SO. I need to realize that I'm not above asking for help here, cus I have been struggling along insisting that I don't. (I've been mentally screaming 'I CAN FIGURE IT OUT' for the past 3 weeks. So apparently no, I cannot.)

Are there any tips for making CWs on gimp? I'm having a lot of trouble with lines, especially. I can't get them smooth, and there doesn't seem to be a good size to use. 1 and 2 seem too thin, but 3 is definitely too thick. I'm very new to all of this, and basically have zero experience, so any tips at all would be wonderful.

^^;;

i've never used GIMP so my knowledge of it is pretty limited, but in terms of outlines, you can always draw with a 2px brush and then duplicate the layer -- it'll give you a thicker outline that way, which will usually be better than a 3px. You can also decrease the opacity of the duplicated layer (mabe 50%?) if it's a tad too much!

If it is still too thin, try using a 3px brush but on a larger canvas -- for example 400x400 or 350x700! Make sure that the brush isnt too rough, too (a softish brush works well to resize afterwards!)

Oh I never thought of decreasing the opacity of the second layer! I have been copying the line layer, but I have been trouble with the lines being pixelated, even when using the paint brush. I'll give a try to the bigger canvas, as well!

I have no experience with drawing CWs, and actually very little I remember about gimp, aside from the stuff I do regularly, but you can also adjust/edit the brush for hardness/softness which I don't know if it'll help your case or not, but might help with the pixelation issue you're having?

It doesn't seem to, unless I'm doing it wrong :(

I think using a bigger canvas might help. I'm playing with the brushes right now and I see what you mean. I'm not sure how it all looks once in CW size though. But my issue with drawing on the comp isn't so much gimp but just that it doesn't seem natural as sketching by hand would be.

Yeah, I sketch everything up by hand first and trace it on gimp mostly. I like pencil sketches so much more. :(

I'll give the resizing a shot. I just hope it doesn't distort it or anything..

I cant seem to find the link right now, but check out Rah's tumblr, she posts large working CIs -- that's what I meant when I said a softish brush!

It takes a little bit more work, but if duplicating the layer is making the lines too thick or pixelated, I suggest making a new layer on your lines and just basically /redrawing/ the lines over the lines you already made. It has the same effect as duplicating the layer, BUT will make it to where they're not identical and therefore shouldn't pixelate.

Thank you all for your tips! I think it's made a difference!

Tada! I know it's not perfect, but your advice really got me out of my rut! So glad to have gotten past that and actually get some work done on it! You guys are life savers!

I meant to reply sooner. It's looks good! :D I hardly notice any pixelation in it. And it's not like it's more pixelated than other on-site things, so it's definitely good progress. :D

I'm glad my little bit of advice was in some way helpful. ^-^

Thanks! Yeah it was super duper helpful! Now I just need to figure out how to hihlight and make it shiny actually nice looking, haha. But I'll figure it out eventually!!!!