How do you write a tutorial

[jeanniem]

I am attempting to write my first tutorial but have no clue how do so. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Erisian]

One thing you will be needing is some software that takes screenshots and saves them as image files. I create a folder specifically for a project that contains all my screenshots and a txt file where I write the instructions. The instructions can then be simply copied and pasted into Gimp Chats word processor along with the images. If you are going to do a PDF tutorial, you will need something like Open Office to put it all together in. It's a good idea in this case to post an image of the finished work as well as the PDF attachment so that people can see what the tutorial is about.

[Esper]

i write my tutorial like this:

i do the tutorial and write the steps down at the same time, that way everyting i do will actually happen in the screenshots/text
try to write your tutorials so that people can find as much information as possible in the screenshots
sometimes you need to highlight certain areas or arrange windows so that all the information is there on one image

for the screenshots, i just use Shift + Print, then paste the screenshot into a new image (CTRL + Shift + V)
then i hit R for the rectangle selection tool and crop the important parts



instead of using Shift + Print you can also use Gimp's very own screengrabber
thats under File -> Create -> Screenshot

for more examples how one could write a tutorial, have a look at my blog (link in my sig)

[jeanniem]

Thank you both

[SysTemX]

Hello
I find irfanview and open office 4 to be most useful

[Wallace]

That would be... a "T"... then a "U"..., and an "O"..., don't lose me, we're almost there. Then an "R" and an "I"..., don't forget that, "A", and the finally you add a "Y". And if you followed along...
You should have... TUTORIAL.

I for got the other "T"... we can't for get that now can we, so remember that "tutorial" is spelled with 2(two) t's, and not 1(one)...

[Erisian]

That would be... a "T"... then a "U"..., and an "O"..., don't lose me, we're almost there. Then an "R" and an "I"..., don't forget that, "A", and the finally you add a "Y". And if you followed along...
You should have... TUTORIAL.

Actually it spells TUORIAY but who am I to quibble?

[Esper]

its getting a bit surreal on GC tonight, lol

[Wallace]

its getting a bit surreal on GC tonight, lol

ja, es muss ein Vollmond heute

[Wallace]

That would be... a "T"... then a "U"..., and an "O"..., don't lose me, we're almost there. Then an "R" and an "I"..., don't forget that, "A", and the finally you add a "Y". And if you followed along...
You should have... TUTORIAL.

Actually it spells TUORIAY but who am I to quibble?

Did I spell it wrong? Don't now how anyone is going to follow this then.

[Graechan]

ChriF and Conbagui write excellant tutorials try reading and completing a couple of theres then you will have a good Idea of what works best

[Wallace]

That would be... a "T"... then a "U"..., and an "O"..., don't lose me, we're almost there. Then an "R" and an "I"..., don't forget that, "A", and the finally you add a "Y". And if you followed along...
You should have... TUTORIAL.

Actually it spells TUORIAY but who am I to quibble?

Yes TUTORIAL is spelled with 2(two) "T's", thank you very much for pointing this out. The only question I have... is if you were able to follow along.
And yes, I myself haven't quibbled in a while, I hope that I don't need any new kind of equipment to begin quibbling again, because I don't recall what kind of equipment we use to have. It's been so long... you can understand, can't you?

[Erisian]

Yes TUTORIAL is spelled with 2(two) "T's", thank you very much for pointing this out. The only question I have... is if you were able to follow along.

Right to the Y Wallace, right to the Y.

[Wallace]

Yes TUTORIAL is spelled with 2(two) "T's", thank you very much for pointing this out. The only question I have... is if you were able to follow along.

Right to the Y Wallace, right to the Y.

Aaaaa, yes I do recall now, thank you.

PS... Other might not get it.

[Wallace]

I'm sorry that I/we made lite of you inquiry. Today has been a very odd day here, and most have been joking around. I do wish that we can help you write your tutorial.
Please give us another chance to sort things out an d we'll get right on it for you. To answer any questions about this subject.

[Rod]

Back on subject .....

If i were to do any more tutorials i would use FastStone Capture. Pretty easy to use and captures just about any area you need. It also will record video and audio. It can capture scrolling windows (which is very handy).
I would open a notepad file and start with a resulting image so others will see what they are going to create.
Then i would actually open GIMP and take pictures and write down instructions as i go.
After the tutorial is finished i would put everything together as layers and save as a PDF. Then i would open the PDF in Adobe Reader and using FastStone i would capture the scrolling pane as one long image. Then i would upload the image to Gimp Chat in the Text Tutorial Index as a new Topic.
Done.
Now anyone who see's the tutorial can now just download the image itself to their machine for further study at their own convenience either offline or online.

[Wallace]

Back on subject .....

Thanks Rod, you're the man.

[Rod]

Back on subject .....

Thanks Rod, you're the man.

[Odinbc]

I would suggest at the beginning of the tutorial you start with an image of the final result. It's like the cover of a book and gives the user an idea of what they are trying to accomplish. Also at Gimp Chat we have a Tutorial RSS feed, here is an example of what you see or don't see in the RSS feed if you don't start with an image.

• You can still have a text heading in the post, just follow with an image.
• Make the example image is less than 800px width.

[abraess]

Hallo like tutorials many screen shots and step by step instruction. The level should not over advance user, under expert level.