get it to not be merely a "clip art" stamp but to be able to show the depth and different shadowing levels of various brushes. I am getting ready to uninstall and tell "G" to hit the road, again, because if I need to use a "pattern fill" (EFFECTS>FILL), I now know how with PDN. If I want to use a textured background, "G" was great, but now I seem to know how to do the same thing with PDN---almost. I'm 80% there. I'm still figuring that out a little more...and the FURBLUR tool is incredible....."G" also feels like it takes forever to load upon opening up the program. Before I do I am going to compare dropshadowing effects. I also love an effect called DISSOLVE (Effects>Distort>Dissolve) I'm still figuring out how to better use the texture effect (EFFECTS>ARTISTIC>TEXTURE) The BlendModesPlus (EFFECTS>TOOLS>BLENDMODESPLUS) has been very useful for what I am now doing, as well. Once an image is selected to "blend" with another image a drop down menu can be used for NUMEROUS different effects....the only thing that would make it perfect is if an option could be used on the UI of BlendModesPlus to prevent the selected image from STRETCHING, often disproportionately, the same size as the image it is used with. I guess the thing to do is to find out the size of the image used in BLENDMODESPLUS then blend it with another image or colored layer the same size. It just takes slightly longer to go that route, but, hey, not a big deal. Why not tell us what you would like to use it for, other than many things, naturally, but, what did you initially have in mind or pondered PDN usefulness for?

693 A public video on Youtube was linked to a website, the official PDN website, about said software while using said software for which the tutorial was made for, and there were legal issues about doing that from the creator of the publicly displayed video? I wasn't aware legislation governed such things or FB would likely be in hot water every minute of every day--but, hey, ya' never know. Interesting.

637 It wouldn't be annoying for projects using the identical size each time PDN is open. I'm thinking having a way to pre-select or customize various functions saves time for others, too, since that feature has been incorporated under Settings>Tools.

I completely understand where you are coming from. I also realize how it needs to be monitored and the dedication it takes for those in that position. I don't have enough posts to be considered a somebody around here. Plus, I'm not an all-knowing expert. However, I did at least TRY to make some kind of an effort in putting together some video tutorials on the website toe_head gave me the motivation to do, but, I think he just meant offer a tutorial here about what I do with PDN. I really didn't know how to make it clear, detailed, and not use up all of the allocated space of the forum. So, I just recently completed a website for horses who appreciated another road to get to the water, the ones who are suited for PDN but who needed a little more help and patience from someone who cared and was willing. A lot of people learn in different ways for a variety of reasons. Some are dyslexic, reading for them is very challenging and, by far, that has nothing to do with talent, ability, etc....Watching a 3 min video can sometimes mean saving an hour of reading and trying to tinker around. A 10 minute video can probably save a week or two of a person trying to figure out something. But, hey, if you want some of us to run the video section of this place......I nominate Cc4FuzzyHuggles. I really do. I think her heart is in it, she's obviously done some thinking on it and has some good ideas she brought to the table. 634

587 .....

311 Hi, hope7, I remember the days when I wasn't sure how to do some things. I still have a lot I want to learn with PDN, too, and I'm trying this time around. I JUST completed a website for anyone wanting to deal with digital scrapbooking using PDN. I, literally, just finished it and I made it specifically for those who are NOT techie or use to dealing with image software, intentionally making it targeting those people. I don't know if I'm allowed to post the link and just delete it if that's the case, with my full understanding to those who can, but maybe it will help you make learning about layers a little easier? Maybe make it seem less confusing or intimidating? If so, here is the link: http://pdnscrapbooking.wix.com/scrapbooking I got the inspiration to make that from toe-head. hope7, where it says "MAKING A LAYOUT" is pretty much where it starts. I also offered a pdf for downloading in case it is easier for a person to read something setting next to their keyboard instead of flipping back and fourth between windows, websites, and software programs. Don't give up, yet, hope7. 321

Hi, hope7, may I ask why you would not want to use layers? I only ask in case it has to do with not feeling comfortable to use layers.

I looked to see where a place for suggestions went before posting this. I did a search using "Suggestions". This thread was all I could come up with so here is my suggestion....and I know these things take time. When one clicks on that gear icon in the top right corner of PDN and then when the box opens if one clicks on "TOOLS", I guess that's just for the "Tool Window" but somewhere within that whole pop up box, even before clicking on "Tools" can one have a place where they custom set the layout size of the canvas when PDN first opens up? Can there be a way to set it to, say, first open up using 12" x 12", as an example? or when PDN first opens, can there be yet another option added to the pop up box when one clicks on "New", so that, as an option, a box can be checked and it can be set to start the blank canvas to a designated size?

OK, I'm on Windows 7, using PDN 4.06. I have uninstalled my PDN, the right way, ran the full Monty over kill version of Norton, reinstalled PDN 4.06 and this ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE AWESOME plugin still does what others have previously reported it does. I have also made sure I installed the latest version, that I am aware of: PaletteFromImage.dll, v 1.0.0.0., 13.5 kb. When I use 'Palette From Image', under Effects>Tools>Palette From Image, it crashes when trying to redirect where the newly created palette .txt file goes to....AND....will only function for one image, pretend like it functions for more than one but does not, and PDN must be closed then restarted for this plugin to work again. It is an extremely helpful and useful plugin for things I wish to become more involved with. Thank you, "jxp" for taking the time to make it. Even though it is a little hinky, I still use it a lot and have made many different, extremely nice color palettes. That plugin and I have an understanding, is all. If, in time, it will be more compatible with the 4.06 version of PDN, that would be lovely. However, I know this takes time to do, so, I totally understand. I'll just deal with it---and I appreciate all you did to make this plugin. Thank you jxp

I will make one in a few days and put it on the website I made and just completed for using PDN for Digital Scrapbooking, if you are still interested. I couldn't figure it out, either, at first. The Plugin is how I make them and it makes them for you simply by finding an image (I go to two sites known for beautiful color palettes) I save the image to my computer, of a color palette I like, open the image in PDN, go to Effects, Tools, Palette From Image....I then run the plugin. It saves the breakdown of the colors on the image into a text file (.txt) and allows you to name it. I then go to where it saved the .txt file, place it into Paint.Net User Files, and in that file is another file called "Palettes". I place the created txt file into "Palettes". From there my color wheel from within PDN can select it if I chose to. 438

I used the "Palette From Image" plugin (Effects>Tools>Palette From Image) and I absolutely LOVE IT! I'm on 4.06 PDN with Win 7 still. I LOVE how the PDN palette Wheel can use different palettes and default back if or when needed. I never noticed it before or maybe it is semi new? Regardless, what a very, very cool deal. I'm so grateful for it and the time it took to make that color wheel function like that AND whomever made that 'Palette From Image' plugin. I'm going to take the time to look in my ever-so-handy Oct 2015 PDN Plugin Guide (which I LOVE and use a lot, lately) and I see it is "Author: jxp"...Thank you jxp. Am I allowed to post color palettes here made for PDN from the Palette From Image plugin? I only ask because I notice my text file doesn't exactly have the exact same header as the others. I have made some nice color palettes. It's SOOOO EASY to do with that plugin. Granted, I have to close PDN and restart it again after making one in order to make another, each time, but at least it's not crashing on me when I go to use the plugin. (I did make sure to get the latest updated plugins for that plugin---easily done thanks to that Oct 2015 Plugin Guide.) Also, if I don't try to correct the path for where the plugin stores the created color palettes, prior to making one, then it doesn't crash prior to using it. So, the plugin and I have an understanding. Clicking on the button to redirect it's path to save to another location (the right one) is a none-of-my-buisness kinda thing. (Our love is a special kind of love) 430

That's a given that nobody has control over what someone posts on YT. That was kind of the point but if suggested videos are linked at the forum, and if people know they can find a video link right away at the forum, as opposed to making into a video scavenger hunt, it would be easier and more organized. . I can understand how you would feel that way, but there are people who might like to use PDN who are not savvy in the complicated use of it, or who haven't been using it for a long time--or much of any graphic software. There are people who have a desire to get a better grasp on using PDN and it can be a bit discouraging having to spend hours lurking around at the forum, as there is a great deal to try to navigate through; old older, blending in with the newer, some of the updated newer stuff blending in with the older. I would suspect lurkers who never join, or who might sign up but never post, are in large numbers, but it can be very frustrating trying to figure something out for people who are not programmers, graphic software experts, or both. If you look at the topics of the forum of the thread about the How To Use PDN ebook, I believe written in 2012 (correct me if I'm wrong about that year), but look at how many hits (views) that thread has; over thirty thousand (30,000). It's actually approaching 40K, technically. Clearly, there are a lot of people wanting to better understand, in a more structured and organized method, how to use PDN. Yes, many (not all) written tutorials are very useful, but some are out dated. To expect a lot of people who are not graphic software users, programmers, or the Sheldon Coopers' of the world, to figure it out on their own on a written tutorial or outdated videos because they got a 'kind-a-sort-a' idea on some of it....well, ok. That kinda sorta sums that up.

There are a lot of videos on Youtube for Paint.Net. Some are fairly old, but still helpful to many but for those using the newest version of PDN some of the older vids won't be that useful because a few Plugins have changed or are obsolete. Even if the same plugin is still in use, if it has been modified, for example, like Jitter has been, it will give an idea or concept of how-to functions, which are better than nothing. I found one kid on YT who has a sketchy link under his video for where to download PDN from his "How to Install PDN" vid. The forum could have the brief description of vids above them and with a link to them. It's kind of nice to know the forum can have guides for effective or appropriate videos, too. There could be two topics thread titles; one for prior PDN versions and another for the newest version. There could also be good vids in various other languages. Maybe have them on two fixed thread topics at the top, like with Plug-ins and such? Just a thought.

THANK YOU! That helped a lot!! Makes sense.

Sometimes "plugins" have not only a txt file (usually read me, and many say "go see another website URL for download instructions.") and reading more on this forum, I guess do so is to save "space", per se? on the text file, so, that's understandable, but if that, in itself, is an issue, why not just completely leave out ALL readme.txt files? It probably is annoying to the person who wrote the plugin and, basically, more useful to be LEFT OUT of the plugin download....or another solution could be to have it say "Go to URL whatever", but that URL should mention EVERY FILE TYPE in there and EXACTLY where it goes, not ONLY where a .dll file goes because .dll files are not always the ONLY file in it, which is fine. In fact, why not have a standard way future plugins are announced. A protocol. It can still be simple, yet structured. Something like: Section I (section one) would state what it is and does. Section II would have how many files are in there. Section III would have the EXACT name of every file extension, even if it's a .txt file, and what yellow file folders EACH file extension goes into. Some people get confused when other file extensions like .pdb files, .cs files, and .pdf files are combined with them so when a non techie/non programmer reads a generic "copy and paste everything into the yellow effects folder", well, we do. If the generic instructions say, "copy and paste the .dll file into the yellow effects folder", well, we do but when we see another file in there that doesn't have a .dll file extention, some of us go, "Uuuuuuh....gee, that's not a .dll file...Hmmmmm.....now what???.....do I paste that thing in with the .dll files???.....gosh, I don't know......uuummm, let me see if that same other different file extension is maybe in another location. Oh, I see one of those guys in that other file folder, maybe it goes in there, instead." Why? Because many of us don't know what we are doing, but we notice stuff. We look around in those file folders. Some of us do and some of us just don't wanna know. So, we copy and paste EVERYTHING into the yellow EFFECTS folder, to include .pdf files. I can only imagine for some, if not all, programmers, to have to take the time to write something on a level for what must feel like a Teletubby has to understand is likely excruciatingly painful, time after time after time (or at all), realistically speculating. I looked around for an explanation of the .cs and .pdb files and couldn't find any. I did a search for .cs files and a search for .pdb files. Nothing came up so I posted this.

Now that you've mentioned it: I'm using PDN 4.0.5 (the latest version) Inside my yellow file folder named, "EFFECTS" are files that are named after some .dll files, yet those files do not visibly show a .dll after them, only a number like "1", "2", "3", "4", "5" or "6". Sometimes my PLUNGIN ERROR function within PDN has stated the actual .dll file needs to go, so, I have deleted it with files still left in there of the same name but NOT ending in .dll, instead, ending in one of the numbers stated above. Sometimes I may just have a corresponding file matching the name of a .dll file but just one, in a few others they run sequential. I have left those alone and not deleted them. Until I know what the deal is with "those guys" I'm treating them as if they are none of my business and leaving them alone.

I'm glad this is shedding some light for others, too. I am using PDN v 4.0.5: Even though there are many .cs files in the YELLOW FOLDER named "RESOURCES" located inside of the YELLOW FOLDER named "EFFECTS"----and .cs files inside of my "EFFECTS" yellow folder, I'm going to delete all of the .cs files ONLY inside of my "EFFECTS" yellow folder since one of the people here said it is ok to (and based on his posts, obvious knowledge, and ranking) Thank you, Toe.

What a great tutorial!

THANK YOU! I had some in my EFFECTS yellow file folder. I thought maybe they were simply in the wrong folder because I have a number of them in my RESOURCES yellow file folder within the yellow EFFECTS folder. Should I just remove them FROM my EFFECTS folder THEN put them into my RESOURCES folder? Or just delete them out of my yellow EFFECTS folder and do nothing further? I've deleted about 25 obsolete or incompatable .dll files from the EFFECTS folder, which was very easy to take on and go through with that .pdn 2015 Plugin Listing saying more indepth info. It even told me about various .exe files I had in my EFFECTS file folder. When .exe files were found in the 2015 Plugin directory and listed as: "Type: External Resource", I removed it from that directory. So, again, this helps a lot (or if it is obsolete or if it is a FileType, which I then put into the yellow "FileType" folder.) The only .xml files inside my yellow EFFECTS file folder are: PDNPalette.xml PDNWatermark.EG.madewithpdn.xml PDNWatermark.EG.Paint.NET_base64.xml PDNWatermark.EG.Paint.NET_Copyright.xml PDNWatermark.EG.Paint.NET_User.xml StewienFilters.xml

OK, so, using the 2015 .pdf PLUGINS directory is helping me, 90% with the mess going on in my EFFECTS FOLDER. If there is a file ending in .exe in my yellow EFFECTS FOLDER and if the .pdf 2015 Plugin Directory says it is an "EXTERNAL SOURCE", I'm removing it and putting in a PDN related file folder I created and noting if it is NOT compatable with the latest PDN verson...AND deleting it if a newer version exists, alltogether. In using that .pdf more in-depth directory I have also discovered two files in my yellow EFFECTS folder were supposed to be put into the FILE TYPES folder, (Optipng.dll and Optipng.exe) However, apparently there is a newer version I'm about to read up on. That very nicely organized, MORE IN DEPTH, pdf plugin listing of 2015 has been incredibly helpful, because one can search it EASILY. I just haven't found anything to match the exact wording of the "Twainable (stand-alone).exe" file that was in my EFFECTS folder. So, since it says, "stand alone"....maybe it was on my desktop and accidentally dragged in there when I added some plugins. I've removed it, regardless. I now will read on this forum trying to figure out where all of my .cs files are to go as to make sure they are where they should be, too. It's much better than it was, regardless. I plan on conquering this! Guess we're gonna do "take out" today!

I bet, until I straighten my EFFECTS file folder up proper like, but, I bet that's why it has about a 4 to 5 second delay on it when I actually click on the EFFECTS directory, while using PDN, before the long drop down menu reveals itself.

You are so kind to have shared some light on this. It was helpful. Photo*** was, in fact, a yellow folder named "Photoshop". I just didn't know if I would get some kind of "naughty point" for it.

Oh, yes!! I noticed that...eventually, after getting the latest version and found that VERY HELPFUL!! I LOVE THAT, TOO!! So many very, very, VERY cool improvements that make this even better and it was great before. It's like having power steering and shock absorbers on the car...and A/C! Just makes it so much more of a luxury. Thank you!! I take none of this for granted!

Ok, just know, I'm working very hard at being MORE responsible with READING A LOT MORE CONTENT on this forum than I use to do. First of all, those of you who worked on and made this 2015 Plugin pdf file, and all related to it, I know it was time consuming but this is so wonderful and organized. So, thank you very much. In reading through it, as it is VERY HELPFUL, I'm also doing my best to try to help myself resolve issues, best as I can before posting confusion issues. I'm on the latest version of PDN, I actually used that gear icon in the top right corner and, even though I'm nowhere near a programmer or techie person, I did click on some icons that previously looked like it was 'none-of-my-business-stuff'. I clicked on the PLUGIN ERRORS button at the left bottom of that box that appears when one clicks on the very cool gear icon of the top right in PDN. After it practically over heated before compiling its listing, it gave me 23 .dll files with errors. In clicking on each .dll file that appears, below will appear a lot of techie stuff, which I'm trying to figure out, as some of it is straight forward and some, while seemingly confusing to me near the very bottom can give more insight, vaguely. Anyway, when certain .dll files on that PLUGIN ERROR LISTING, which clicking on it, say the file is no longer compatable, I guess we can just delete it? That seems logical enough but the confusion with me is that the name of the .dll file listed in the PLUGIN ERROR diagnotic pop up box used when PDN is open, after clicking on that gear icon, is SLIGHTLY different than the actual .dll file in my EFFECTS directory when I go in there to, perhaps, delete a no longer compatable file. This is where I'm not EXACTLY sure if I am to delete certain files. For example, the first PLUGIN ERROR .dll file showing, of those 23, is "CurtisBlack.Common.dll" and below it after I click on it, the box below reveals I guess where it was found (C:\Program Files\Paint.NET\Effects\CurtisBlack.Common.dll, version 1.0.3736.39220) and the version number, and down in that lengthy content given gives me clues that it is incompatiable, with words and phrases like, "could not load....does not have implementation". That seems straight forward enough. So, I go to my extremely helpful 2015 pdf Plugin Guide that is more detailed about all plugins and exactly where it should be, I look it up using the search feature and entering the plugin name, find it and see it has a number of effects, where it should go and that it is not compatable with the newest version. Ok, we're moving right along. Everything seems so much more organized and efficient. Now I go to my PDN file folder in my programs directory. I go INTO Paint.net files, I go into my yellow EFFECTS folder, I start looking for that exact .dll file, because the PLUGIN ERROR gave the name of it and the handy .pdf beautiful 2015 Plugin booklet says the same .dll file name BUT----in my EFFECTS file it doesn't even have a .dll extension showing. All I have in there is a file that clearly is having to do with it but all the file says is "CurtisBlack.Common.1" nothing else, no VERSION number when the mouse hovers over it, not even an extension that says ".dll". In fact, "CurtisBlack.Effects.1" and "CurtisBlack.Resources.1", also. So, a total of 3 files using the name of "CurtisBlack" and not ending in .dll, only the number 1. Those other two files, the latter two, are not showing up on my PLUGIN ERROR directory specifically, as being a problem of anykind. I don't like assuming anything where this techie stuff is concerned. Why can't the names be identically the same on some of these .dll files or say that they won't USUALLY have a .dll ending, but a number instead. All of this was to ask if I should just ASSUME the CurtisBlack.Common.dll file is the exact file named "CurtisBlack.Common.1" in my directory and therefore DELETE IT? Naturually, I see no other file in my EFFECTS directory that EXACTLY matches CurtisBlack.Common.dll and I'm not going to just ASSUME anything regarding some of this stuff. Not around this joint and not regarding internal program files.