GIMP for Textile Designers

Learn design techniques that are used by textile and fiber artists and how to use a graphics program at the same time! 

GIMP is an open source FREE program that can be used to manipulate, retouch and edit photos. It can also be used as a design tool. 

GIMP has many capabilities. GIMP is often compared to Photoshop as it can be used to edit and retouch photos, be a paint program and much more. This workshop while touching on these uses, has a main focus of using the program as a tool to develop designs that can be applied to fiber and textiles. In other words, GIMP for Textile Designers is Graphics program course written expressly for people who quilt, embroider and express themselves via fiber.

This workshop is aimed at people interested in developing their own designs using a computer graphics program. Gimp for Textile Designers offers a series of exercises that allow students to develop their design skills while also teaching learning how to use GIMP.

 

Please read course requirements: The course assumes that students have no knowledge what so ever of GIMP itself but I do assume students have basic computer skills. I am perfectly happy to answer dozens of questions and help you to use GIMP but I can not, and do not know the in and outs of every computer system on this planet. 

Students coming to this course need basic computer skills by which I mean being able to open and save a file to a destination where it can be found again (not get it lost on your hard drive). To be able to save a duplicate copy of a file. Understanding the importance of backing up your work and actually doing it! Students need to be able to take, and then download images from a digital camera to your computer. They need to know how to use their own digital camera (once again I do not know the ins and outs of every camera available on the market) I will also expect students to be able to use the internet, visit websites and use internet resources if required. Students need to be able to install a program on their own computer. 

In other words all that gruff stern stuff, is saying I can teach you GIMP but not how to use your own computer. I can also teach you GIMP in a manner that will interest people who want to design, rather than simply taking you through screen after screen of tech stuff which lets face it is boring. I can show you how to use GIMP in a way that relates to textile designers without getting bogged down in information that is not applied in textile practice.  

Please read
Prospective students must be able to download and install this program themselves. Since the program itself is totally free I suggest that prospective students install and launch GIMP before they sign up for this course. If you are unable to follow installation instructions on the site you will not be able to follow instructions in this course. 

There are versions of GIMP for both Mac and PC. GIMP is free. To obtain the program go to gimp.org and download the latest stable version of the program.

If you want to know how online classes run a description is on the Classes page. Dont hesitate to contact me about the class if you have more questions. 

Price 

$60.00 US for 6 lessons 

Start Date 

TBA

If you are interested in this class in the future please contact me as I limit the number of student in a class and keep a waitng list. You may want to join my announcement only newsletter  Sharon B's Stitching News is used to let people know about challenges, community events, classes and really, really good stuff!  

To secure a place in the class simply buy it, and just before the start date you will receive an invitation to class group and instructions on where you can down load the first lesson.

Please note once the classes have started and you have downloaded the lessons there is no refund on a digtal product. 

Comments

[Christa]

Hey Sharon,
I'm really excited about your class but have a question. Am I correct that the focus will be on how to use the GIMP software for creating designs. Not too much on design composition... making the design themselves in a nice layout, etc? Hope that's clear. Feel free to email me off post. Thanks! Christa

[Sharon B]

Christa - you ask "Am I correct that the focus will be on how to use the GIMP software for creating designs" yes you are correct BUT I use design and composition exercises to push people to use GIMP - its not a standard generic GIMP course its aimed at people who want to use it for design so I set design tasks. I teach GIMP but also design along side otherwise learning software can be deadly boring if its not applied. Hope that makes sense!

[Amanda Sheridan]

Unless I'm completely batty (which is entirely possible of course), I can't find how many weeks the GIMP course runs for? And for how long will the lessons/forum be available after the course ends?

Thanks.

[Sharon B]

Hi Amanda
The course runs for 6 weeks and the forum runs for that period of time ie 6 weeks. The forum does not stay open after the class finishes. Unofficially some stay open a week or so but that is more that they drift over time. You need to collect the pdf files as they are released by joggles not after the class is over.

[Liz Ozselcuk]

Hi Sharon,
I'm not quite sure if we are supposed to be posting our images anywhere in particular (I have to confess the Joggles forum site has me wandering in circles; if there is a forum for the Gimp class I haven't found it yet). Anyway, I have blogged it because I find it is an excellent way to make sure everything I have learned has sunk in. I'm now such a fan of blogging i think any class a person takes should be blogged. Here is the specific Gimp link:

http://y-knotblog.blogspot.com/search/label/gimp_class

[Sharon B]

Liz I am worried as the the forum is well and truly up and running and I have been in there talking every day - so is a batch of students all talking - so you are missing out! You should have information on access to the forum in the same email that gave you information on how to download the first lesson. So check that email. If you are having troubles contact Barbara as Joggles run the the tech side and I teach the class. I am worried as the the forum is well and truly up and running and I have been in there talking every day - so is a batch of students all talking - so you are missing out!

[Liz Ozselcuk]

For people thinking of taking GIMP in spring 2011: I would highly recommend it, you will go to places you never imagined going to. Months later I'm still playing with, and adding to, the things I learned in this class.

[RuthP]

For anyone thinking about doing GIMP in February 2011. I did the first one in June /July 2010 and had a ball. I must confess that I was not particularly interested in the design aspects but I did want to learn how to use aphoto manipulation program, and I knew from previous experience that Sharon writes very clear instructions, so I signed up and I have not looked back. I can now read photo shop tutorials on the net and sometimes apply them to GIMP.

For examples of what I did during the class and since, feel free to check out
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchingbushwalker/sets/72157624563559418/

Just note that I did use text several weeks before Shaorn intoduced it in the classes - I wanted text in my images, so I googled it!!

Or for even more examples check out Liz Ozselcuk's blog - she put the link in a comment above dated July 12, 2010. She is still adding to it every few days!! She is making amazing designs. Do not worry that you do not understand the processes she writes about - that is what the course is for!

Jump in and enjoy the course!!

[Esther Kjartansdóttir]

Hello

I'm wondering if I get some kind of certificate in the end of the course. I'm a teacher and have to take seminars and courses every year to fulfill my qouta and I was thinking about taking this one, I find it interesting because we are using freewara and I really love making my own designs. But I need to have somekind of confirmation I have taken the class for my union and workplace.

Best regards, Esther

[Sharon B]

Hi Esther
No there is no certificate as this is a course for people who are interested in textiles on a recreational level. To be honest is this was taught through an institution it would be at least $400-$500. ( I used to teach in an arts institution)
I can send you an email saying you have completed but that is the best I can offer.

[Sandy E]

I was wondering if there is a list of tasks you will be teaching? Even just an abreviated one. I am just wondering what I will learn.

[Sharon B]

Sandy I dont have a class outline published as such but after a week of the basics and a little about photo manipulation there is a big emphasis on the drawing tools in Gimp. I keep in mind the sort of things a fiber person is likely to want to know and focus on that. I hope this answers your questions

[Georgia Drivers Ed]

Hi Sharon, i would like to know whether this GIMP course can help me out doing my daily task which i used to do in Adobe ? can i use it's as replacement of Adobe?

[Sharon B]

Yes you can use it as a photoshop replacement unless you are an advanced photoshop user - and then I don't think you would be asking the question.

[konnykards]

Many thanks Sharon for the excellent GIMP 2011 course. It is so well written, informative, and enjoyable. My IT skills are not brilliant and my memory is rapidly fading but with the clear instructions and exercises I think I have made a lot of progress. I have enjoyed each week and now I'm looking forward to starting the final one.
I have much to consolidate and explore further over the next few weeks too!
I'm hoping to get back to textile art and embroidery soon, after some months of difficulty with arthritic pain, and I'm sure I'll be using new skils in my designs.
Again, many thanks - enjoy teaching in USA soon.
Connie, UK (konnykards)

[Elaine Sale]

For anyone wanting to manipulate images, this is a fantastic course. Sharon's lessons are comprehensive and understandable, with simply hundreds of screenshots so you can see exactly what you're supposed to be doing. She covers so many features of GIMP that every lesson is an exciting discovery and the next week is eagerly anticipated. The six weeks just go far too quickly. I have achieved far more than I ever thought I could and really look forward to using GIMP in the future. Best value course ever. Thanks Sharon!

[Mary d]

I have just got to the end of Sharon's Gimp class and feel I have learned so much in a very short time. Following Sharon's notes is easy as they really are step-by-step and if it doesn't work you simply try again, this time reading the notes... and it will work. I have not only learned how to use the program but I think I am seeing lots of new design ideas. I recommend this course to anyone who wants to use the computer as a design tool. Even if you can't keep up and get to the end in six weeks, you have a superb set of notes to follow and keep as a reference. During the course Sharon is there each day to answer questions and give encouragement.

Thank you Sharon.

[Angelique]

Hi Sharon - I contacted you before Christmas about the GIMP class but it looks like I missed it. Just now I've been trying to get onto the Yahoo groups... and it's giving me a problem ...to get your group news so I can get into the next class. Please let me know when that might be please. Have fun in Glastonbury, my home town :)

[Sharon B]

Angelique I will send you an email

[Gul Ahmed Collection]

This Blog covers the best and newest in fabric and textile design, style, trends, innovation and technology.
what an incredibly modern piece of design - it looks more 60's than turn of the century. I am delighted to
have found this blog, it's a marvellous resource.

[Stephanie]

I've heard rumors that you'll be doing another GIMP class in Oct. is that right? I'm already on your mailing list but was wondering if I missed that announcement (I'm very eager to take this class! It sounds great!

[Sharon B]

Hi Stephanie
Thanks for the question but I think you heard a muddled story as I have a crazy quilt class starting in October. I have not yet scheduled a GIMP class

[Angelique]

I am also still interested in taking the GIMP class. I hope to hear about one starting soon.