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Post by silentsquirrel on Apr 15, 2009 3:03:51 GMT -9
Hey guys, I want to try the tab-less basing method for my next round of 15mm minis, and those minis will be mounted on octagon bases. I've successfully scaled the Battleground terrain and created a full-page of it, but now I need to make the octagon overlays. I'll do this on a separate layer in GIMP, but the problem is that I can't seem to make octagons! Does GIMP have this function? Does anybody know how I can accomplish this?
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Post by Aestelon on Apr 15, 2009 3:11:48 GMT -9
I'm not sure offhand, as I haven't done it myself, and the computer I'm on at the mo doesn't have GIMP installed. But if GIMP itself doesn't have an octagon option (I can't remember one way or t'other), then how about just opening one of Jim's octagonal base files into GIMP and copying one of the plain base parts to use as a template?
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Post by silentsquirrel on Apr 15, 2009 5:09:13 GMT -9
I'm not sure offhand, as I haven't done it myself, and the computer I'm on at the mo doesn't have GIMP installed. But if GIMP itself doesn't have an octagon option (I can't remember one way or t'other), then how about just opening one of Jim's octagonal base files into GIMP and copying one of the plain base parts to use as a template? I had thought about that, but I was hoping for a more... elegant solution.
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Post by squirmydad on Apr 15, 2009 5:26:02 GMT -9
I saw no actual way to just draw an octagon in GIMP. Perhaps you can draw in inkscape, then copy/paste it into gimp?
Or you might try a dingbat font of shapes, and just covert a shape to raster, or paths ,but I'm not sure if that option is available. JIM
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Post by Aestelon on Apr 15, 2009 5:54:46 GMT -9
Failing that, once I get home I should be able to knock up a series of specifically sized octagons in CAD and convert them into nice neat ones you can use. I want to do something similar for my own bases anyway, since I'm using tabless bases too. So far, I'm just using Jim's normal octagon bases and touching up any whitespace with a little suitably toned paint, but actual tabless bases would be more ideal.
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Post by silentsquirrel on Apr 15, 2009 7:21:46 GMT -9
Failing that, once I get home I should be able to knock up a series of specifically sized octagons in CAD and convert them into nice neat ones you can use. I want to do something similar for my own bases anyway, since I'm using tabless bases too. So far, I'm just using Jim's normal octagon bases and touching up any whitespace with a little suitably toned paint, but actual tabless bases would be more ideal. That would be great, although there's no rush, either. I was thinking about it and at 15mm scale, I can just use square bases. They're easier to cut out, especially since I use floor tiles for the actual base material. I wanted to use octagons to approximate a round base (but easier to cut) but at such a small scale, it's probably not that important. Thanks to everyone for the replies, though.
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Post by Aestelon on Apr 15, 2009 8:29:51 GMT -9
Well, like I said I want tabless octagons for my own usage anyway, and I'm doing some 15mm figs as well, so I may as well do a set of both so you can use them too. I'm loving the octagon as a base shape, since you can rank them like squares and have obvious facing, but still have the versatility of a circle.
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Post by Dagger on Apr 15, 2009 8:54:16 GMT -9
What do you think about using Hexagon's instead of Octagons?
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Post by Aestelon on Apr 15, 2009 9:03:15 GMT -9
Like 'em, and nearly did go with them as a regular basing choice, but realised they don't have the same versatility for ranking that octagons do. Bear in mind with octagons, you can have all your figures facing front, diagonally if they're too wide to rank side-by-side normally, or 'vertically' if they're side-on views. Essentially they're like square bases, except they can still function as squares at 45 degree turns, not just 90.
If you regularly play on hex-grids, then hexes are definitely the way to go, but otherwise I think octagons are more versatile.
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Post by silentsquirrel on Apr 15, 2009 15:33:20 GMT -9
Like 'em, and nearly did go with them as a regular basing choice, but realised they don't have the same versatility for ranking that octagons do. Bear in mind with octagons, you can have all your figures facing front, diagonally if they're too wide to rank side-by-side normally, or 'vertically' if they're side-on views. Essentially they're like square bases, except they can still function as squares at 45 degree turns, not just 90. If you regularly play on hex-grids, then hexes are definitely the way to go, but otherwise I think octagons are more versatile. I'll totally agree with that. It's also hard to cut out a nice circle, while an octagon is far easier.
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Post by Aestelon on Apr 16, 2009 14:46:46 GMT -9
I'll totally agree with that. It's also hard to cut out a nice circle, while an octagon is far easier. Indeed. An excellent reason for liking the better than circles, as well as squares and hexagons. I've made up pages of blank octagon bases, as promised. Each line is basically two octagons side-by side, so they fold into a double-thickness base just like Jim's. I'll probably knock out some other shapes too, when I can be bothered. I've posted them in a new thread, here.
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Post by docryder on Apr 16, 2009 20:39:43 GMT -9
I can't speak to GIMP specifically, but what you might do is draw a square, copy and paste it into another layer, rotate it 45 degrees, merge the two, erase the star points. Copy and paste at will.
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Post by tonsha on Apr 16, 2009 22:03:30 GMT -9
Hi Guys!
Sorry - I didn't see this question earlier.
How to Draw an Octagon in GIMP
1. On your blank canvas (or new layer) right click to bring up the menu
2. Select Filters > Render > Gfig and a new dialog will pop up.
3. Use the Edit menu to set up your grid parameters - I'm afraid there are no units on this, but it is useful for getting the sides of your polygons lined up correctly.
4. Click on the 'Create reg polygon' at the top of the dialog. You will see a new control appear on the right hand side of the dialog to allow you to enter the number of sides. Change this to "8"
5. Make sure you select the brush size and colours that you want. You can fill the octagon with a pattern if you need to.
6. Once you've got eveything set, move the mouse into the drawing area of the Gfig dialog. Click and hold, then drag the mouse. You can make your octagon the size you want, and rotate it all at the same time.
7. Release the mouse button when you are happy with your octagon.
8. Close the Gfig dialog when you are finished with it. Your Octagon will now be in your image layer.
Ta-Dah!!
DaveA
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Post by silentsquirrel on Apr 17, 2009 1:01:07 GMT -9
Hi Guys! Sorry - I didn't see this question earlier. DaveA Thanks, Dave! I tried it and it works great! Thanks again!
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Post by Aestelon on Apr 17, 2009 1:12:35 GMT -9
It does work, thanks for enlightening us with that, Dave. But it still doesn't seem possible to measure shapes of a specific size, which you surely want to make decent bases. Unless I'm just being a dunce. Any idea how you do that easily?
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Post by tonsha on Apr 17, 2009 9:31:01 GMT -9
It does work, thanks for enlightening us with that, Dave. But it still doesn't seem possible to measure shapes of a specific size, which you surely want to make decent bases. Unless I'm just being a dunce. Any idea how you do that easily? Right - quick tutorial: That's all for now folks! DaveA
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