[Gimp-user] MIDI controllers for controlling brush size and colors [was: Save Export Complaints]

[yahvuu <yahvuu gmail com>]

Hello Ryan,

Am 12.09.2012 15:25, schrieb Ryan Stark:
> [..] Gimp can be hooked up to a MIDI controller for
> controlling brush sizes or anything else. This is a superb feature.
> You can buy a little MIDI controller with lots of knobs and sliders.
> VASTLY superior to sliders on graphics tablets.


Und Am 12.09.2012 18:31, schrieb Ryan Stark:
> > "Now that's a really neat idea.  What (affordable) MIDI controller do you like?"
>
> I use a Korg NanoKontrol. The one here with the sliders and knobs:
>
> http://www.korg.co.uk/products/software_controllers/nano2/sc_nano2.php
>
> I'm not sure how much it is but it's cheap compared to what there used
> to be. It's very small and portable so ideal for Gimp. It communicates
> with alsa (via USB). You have a small GUI app called aconnectgui where
> you can see the Korg output and Gimp input. You just connect them up.
> I actually do it from command but that's because I couldn't find
> aconnectgui in the Arch repo. Here's some info from the Ubuntu site:
>
> https://apps.ubuntu.com/cat/applications/precise/aconnectgui/
>
> One problem is that you need the Korg editor (Windows or OSX) to
> change MIDI functions on the NanoKontrol. That should work via wine
> but I didn't try that. The reason you have to change some things is
> that by default some of the switches are momentary or maybe that
> wasn't the problem. I can't remember exactly but I had to edit a few
> things. I'm not on Linux at the moment to look at it exactly but
> you'll find MIDI under Input controllers in Gimp. You have a vast
> choice of Gimp parameters and you set them by choosing the one you
> want then moving the appropriate knob on the controller to set it to
> the parameter. There is stacks you can do. I like to set it to change
> colours i.e. one knob will increase red etc. Selecting colours, values
> etc in the colour wheel suddenly starts to become obsolete. Actually,
> thinking about that particular function, I think that was why I had to
> edit the Korg via its OSX(or Windows) editor. I think you need that
> particular value to not go to zero value. Probably I should document
> all this somewhere properly.  The huge advantage over a graphics
> tablet slider is that MIDI has continuous controllers. This means you
> move the knobs and sliders up and down to exact values. You are not
> sending a keyboard command. It's really quite ingenious whoever
> thought of adding that to Gimp and I bet hardly anyone uses it.  

even more so since this really interesting piece of information got buried in one of
those threads i really cannot justify spending my time to wade through such slurry :)


I'm really curious about the following passage:
> [..] I like to set it to change
> colours i.e. one knob will increase red etc. Selecting colours, values
> etc in the colour wheel suddenly starts to become obsolete.

How is your setup working here?
Can you still you use the colour wheel (via mouse/tablet) in parallel?
How do you keep the slider/knob position in sync with the current color then?

Is there a kind of adjustment that the controller offers the most advantage for you?
I'm thinking here of relative vs. absolute adjustments, that is
   - a "bit more of blue", or a little darker vs,
   - all RGB sliders down: instantly gives black;  all three sliders at 50%: perfect mid gray.

I mean, one compelling advantage of using the color wheel is that you can see all available colors in
advance, before choosing one of them.


best regards,
peter