Taijitu

[lunoob]

Well, there are some things you simply can't do well in Inkscape. One of those things, for me, is doing brushed metal looks. Any attempt I make at trying to create a resizable pattern has never worked out well. I could create a PNG of brushed metal and use it within the file, but I think Gimping it on works much better because I can vary the process to achieve different results. What I do, is create the basic shapes in Inkscape, and use Gimp to overlay a brushed metal layer onto the shapes I want that look on. This sometimes requires that I save the Inkscape original in separate files for each layer of the final output. For instance, I've made a medallion with a brushed center, but chrome-like edge. I don't want the edge to get the brushed look. So, I put the parts in layers in Inkscape and turn on and off the layers to create a series of png files - one for each. Then, I can load up the brushed section in Gimp, create a new layer on top of it and create the brushed metal look by simply filling the layer a shade or a gradient of gray(s), use the filter Filter->Noise->RGB Noise and blur that with Filter->Blur->Motion Blur and changing the mode of the graphic to greyscale and back to RGB. I then permenantly set the overlayed brushed metal with the Layers palette so that it doesn't effect any layers below it. Finally, I add all the other PNG's as layers and rearrange them so that I get the original graphic back together. That gives me something like this:

OMG!  What ARE you!!

I mostly followed in concept, but dang!

That should be posted as a tutorial.   

[lunoob]

I will PM the first couple steps to circles in Gimp that I think will help.

I just figured out that you can make a perfect circle in Gimp by selecting the ellipse tool and holding down the <shift> key when you click and drag to make your 'selection'. 

It works like the <ctrl> key with the ellipse tool in Inkscape.   

[ruel24]

This is something that they really should get standardized so it works the same in all graphics apps...

[Digitante]

The easy way to get a yin-yang symbol in Gimp:

Open Gimp

Create a new image (I used 700x700)

Open text tool

Select a font (I used FreeSans) and a size (600 pixels)

Click on the image to start a text block

In the text dialog, hold down CTRL+SHIFT and type 262F (the unicode codepoint for the yin-yang symbol). Then release. A yin-yang symbol should appear

You may need to use the position tool (crossed arrows) to get it in the right place in the image
Drop it and possibly convert it to a regular selection, fill it with foreground color, etc.

Now do what you want to do with it in Gimp

[lunoob]

Hey, Digitante, thanks, that sounds like a great tip! 

But I just tried it (repeatedly) and got nothing.

I wonder what's up with that.   

[Digitante]

Dang. I was hoping it would "just work" for you.

Well, obviously you have to have a font with a yin-yang symbol included. I did this with a vanilla Debian "Etch" installation, so I'm not sure what font I'm actually using for such symbols.

I'm also not 100% sure that the shift+ctrl thing always works for entering unicode characters by codepoint.

You might have to use an alternative input method of some kind. Yudit can do that, with the "unicode" keymapping, which lets you type (in this case) "u262f" and it'll replace with the yin yang symbol.

Of course, it's really not that hard to draw a yin-yang symbol in Inkscape. I started to explain that before, but it got complicated -- it's faster to do it than to explain it. Basically, you can do it with circles and half-circles, then just convert to paths and link them up. By judicious use of snapping to grid and/or holding CTRL to get controlled snapping behaviors, you can make it really easy to line everything up.

[lunoob]

Hey, Digitante!

That's okay, I think piecing it together in Inkscape was the only way to get what I was after anyway.  Here's what I have so far:

[ladybug]

I just registered and am cruising the forum and this thread.  You did so well, lunoob, that after I saw your yin-yang I immediately downloaded Inkscape.  Now to find a tutorial 

[Paul LeBlanc]

 Welcome Ladybug.... yes... lunoob catches on rather quickly
 BTW... I'm checkin out the linux international forum.. looks nice

[ladybug]

Well thank you, Gemini.  I hope to see you around.  I am enjoying my visit here tonight.  It was neat seeing lunoob's first attempt.  Encouraging, in fact.

[lunoob]

I just registered and am cruising the forum and this thread.  You did so well, lunoob, that after I saw your yin-yang I immediately downloaded Inkscape.  Now to find a tutorial 

Thanks, ladybug!  I still want to grok the Gimp, but it really is harder for me to learn than Inkscape.   
Besides, I've learned enough about Inkscape that I can use it for all kinds of stuff, including graphics for work.   

[ladybug]

I am all about easy, lunoob!  You said the magic word!