Crazy Man Dan

Yep. There was another topic similar to this one a few days ago, and Rick answered the question there:

(Here I go, advocating The GIMP again...) If you need to work with .psd files and you don't have PhotoShop on your computer, The GIMP can read/write to .psd format. However, it does not properly support .psd text layers (PhotoShop handles text much better than The GIMP). When you open a .psd with The GIMP, or open a GIMP-made .psd in PhotoShop, the text layers will be your basic raster layers, and will not be editable (or edible, but I digress...). Despite that, though, if you need to work with .psd, The GIMP can provide a way to do that.

So that's what that's for! I was wondering about what that did, but I hadn't been able to notice a difference. Of course, I never did try filling a selection with transparency...

To scale a selection, select the area and switch to the "Move" tool. You'll then get boxes at each corner and in the midde of each side. Grab one of those boxes and move the mouse. While you're resizing, look down in the Status Bar (bottom left), and you will be able to see the pixel size of your newly scaled selection.

Use anti-aliasing! It's really useful, and makes your edges smooth! And to rotate you picture, go to Image -> Rotate/Zoom. Then grab the wireframe sphere on the left (actually, it's the only wireframe sphere there...) and move it around until you like it!

Well, I can answer a few of those questions: You can select all pixels ([Ctrl]+a or Edit->Select All) then switch to the Move tool and grab the corner handle the furthest away from where you want your image to be. While resizing the layer, the information bar in the lower-left of the window changes to show you what size your current selection is. When this readout is at "100 x 80," your layer is the size you want it. Though I will agree, a Layers -> Resize option would be useful. While resizing, hold the [shift] key to lock the aspect ratio of the resized selection to that of the original unaltered selection. For the other comments, I'll have to let Rick or one of the other devs respond. Dan

I was going to post the same error the other day. Perhaps you should put this topic on the Bugs board.

Yeah, I figured that'd be tough to explain with just text... Alrighty, try this. Download this file. It's the one I was working with at the time: http://www.musca.net/cmdsketchpad/wetpa ... xample.pdn Open 'er up in Paint.NET 2.2 Alpha 1, and follow these steps: 1. Switch to the Color Picker tool. 2. While still on the Background layer, click on the point marked "1." The foreground color will change, but the color wheel marker will stay in the center and the brightness slider will stay at the bottom. 3. Switch to Layer 2 and click on the point marked "2." Again, the foreground color box will change to orange, but the color wheel won't move. 4. Switch to Layer 3 and click on the point marked "3." Now, since there is no color information in that layer at that point, the brightness slider will move to the top (white) and the opacity will be set to 0. 5. While still on Layer 3, click the point marked "4." Now, the foreground color box changes to yellow and the color wheel reflects this change. 6. Switch to Layer 2 again and again click the point marked "2." Once again, the foreground color changes to orange, but the color wheel stays at yellow. See what I mean? When switching from color to color, the color wheel doesn't reflect the changes. When switching from color to transparency to color, the wheel does reflect the changes. I hope that was able to explain things better. Dan

Hey there! I have something for you... I was working on that gradient tutorial I've been mentioning, and I noticed another little weird thing. I had used the Color Picker to select a color, but the position on the color wheel did not change to reflect the change in color. So I tested it a little more. When I use the Color Picker to select a color when a color is selected on the wheel, the position doesn't change on the wheel. If I pick a transparent spot when there is a color selected on the wheel, the marker on the wheel moves to the center and the opacity is set to 0, just like it should be. If I select a transparent spot, then select a color, the position marker moves to that color on the wheel. However, once that color is selected, no matter how many times I selected one of the colors in my image, the marker on the wheel will not move again until I select another transparent pixel. So, I got curious. I dropped the opacity on one of the layers to see if it had to do with the opacity level, since it went fine when changing between 255-0 and 0-255, but not from 255-255. But this rendered the same result. Now, all this time, I'd been working with layers of red, orange, and yellow (FF0000, FF8800, F6FF00). So I threw in a blue layer just for the sake of testing. The marker on the wheel moves just fine when switching from red/orange/yellow to blue and when switching from blue back to red/orange/yellow, but not when switching between red-orange-yellow. Another strange thing: when getting the hex codes for up there, I opened up the "More" panel of the colors window to access the text box. When I selected one of the colors (red/orange/yellow), the hex code changed appropriately, but the marker did not. But when I hit [Ctrl]+c to copy the hex value, the marker then moved to the appropriate position. I know, I'm terrible at explaining things... I hope I didn't confuse you too much. If you need further explanation, just let me know. Dan

What you may be seeing is the checkered background indicating transparency. When a portion of an image is transparent, there is a checkered background shown so you can tell where within the image body there is transparency. In order to facilitate saving .png or .gif files with transparency, any erased or cleared pixels are set to transparent. If you are not going to save in a file format that supports transparency (i.e. .jpg), the portions that are transparent will be set to white. If you wish to color over the written words instead of erasing them, you can use the Paintbrush tool with the necessary background color. If my assumptions of what you are seeing are incorrect, let me know. I just tested it myself, and I was unable to get any other result than the checked background. I know I've used some programs where the eraser tool set the pixels to the background color instead of actually erasing them, but PDN isn't one of them. I hope that helps! Dan

I know each time I install a new version of PDN, it puts a new shortcut icon on my Desktop. Perhaps that's what you were meaning to say? I would prefer there to be a checkbox in the installation wizard labeled "Create Desktop Shortcut" that I can un-check, because, like the topic creator, I also like my Desktop just so. I have all my program launchers pinned to my Start menu, with none on my Desktop. So, each time I install a new version, I delete the shortcut on my Desktop. Now, the way you have it, it may be easier for some users as they don't have to worry about where to go to start this program they just installed. It just appears there on the Desktop, and away they click. So I'm not sure if, for usability’s sake, this checkbox will ever be added, as it is just one more option that may or may not be necessary. As it is, it's a very minor nuisance re-deleting the shortcut each time. If it helps the general user, I can more than handle it being there.

I don't think there is a "be-all end-all" graphics app. Each different one does something differently, making each unique and interesting. I presently have Paint.NET, The GIMP, ArtWeaver, Project Dogwaffle, Microsoft's Code-Named: Acrylic 2005 CTP, Ultimate Paint, and InkScape installed on my computer. Variety is the spice of life!

Well, I hope Rick doesn't hate me for this... But... (cringes) I believe The GIMP has the tool you're looking for. You're speaking of a tool that creates a selection by following an edge determined by color differentiation, correct? The GIMP has a tool that does just that. Click once for the origin, then click, drag, and watch the boundary follow the contours of your desired portion of the image. Once you've joined the last point with the origin, click inside the boundary lines, and it is converted to a selection. So, it's up to you. If you need this tool, and you don't have PSP to do it, then I'd suggest trying it with The GIMP. Sorry Rick.. Dan

Well, I haven't used PSP in for some time, so I'm not exactly sure what tool you're describing. You may be looking for something similar to the "Magic Wand" tool (3rd tool from the top on the left side of the toolbar), which selects contiguous regions of a color. How similar those colors have to be before the tool recognizes a boundary is determined by the "Tolerance" slider. This allows you to customize the tool to your wishes. A low tolerance will select only the color you click on, and a high tolerance will select that color and any surrounding colors similar to the color you selected. This is probably the closest tool I can think of to what you're looking for. I hope that helps. If you have any more questions, just ask 'em, Dan

Yeah, I was going to mention that, but I forgot about it in the middle of posting. There was just so much to praise.. Whaddya know? It does tell you how! Silly me... Sorry. I looked down there after I began using it, not right after I clicked on it. I was a little late... PHAIL'D! I'm honored that you considered me for a private Alpha test! But this way, everyone can enjoy the new features. Just an update: I just finished my classes for my AAS (I mean just finished, like earlier tonight), so I can get back to working on a few more tutorial ideas I have. I did manage to make a new layout for the site that will contain them, however. It rocks (if I do say so myself...), and it's made completely using Paint.NET! So, I'll let you know when I finish something, so you can update your tutorials page with the new ones. Well, that's all for now. Keep up the good work, 8) Dan

Man, you guys rock! I just downloaded v2.2a1, and I'm thoroughly satisfied. The toolbox no longer extends into the color picker (in "Less" mode) with the rulers on as it did in the last version. It was a very minor issue, but it's great to see it resolved. Also, I can't say enough about the way selection work now. I remember Rick mentioning this solution in a reply to someone a few days ago, and it sounded like it just may work. After using it, however, it works perfectly! It just makes sense; it fixes the small annoyance of having a tinted selection when coloring, but also shows you exactly what you have selected at the time. Perfect solution. Also, the selection transformation is a welcome addition and pulled off very well. And the image quality after resizing is usual Paint.NET: excellent. I did notice a few "irregulars." When switching the Fore- and Background colors, the combo box in the Color Picker window behaves strangely. When one first clicks on the switcher arrows, switching the Fore- and Background color for the first time, the Color Picker selection box changes from "Primary" to "Secondary." However, if clicked again to switch them back, the selection stays at "Secondary" instead of following the color back to "Primary." In fact, it never changes back to "Primary" once it has changed to "Secondary," regardless of how many times the Fore- and Background colors are switched. Also, it may be wise to put in the status bar (similar to how it is done with the Magic Wand) how to add/subtract from your selection. I was able to figure it out once I remembered the way Paint.NET usually functions (left-click for default action, right-click for secondary actions, [CRTL]+click for extended options), but it would probably be a good idea to tell users outright how it works. Well, it's Alpha software, so of course there will be some "irregulars." But as for the basic functionality, I couldn't be happier to see what I see here. Yet another well-done improvement. Dan

Hey, there's no rush. I'd rather have one new, well thought out and well-executed feature than ten hurried features rushed in at the last second because the masses demand it. Take your time and ensure each new feature is easily usable and intuitive, and I'll be happy as a clam. (Though I'm not sure how happy clams really are. But I digress...) Think of it this way -- If you did include gradients in v2.2, then my gradient tutorial would be a complete waste of time come next month!

From http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net/faq.htm Why can't I load or save icons (.ico files)? Icons are meant to hold multiple images of various dimensions and color depths. Paint.NET is meant to work with single images composed of multiple layers that are exactly the same dimension and only with the 32-bit color depth. So Paint.NET would make an awful icon editor. Check out Axialis IconWorkshop instead. Sorry. I don't think they'll be adding icon editing.

What exactly do you mean by fusing two images? Do you mean taking one image and placing it to the side of a second image and making them one image? Or taking one image and overlaying on another semi-translucently? Or perhaps selecting elements from and image and inserting them into another? Regardless of the method to which you refer, any of these tasks would be very easy with Paint.NET. If you would specify how you want them to be combined, I'll gladly explain how you could do it with this program. Until next time, Dan

Are gradients confirmed? The Roadmap says: This list of possible features includes (but is not limited to) gradients... Now, there are basic patterns available with which you can fill. There is a drop-down marked "Fill Style" on the top row of the toolbar. Changing that will fill or paint with that pattern. As for gradients, until one of the devs unequivocally confirms them, I'll be making a tutorial on how to create them with the current version of Paint.NET. Look for it late next week. Dan

Well, Paint.NET is a fully usable graphics program, so most any technique you've used to create buttons in any other program can be used here as well. For instance: http://www.musca.net/cmdsketchpad/resou ... ertest.jpg http://www.musca.net/cmdsketchpad/resou ... Banner.jpg While testing possibilities for a layout for my Paint.NET Tutorials site, I made these. I didn't use either of them, but they were both created with Paint.NET. If you'd like further explanation, or if you've never made website buttons before, just ask/let me know and I can go into further detail for you. Dan

They just don't want to take away the fun you'd have creating it yourself... But seriously, I'm sure there are other things that are more critical to a functioning app come v2.2 than a built-in .dds file format plug-in. They gave you the ability to create and distribute your own. If that's the format you want, create a .dll. If you can't, and it's widely used, someone else will undoubtedly create one you can download.

http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net/ It works for me,

I've been planning on creating a few more tutorials, but I've been swamped with school work recently. After next week, however, I should be able to get on that... However, I'm a graphical designer for websites, so I tend to create graphics rather than comic book art, so I'm not sure how helpful they'd be to you. I'm a good graphical designer, but I'm a terrible artist, so I doubt I'd be able to create any useful tutorials for that.

Intriguing insinuation there...