GIMP Version: 2.8.2
Operating System: Linux
OS Version: Fedora 17
GIMP Experience: Intermediate Level

List any relevant plug-ins or scripts:

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I've been trying to find out what some of the paint tool options listed are for when the Dynamics button is clicked but I can't find anything in the Gimp 2.8 manual about it.

This is a picture of what they have in the manual but it's not what is in my Gimp 2.8.



In the Dynamics list there are multiple options that I can't find defined in the manual. Has anyone else had any luck finding out about the options? Here is the list I get when I click the Dynamics button:
Basic Dynamics
Basic Simple
Confetti
Dynamics Off
Dynamics Random
Fade Tapering
Negative Size Pressure
Pencil Generic
Pencil Shader
Pen Generic
Perspective
Pressure Opacity
Basic Dynamics
Random Color
Speed Size Opacity
Tilt Angle
Track Direction
Velocity Tapering

Maybe you added GPS (gimp-paint-studio) ?
it add several presets that obviously are not listed in the gimp manual

No, I don't have that. My brush options have always looked like this in v2.8:

This little video might help explain some of the brushes and how they work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_jii05pNQY

That looks correct to me

This is a bog-standard Gimp 2.8.2 in PCLOS. I've detatched the tabs for clarity. The paint dynamics and the dynamics editor share the same icon which can be confusing.

There was a resonable demo in a recent meet-the-gimp episode.

When I bring up the paint dynamics editor it is all grayed out. Also, I don't have an option called Local in my Paint Dynamics list.

you won't have a 'local' because that is one that I made.

The rest are greyed out in the editor because they are in your 'root' folder.

Go into edit -> preferences -> folders -> dynamics and make the root one ( I'm on the netbook now so no exact path names) writable.

A much better solution is to look at that meet-the-gimp episode from a couple of weeks ago.

Thanks, I have it downloading. It was easy to find as it was named Episode 183, Dynamics.

O. In 2.8 you have to create a new dynamic to use your own options. Have you tried clicking the new dynamic icon at the bottom of your window. That's the only way to create a writable dynamic that isn't greyed out.

Thank you!

That is the beauty of Gimps new brush dynamics.You create a brush on the fly or create one and save it.
I love this new brush engine.
I really wish it had a preview of the built brush though.