You are welcome to Roller, a GIMP 2.10 plug-in for making image compositions like wallpaper. The plug-in requires Python 2.7 to be installed.

The latest Roller 4.11 update was released on December 13, 2023 and is a patch fixing many problems.


Roller 4 global options

In this Roller 4 preset demonstration, I am using a Stack model with four cells. The cells have per cell margin and plaque settings. The caption uses its shadow option to make an embossed appearance.

I posted a Roller update in the first post.

In this demo, I enlarged the canvas with the global work-in-progress setting, added a Gradient Fill Backdrop Style and Table model. The Table model has a canvas shift so that the magnetar's teeth would extend beyond the image. Plaque is used to color the teeth and has a Border Line frame.

I don't have a single clue about what this plugin does, also all I got is transparent layers in a layer-group...

PixLab,



That's the default behavior. Have you tried running the two presets posted above? Those are supplied for studying, to have the user ask, 'How is that done?'. If those presets fail to work, I would like to know.

When I create wallpaper, my process goes something like this (starting from a default Steps Preset).
1. Load an image into GIMP. Most of the Backdrop Style's use the Backdrop Image as source material.
2. Randomly create a Gradient Light. I like random.
3. In the Backdrop group, I'll set the Image reference to the 1st Image', and blur to 500. Some Backdrop Style's like less blur though, it depends on that option.
4. In the Backdrop Style window, I'll randomly select a style and randomize its settings.
5. I'll use the Peek button to view the results of the image and style working together.
6. I'll make adjustments to the Gradient Light's Influence Backdrop settings, the Backdrop Image blur, and the Backdrop Style until I'm satisfied that I have a unique backdrop.
7. In the Extra/Model group, I'll create a new Table model. In Roller 4, the default setting is almost always off. A new model's steps do not produce output, but are a skeletal framework. So I'll activate the Model Step button and add steps that I want to render from its window. The Cell/Image option is a must as I am making a wallpaper with an image as a theme so-to-speak.
8. I'll also add the Cell/Margin option as it will let me move the image around the canvas. Thus, I'll adjust the cell margins to create a space for the image I want to display on the background.
9. In the the Cell/Image option, I'll activate the Image button, and choose the Numeric Sequence option, and the 1st Image. This is the same image I loaded earlier.
10. Also, In the Cell/Image option I will add a frame to the image. The Frame button is part of the Image option group. Like the Backdrop Style, I'll randomly choose and create a frame. Frame's like a shadow, I'll create a shadow for the image and frame from the frame's option group.
11. Typically, I'll be selecting the Preview button a quite a bit. I want to see if I'm doing things correctly. Roller 4 will update the view with the latest changes, and unlike Roller 3, only those changes.

So that's the basic process that I follow when making a wallpaper. Of course, Roller 4 can do a lot more than make wallpaper, so experiment. The major limitations of Roller is that its written in Python, its interface (it lacks graphical buttons/options), and its manually induced preview.

So Patrice if you have a question, go ahead and ask, I am here everyday. It's okay to be confused by Roller 4. I was totally confused when I first started making the above presets. Seriously, it's new to me. Okay so I have a clue of what Roller should do, but I let the code design itself in a way, like the solutions are complex and went over my head, at least it felt that way. Still, I hope Roller 4 is stable and gives you a chance to play, and if it doesn't let me know!

Cheers,

A question about this. Computer desktop backgrounds are often called 'wallpaper' and there is the wallpaper that goes on walls. Which one is this plug-in designed to make?

desktop backgrounds

I posted a Roller patch in the first post.

In this demonstration preset, Roller 4.02 has four Table models, each with a canvas shift. The models also have merged cells (Cell/Type/Per Cell). A Cell Model is used to create the title.

Roller 4.03 was released. I changed the file in the first post. It fixes a critical bug in the Peek and Plan functions.

Here is an example of the Box model that I threw together.

With this file, you can reproduce the above image.

In this Roller 4 demo, I wanted to use the Eye Mask, and then I got creative. Note that I posted a Roller 4 update patch in the first post of this forum topic.

In this demo, I am showing some of the new features introduced with Roller 4.10. There's a new model, Pyramid, a new mask option, Cut-out, and a cell shape from the new Parallelogram collection.
Is the output produced by the attached preset.

Download and install the included preset file in order to reproduce the above demo in Roller 4.10.

You can find the Roller 4.10 download file in the first post on this Roller 4 thread.

In this Roller 4 demo I made this as a proof of repair of the Table/Cell/Type/Per Cell option as it was broken Roller 4.10. This preset has a Table model with its Per Cell option selected and its cells merged in the shape presented in the demo image. The Roller 4.11 download can be found in the first post of this thread.


Table/Cell/Plaque/Average Color is used to make the colored rectangles.

Amazing dedication to the cause Charles.

Thanks Skinnyhouse. I appreciate your thoughts. The quality of your work inspires me to do the best that I can.