2.5. Standalone Scripts

We will not try to describe every script in depth. Most Script-Fus are very easy to understand and use. At the time of this writing, the following types are installed by default:

Patrons

You will find all kinds of pattern-generating scripts here. Generally, they are quite useful because you can add many arguments to your own patterns.

We'll take a look at the Land script. In this script you have to set the image/pattern size, and specify what levels of random to use for your land creation. The colors used to generate the land map are taken from the currently selected gradient in the gradient editor. You must also supply values for the level of detail, land and sea height/depth and the scale. Scale refers to the scale of your map, just as in an ordinary road map, 1:10 will be typed as 10.

Web Page Themes

Here is clearly a practical use for scripts. By creating a script for making custom text, logos, buttons arrows, etc., for your web site, you will give them all the same style and shape. You will also be saving a lot of time, because you don't have to create every logo, text or button by hand.

Most of the scripts are quite self-explanatory, but here are some hints:

  • Leave all strange characters like ' and " intact.

  • Make sure that the pattern specified in the script exists.

  • Padding refers to the amount of space around your text.

  • A high value for bevel width gives the illusion of a higher button.

  • If you type TRUE for "Press", the button will look pushed down.

  • Choose transparency if you don't want a solid background. If you choose a solid background, make sure it is the same color as the web page background.

Logos

Here you will find all kinds of logo-generating scripts. This is nice, but use it with care, as people might recognize your logo as being made by a known GIMP script. You should rather regard it as a base that you can modify to fit your needs. The dialog for making a logo is more or less the same for all such scripts:

  1. In the Text String field, type your logo name, like Frozenriver.

  2. In the Font Size text field, type the size of your logo in pixels.

  3. In the Font text field, type the name of the font that you want to use for your logo.

  4. To choose the color of your logo, just click on the color button. This brings up a color dialog.

  5. If you look at the current command field, you can watch the script run.

Make Buttons

Under this headline you'll find two scripts that makes rectangular beveled buttons, with or without round corners (Round Button or Simple Beveled Button). They have a dozen parameters or so, and most of them are similar to those in the logo scripts. You can experiment with different settings to come up with a button you like.