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Description
Since I started making bases, I figured I'd make this too.

Unlike a lot of base-makers, I primarily use MS Paint. It's quick, easy, and fun to use. I think it is, at least.

But, I also use GIMP.
-GIMP is a free, downloadable, art program that has all sorts of features that MS Paint doesn't have. It's kinda like a discount Photoshop, but doesn't have all of the things Photoshop does. Three of the bonuses I use most often are the Select by Color Tool, seen here, the Gradient Tool, and Layer transparency. There's a whole bunch of other things on there too, including a bunch of brushes, Dodge, Burn, Smudge, Perspective, Shear, Rotate, etc.

I suggest that all MS Paint users also have GIMP. It's a personal preference, but once you get the hang of it, the two programs work very well together.

Elaboration time!:

Step One- Find a pic.
-This is easy. Find the pose you want to use, or think others might want to use. Google Images, Wiki Pages, etc. For MLP, I'd keep it to images from the show. DON'T trace other people's art without permission, EVER. I don't care if it's on Google, or you saw it on a website without credit, if you don't remember seeing it in the show, or can find an episode number, DON'T DO IT.

Step Two- Tracing.
The curve line tool on Paint is wonderful. It can take a couple of tries to get the hang of, but once you get it, it's very helpful of Paint users. Especially when editing bases as well, adding manes, tail, accessories, etc. This tool helps to increase the quality of work because it creates smooth curves. For outlining a base, this tool is necessary. I used a single-line, red, outline for mine, but you can use any thickness of line and most colors. I suggest not using a color found in the image. I used red because it's bright, but if you're tracing a picture of a reddish pony, you may choose blue, because it's easier to see. Just pick a standout color to use.

Step Three- Copy. Ctrl + c

Step Four- Download and open GIMP. See the above explanation of why I think it's awesome. And useful.

Step Five- Paste. Ctrl + v

Step Six- The Toolbox.
GIMP's Toolbox gives you all sorts of tools to use on your image, and I suggest playing around with each of them sometime to see what they do. GIMP will sometimes open without the Toolbox, but you can normally find it under Windows > Recently Closed Docks > Toolbox. The Select by Color Tool is amazing. It has a threshold option off to the side that allows you to expand the range of colors it'll select, for example, high threshold might select indigo, dark blue, and purples all as one color, and really low threshold will do what Paint does, and only select the exact same colors. For base purposes, so long as your outline is different enough, the default should be fine.

Step Seven- Select your outline.
This should be simple. You may want to zoom in to select a single-line outline, but it's generally simple.

Step Eight- Copy. Ctrl + c works here too.

Step Nine- Paste. Ctrl + v. The black box is MS Paint's rejection of transparency. You may recognize this if you've ever tried to copy a base off of dA instead of saving the image, and it turns into one black box.

Step Ten- Color.

Description
Since I started making bases, I figured I'd make this too.

Unlike a lot of base-makers, I primarily use MS Paint. It's quick, easy, and fun to use. I think it is, at least.

But, I also use GIMP.
-GIMP is a free, downloadable, art program that has all sorts of features that MS Paint doesn't have. It's kinda like a discount Photoshop, but doesn't have all of the things Photoshop does. Three of the bonuses I use most often are the Select by Color Tool, seen here, the Gradient Tool, and Layer transparency. There's a whole bunch of other things on there too, including a bunch of brushes, Dodge, Burn, Smudge, Perspective, Shear, Rotate, etc.

I suggest that all MS Paint users also have GIMP. It's a personal preference, but once you get the hang of it, the two programs work very well together.

Elaboration time!:

Step One- Find a pic.
-This is easy. Find the pose you want to use, or think others might want to use. Google Images, Wiki Pages, etc. For MLP, I'd keep it to images from the show. DON'T trace other people's art without permission, EVER. I don't care if it's on Google, or you saw it on a website without credit, if you don't remember seeing it in the show, or can find an episode number, DON'T DO IT.

Step Two- Tracing.
The curve line tool on Paint is wonderful. It can take a couple of tries to get the hang of, but once you get it, it's very helpful of Paint users. Especially when editing bases as well, adding manes, tail, accessories, etc. This tool helps to increase the quality of work because it creates smooth curves. For outlining a base, this tool is necessary. I used a single-line, red, outline for mine, but you can use any thickness of line and most colors. I suggest not using a color found in the image. I used red because it's bright, but if you're tracing a picture of a reddish pony, you may choose blue, because it's easier to see. Just pick a standout color to use.

Step Three- Copy. Ctrl + c

Step Four- Download and open GIMP. See the above explanation of why I think it's awesome. And useful.

Step Five- Paste. Ctrl + v

Step Six- The Toolbox.
GIMP's Toolbox gives you all sorts of tools to use on your image, and I suggest playing around with each of them sometime to see what they do. GIMP will sometimes open without the Toolbox, but you can normally find it under Windows > Recently Closed Docks > Toolbox. The Select by Color Tool is amazing. It has a threshold option off to the side that allows you to expand the range of colors it'll select, for example, high threshold might select indigo, dark blue, and purples all as one color, and really low threshold will do what Paint does, and only select the exact same colors. For base purposes, so long as your outline is different enough, the default should be fine.

Step Seven- Select your outline.
This should be simple. You may want to zoom in to select a single-line outline, but it's generally simple.

Step Eight- Copy. Ctrl + c works here too.

Step Nine- Paste. Ctrl + v. The black box is MS Paint's rejection of transparency. You may recognize this if you've ever tried to copy a base off of dA instead of saving the image, and it turns into one black box.

Step Ten- Color.