An update… of sorts
Wed, October 1, 2008
Filed under: Survival, Updates
I… have no idea how to start this without sounding all pathetic and apologetic. First of all, let’s make something clear:I’m not sorry for not updating. As such, I express this singular fact by bolding the words. Nothing convinces people more than screaming at them1.
To prove my dedication to this site, I’ve decided to take on a new challenge! No more Photoshop! Instead I’ll go with open source/free software. In theory this is all nice and fine, but GIMP SUCKS BIG TIME! The next person to insist that GIMP could easily replace Photoshop is going to… um… get glared at? I’ll be working on my technique, for maximum efficiency. 
Just as I experienced with finding a “less bloated” CMS2: I started out, by expecting to find Photoshop only for free and possibly with a different name. Still, I have finally managed to settle with Paint.NET… after I installed a truckload of extensions. Still miss the custom shapes from Photoshop though. *sulks*
Oh yeah, and I’ve been trying to find inspiration for a new layout. Things look… almost promising?
Current status:
- » 20+ new screenshots of web2.0 style layouts for inspirational purposes
- » 50+ stock images of crumpled balled up papers
- » 50+ stock images of shopping bags
- » 20+ stock images of hat boxes
- » 10+ bookmarked tutorials for drawing notepads with a graphics software
So basically, I have all the best intentions. It’s just that there’s a certain… ah… type of manga that’s so shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy3…. 
I swear, every single day I promise myself, I’ll start working on that new layout. If only I wouldn’t get inspiration while at work…
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1 That’s sarcasm, in case a certain someone is doubting my sincerity.
2 I’m still convinced that Chyrp has a personal vendetta against me. 
3 Minami Haruka’s works being the spotlight these past weeks.
Haha, what’s wrong with the gimp? Some people swear by it! Only ever had a quick play with it myself; I’m quite happy with Photoshop and my educational copy of Paint Shop Pro :p
PS. I would suggest asking your host to break your website - that’s what inspired me to make a layout!
Vera: 1)The lasso selection sucks. There is no automatic resizing for new images, when I need to cut/copy and paste something as a new image.
I need more free time, and more energy. Am way too tired.
2) That would just depress me
GIMP FTW.
Vera: It’s quite overrated. PAINT.NET is much better and less bloated.
w00t! Another Paint.net user! I hate GIMP too.
Vera: Is there a fanlisting for Paint.NET?
There are people who believe GIMP is better than Photoshop? I’m not much of a Photoshop advocate but these people are delusional.
Paint.NET is cute - very lightweight and easy to use. Great for basics - practically saved me when I had to resize some icons without a graphics program at work
Vera: not exactly better, just apparently better suited for home users.
I tried to cut out a crumpled paper ball. I spent roughly an hour in GIMP and managed barely half of it. In PDN I did it in more or less 10 minutes.
Oh yeah, by GIMP I mean GIMPshop, because the original version scared me after 2 clicks.
Paint.Net is a lovely little tool, I use it for pixelling. I have GIMP but haven’t played with it too much. The most I did was make those glitters for Snark.
Vera: *nods* guess where it is I’ve heard of Paint.NET?
The Gimp is not all that bad. LOL. I use GIMP and Inkscape for my layouts, and thus far, Gimp has done enough to fit my needs.
But yeah, Gimp is not even close to being as great as Photoshop.
Vera: as far as features go, GIMP is indeed very good, however it has serious usability issues. Especially the way the layers keep sliding until you “nail them down”
I’ve used GIMP before and it is NOT like Photoshop at all. I used to use it for cartoon dolls before staying with just MSPaint.
One thing caught my eye about your notes: Which works for Minami Haruka? I know she does Sailor Moon and yaoi related.
Vera: The yaoi ones.
I never heard of any Sailor Moon related work… or would those be doujinshi?