getting started with the gimp

8/12/2019 Getting Started With the GIMP

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Getting Started with The GIMP: an

informal tutorial

CSLUG and Rock Eagle Presentations !cto"er #$$#

Giles !rr

Copyright 2002 by Giles Orr

The GIMP is the "GNU Image Manipulation Program," reely a!ailable or inu# an$

%in$o&s un$er the GNU Publi' i'ense( This $o'ument an$ the presentation that goes&ith it at C)UG an$ *o'+ agle aim to intro$u'e the user to the basi's o the Gimp,

an$ inspire the user to $el!e $eeper into the Gimp-s many 'apabilities(

Ta"le of Contents

.( Getting )tarte$Intro$u'tion

%here to Get the GIMP

Installation2( /$$ing Te#t to an #isting Image

oa$ing an Image in the GIMP

*esiing the Image/$$ing Te#t

ayers

Pla'ing an$ Mo$iying the Te#t

/$$ing a 1a'+groun$ to the Te#t)a!ing the Image

( Creating a Ne& Image

)tarting rom )'rat'hThe 3ra&ing Tools

Colour )ele'tion

1rush )ele'tion4( Tiles

Other Tutorials

)tarting a Tile5( Mis'ellaneous GIMP 6eatures

Intro$u'tionTa+ing a )'reenshot

/$7usting Colours8( Other *esour'es

Cha%ter &' Getting Started
http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN17http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN19http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN27http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN34http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN37http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN39http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN61http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN81http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN111http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN127http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN158http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN185http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN228http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN230http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN241http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN251http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN262http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN294http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN296http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN300http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN333http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN335http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN338http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN350http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN392http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN19http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN27http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN34http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN37http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN39http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN61http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN81http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN111http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN127http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN158http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN185http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN228http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN230http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN241http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN251http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN262http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN294http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN296http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN300http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN333http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN335http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN338http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN350http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN392http://www.gilesorr.com/papers/gimp-tutorial/gimp.html#AEN17


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Introduction

The GIMP is the "GNU Image Manipulation Program(" The name is more $es'ripti!e

than most be'ause it tells you that the program is release$ un$er the GNU Publi' i'ense9meaning it-s ree to use an$ ree to mo$iy:, an$ that it-s a program or mo$iying or

'reating images(

This tutorial is highly inormal, an$ is a &al+;through o some airly basi' things that 'an

be $one &ith the GIMP( I hope this tas+;oriente$ tutorial &ill be more helpul to peoplethan a more ormal stru'turally oriente$ intro$u'tion( The layout o this paper $oes mean

that it-s ne'essary to start at the beginning an$ ollo& along, sin'e ea'h se'tion buil$s on

the pre!ious one an$ assumes you ha!e the +no&le$ge a'8 platorm an$ %in$o&s( / Ma' port is in progress, but apparently not toosoli$( I you-re $o&nloa$ing it or %in$o&s, loo+ or !.(2( ; the pre!ious port to

%in$o&s &as unstable(

The program the GIMP is most 'ommonly 'ompare$ to is /$obe-s Photoshop( I-!e ne!er

use$ Photoshop, but 'on!ersations &ith a goo$ rien$ &ho has use$ it or many yearsha!e re!eale$ that the GIMP has most o Photoshop-s eatures, an$ it has a mu'h more

po&erul s'ripting intera'e 9using isp or Perl:( 6ont?te#t support isn-t as goo$, but I-!e

been airly happy &ith &hat-s a!ailable ; i s'alable onts are a!ailable( True Type onts

are $einitely a plus, although they remain something o a 'hallenge to support un$erinu#(

(here to Get the GIMP

The GIMP homepage is at http=??&&&(gimp(org?&here you shoul$ ollo& the"3o&nloa$" lin+( This &ill get you the latest !ersion 9!.(2( at this &riting: in tar(b2

ormat, an$ you-ll ha!e to 'ompile it yoursel( I generally use pre'ompile$ binaries ;

these are a!ailable or 7ust about e!ery inu# $istribution, an$ usually installe$ by

$eault(
http://www.gimp.org/http://www.gimp.org/http://www.gimp.org/


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The %in$o&s !ersion is a!ailable at http=??&&&(gimp(org?&in2?an$

http=??&&&(&ingimp(org?( The latter is a lin+ rom gimp(org, &hile the ormer is a more

'omplete an$ ni'er loo+ing pro7e't page( I belie!e they-re both maintaine$ by the sameperson( They-re 'urrently oering !ersion .(2(4 prerelease(

Installation

6or most inu# installations, the GIMP is rea$ily a!ailable in pre'ompile$ binary ormat

an$ is thereore !ery easily installe$( The same applies to %in$o&s( 3o'umentation onthis, an$ on 'ompiling an$ installing the GIMP on your ma'hine is rea$ily a!ailable on

the internet, so it &on-t be 'o!ere$ here(

Cha%ter #' )dding Te*t to an E*isting

Image

Loading an Image in the GIMP

)tart the GIMP( I this is your irst time running the GIMP, you-ll be &al+e$ throughsetting up the 'oniguration iles ; a''epting the $eaults &or+s &ell( @ou-ll also be as+e$

to 'alibrate the s'reen( @ou 'an either a''ept the $eaults again, or you 'an get out a ruler

an$ measure a ruler the GIMP puts up on s'reen( I re'ommen$ this, but unless you ha!ean unusual s'reen or nee$ !ery a''urate on;s'reen representation, it probably isn-t

ne'essary(

The GIMP usually starts se!eral &in$o&s &hen it runs( oo+ or the one pi'ture$ belo&,

&hi'h is the main panel(
http://www.gimp.org/win32/http://www.wingimp.org/http://www.gimp.org/win32/http://www.wingimp.org/


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The GIMP main panel(

Press "6ile" an$ sele't "Open(" @ou-ll be sho&n a GTA ile sele'tion panel ; some

%in$o&s users in$ this a little $ierent, but it-s use shoul$ be airly straight;or&ar$ toany inu# user( %in$o&s users shoul$ note that $ire'tories 9in'lu$ing other $ri!es: are in

the let panel an$ iles are in the right panel(

Open an e#isting image ile you &ant to &or+ &ith= the GIMP un$erstan$s almost all

image ile ormats in e#isten'e to$ay 9although it shoul$ be note$ that be'ause o patenten'umberments some !ersions o the GIMP &ill no longer sa!e in GI6 ormat:( %e-ll be

ma+ing se!eral mo$ii'ations to this image ; please sa!e it un$er a $ierent ilename,

$on-t o!er&rite your originalB The mo$ii'ations I-m going to &or+ through may notimpro!e your image, but you 'an try these 'hanges to see ho& they &or+(

I-!e 'hosen an image o the oshua Tree Monument I too+ about ten years ago=

/n image &in$o& in the GIMP open on a s'anne$ sli$e(


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%hen you-re &or+ing on an image, most o the menus you-ll use are a''esse$ by right;

'li'+ing on the image, NOT on the main panel( Use the panel to sele't tools, but get your

menues by right;'li'+ing on the image(

Resi+ing the Image

Note in the titlebar that it has a "50D" in$i'ator( This in$i'ates that the image is mu'h

larger than it appears 9t&i'e the sie:( This tells me that the image is bigger than I &ant it

to be, so I-ll s'ale the image $o&n( *ight;'li'+ on the image, an$ sele't "Image ;E )'aleImage (((" I-!e 'hosen to re$u'e the image to F5D o its original sie=

The ")'ale Image" &in$o&(

Noti'e that by $eault the ratios are lo'+e$ 9or "'haine$": together= &hen I 'hange one,

the other ollo&s( This is usually &hat you &ant so the proportions o the image remainthe same( The resie$ image appears smaller, as you might e#pe't( To &or+ &ith it at .=.

9.00D:, right;'li'+ on the image, 'hoose "ie& ;E Hoom ;E .=."( @ou-ll noti'e thatthere-s a number "." ater ".=." on the menu ; this in$i'ates that you 'an $o the same

thing by pressing the "." +ey(

No& &e ha!e another problem= &e 'an-t see the &hole image( The &in$o& &e-re &or+ing

in staye$ the same sie &hile the image insi$e it $ouble$ in sie, so no& &e ha!e s'roll

bars along ea'h si$e o the image( )'roll bars are a goo$ &ay to mo!e aroun$ a large


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image 9or one you ha!e at high magnii'ation to see the $etails:, but in this 'ase it &oul$

be ni'e to see the &hole image in one &in$o& &ithout s'rolling(

Part o the image sho&ing in a &in$o&, &ith s'rollbars(

*ight;'li'+ on the image, sele't "ie& ;E )hrin+ %rap" an$ you-ll ha!e the &hole image

a!ailable to you 9i it &ill it on your s'reen:(

)dding Te*t

%e-ll no& a$$ te#t to this image( To sele't the te#t tool, go ba'+ to the main Gimp panel,an$ 'li'+ on the "T"( This sele'ts the tool( In this 'ase, &e-$ li+e to 'hange the tool

$eault !alues= that-s $one by $ouble;'li'+ing on the tool sele'tor( 3ouble 'li'+ on the

"T" an$ you shoul$ see a &in$o& li+e this=

The Te#t Tool Options &in$o&(


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The GIMP $eaults to the ol$er te#t tool ; it &or+s, but I-$ highly re'ommen$ you 'li'+

the "Use 3ynami' Te#t" 'he'+bo#( The $eault te#t tool only allo&s a single line o te#t,

&hereas 3ynami' Te#t allo&s multiple lines( There are numerous other impro!ements as&ell(

It-s not ne'essary to 'lose the "Tool Options" &in$o&= you 'an lea!e it open an$ it &illrele't the options o &hate!er tool you-re using, or you 'an 'lose it( The 'hoi'e is yours(

I you mo!e the pointer o!er the image, you-ll see that you get the "I;beam" in$i'ator,sho&ing you that i you 'li'+ on the image you-ll be inserting te#t( a'h tool you 'an use

in the GIMP has its o&n 'ursor in$i'ator li+e this, an$ you-$ be &ise 9&iser than me: to

pay attention to &hat the 'ursor is telling you( I you 'li'+ on the image &ith the &rongtool, you 'an $o some ba$ things to your image(

%hi'h brings us to another $igression about a !ery useul +ey 'ombination( "Ctrl;H" is

possibly the most important thing you 'an learn about the GIMP( It means "Un$o the last

'hange(" Please note that you ha!e to ha!e an image &in$o& sele'te$ or it to &or+( @ou'an un$o multiple 'hanges ; usually i!e, although you 'an reset the !alue in the $eaults(

Cli'+ on the image to bring up the te#t tool( I you-re using 3ynami' Te#t, it $oesn-t

really matter &here you 'li'+, as the Te#t Tool has a positioning 'ontrol built in( I $on-t

in$ this useul &hen a$$ing te#t to pi'tures, it-s easier to 7ust let it $rop the te#t &here it&ants an$ then I 'an mo!e the te#t to &here I &ant it to be( )ee the images that ollo& to

see ho& I set up the te#t, an$ &here it appears on the image(


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The Te#t Tool &in$o&, set up to put in the te#t or the pi'ture I-m &or+ing on( I sele'te$the "nimbus roman" ont, bol$, 50 pi#els( The $eault te#t 'olour is bla'+ 9the bla'+

s


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The pi'ture &ith te#t a$$e$( The $eault lo'ation i you $on-t position the te#t, in theupper let 'orner(

Note the bla'+ an$ yello& $ashe$ line aroun$ the te#t( This in$i'ates that the te#t has

been 'reate$ in a ne& layer, an$ that means it-s time or another $igression(

La,ers

The 'ommonest 'omparison or ayers is to a sta'+ o transparen'ies( The ba'+groun$

9in this 'ase, the initial image &e 'hose to e$it: 'annot ha!e an alpha 'hannel 9be

transparent:, but you 'an a$$ layers on top o it that are( In the 'ase o the te#t layer you

7ust 'reate$, it-s transparent e!ery&here there isn-t bla'+ te#t( @ou shoul$ also noti'e thatthe te#t layer is mu'h smaller than the image= layers $on-t ha!e to be the same sie( I &e

a$$e$ another opa


10/36

To see &hat layers &e ha!e, let-s open the "ayers, Channels Paths" $ialogue bo# ;

$epen$ing on ho& the GIMP is set up, it may be open alrea$y on your ma'hine( !en i it

is alrea$y open, it &on-t $o any harm to use the menu item to a'ti!ate it( *ight;'li'+ onthe image an$ sele't "ayers ;E ayers, Channels Paths (((" @ou shoul$ see something

similar to the ollo&ing=

The ayers, Channels Paths 3ialogue bo#(

Note that &e ha!e t&o layers, one title$ "1a'+groun$" 9&hi'h is the original image: an$one title$ "G3ynTe#t ayer" &hi'h &as a$$e$ by the te#t tool( There are a lot o things

you 'an $o &ith layers( The most basi' is 'ontrolling the !isibility o the layer= 'li'+ on

the eye i'on besi$e the layer to toggle its !isibility on an$ o( @ou-ll in$ that i you turno the 1a'+groun$, you-ll see a 'he'+e$ pattern o light an$ $ar+ gray s


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@ou 'an 'reate ne& layers 9the single pie'e o paper i'on in the "ayers, Channels

Paths" $ialogue:, or $upli'ate e#isting layers 9the $ouble pie'es o paper in the $ialogue:(

Ne& layers are usually use$ to o!erlay another !isual pie'e on an e#isting image, &hile$upli'ate layers allo& you to 'hange e#isting $ata &hile simultaneously +eeping it in

unmo$iie$ orm(

Try right;'li'+ing on a layer an$ noti'e that there-s a menu asso'iate$ &ith the layer( This

is material you-ll ha!e to e#plore on your o&n(

Placing and Modif,ing the Te*t

%ith both the layers !isible an$ the te#t layer sele'te$, 'hoose the mo!e tool 9the 'rosse$

arro&s: in the main panel( No& mo!e the 'ursor o!er the te#t &e a$$e$ to the image,noti'ing that the 'ursor 'hanges bet&een a han$ &hen you-re o!er the ba'+groun$ an$ a

mo!e i'on &hen you-re o!er the te#t( In a't, i you 'li'+ an$ $rag on the ba'+groun$

rather than the te#t, you-ll mo!e the ba'+groun$( *emember that you 'an un$o mista+es&ith Ctrl;H( Mo!e the te#t to &here you thin+ it loo+s best(

%ith the te#t layer still sele'te$, right;'li'+ on the image an$ 'hoose "ayers ;E ayer to

Imagesie(" This &ill in'rease the sie o the te#t layer to mat'h that o the image( The

utility o this 'hange isn-t parti'ularly ob!ious at this point, but it-s helpul in some o the

'hanges &e-ll be ma+ing later, it $oesn-t 'ause any problems, an$ I in$ the layer bor$er9the yello& an$ bla'+ 'he'+e$ line mentione$ earlier: $istra'ting( This is one o se!eral

&ays to resie a layer(

No& $upli'ate the layer( to $o this, ma+e sure the te#t layer is sele'te$ in the "ayers,

Channels Paths" &in$o&, then press the $ouble$ pie'e o paper(


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3upli'ating a layer in the ayer $ialogue bo#(

)o you ha!e t&o 'opies o the te#t( It $oesn-t loo+ any $ierent ((( )in'e they-re in e#a'tlythe same pla'e, they o!erlay ea'h other an$ the original 'opy 'an-t be seen be'ause o the

ne& 'opy(

et-s +eep better tra'+ o our layers ; &e 'an name them, an$ this &ill be'ome !ery useul&hen you start &or+ing &ith multiple layers( Go to the "ayers, Channels Paths"

$ialogue bo#, an$ $ouble;'li'+ on the ne& 'opy( *epla'e "G3ynTe#t ayer 'opy" &ith

something li+e "Te#t"( I use this rather than "oshua Tree Monument" be'ause it-s mu'h

shorter an$ I only ha!e one pie'e o te#t to &or+ &ith so it remains unambiguous( 3o thesame thing or "G3ynTe#t ayer," 'alling it "Te#t )ha$o&("

%e-re no& going to blur the "Te#t )ha$o&" layer, so ma+e sure it-s sele'te$ in the

"ayers, Channels Paths" $ialogue bo#( I &oul$ also re'ommen$ that you ma+e the top

layer 9"Te#t": in!isible by 'li'+ing on the eye i'on, but this isn-t stri'tly ne'essary( /lsoin the ayers $ialogue, ma+e sure that "Aeep Trans(" is NOT set( It-s usually set, an$ &e

&ant to turn it o( 1lurring 9&hi'h is &hat &e-re hea$e$ or here: &on-t &or+ &ith "Aeep

Trans(" No& right;'li'+ on the image, sele't "6ilters ;E 1lur ;E Gaussian 1lur 9*:"(There-s not a lot o pra'ti'al $ieren'e bet&een * an$ II* 9I $on-t 'laim to un$erstan$

it either:, but the authorities tell me * is slightly better to use on 'omputer generate$

images( @ou-ll no& be presente$ &ith a $ialogue bo# li+e the ollo&ing=


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The * Gaussian 1lur $ialogue bo#(

)et the 1lur *a$ius to .0 an$ press OA( This shoul$ result in the te#t you-!e been

loo+ing at being repla'e$ by a !ery blurry !ersion o itsel( This is going to be our $rop

sha$o&( 1ut being a $rop sha$o&, you $on-t &ant it $ire'tly behin$ the original, butoset $o&n an$ to one si$e( There are t&o &ays to $o this= either 'li'+ an$ $rag it, or use

the "Oset" menu item( The problem &ith 'li'+ an$ $rag in this 'ase is that you 'an-t see

the Te#t layer ; but i you turn its !isibility ba'+ on, then it-s har$ to 'li'+ on the sha$o&to $rag it be'ause it-s hi$ing behin$ the top layer ((( )o I use "Image ;E Transorms ;E

Oset (((" 9I-ll assume rom no& on that you +no& to right;'li'+ on the image to get at the

menus:( This brings up another $ialogue bo#=

The oset $ialogue bo#(

To mo!e the sha$o& $o&n an$ right enter "F" an$ "F" 9an appropriate oset $epen$s on

the ont sie ; this &or+s &ell &ith the 50 pi#el ont use$ here:( /ter saying OA to this,

turn the !isibility o the top layer o te#t ba'+ on( I elt that the appearan'e o the sha$o&

&as too hea!y, so I &ent ba'+ to the "ayers, Channels Paths" &in$o& &here to mo!ethe Opa'ity sli$er or the "Te#t )ha$o&" layer $o&n to 50( This lea!es the sha$o& still

!isible, but not ob!ious( %hen you ha!e a !ery hea!y $rop sha$o&, it-s more ob!ious

ho& the ;3 ee't is 'reate$ an$ it 'an lose some o its magi' be'ause o that( )ubtlety isa goo$ thing (((


14/36

)dding a -ackground to the Te*t

%e-ll no& a$$ a ba'+groun$ to the te#t to emphasie it a bit more( /$$ a ne& layer 9i in

$oubt, a$$ a ne& layer ; you 'an merge layers easily, but separating them is $ii'ult to

impossible: in the ayers $ialogue by 'li'+ing on the single sheet o paper( @ou-ll get ane& $ialogue bo# or "Ne& ayer Options(" The $eaults shoul$ be goo$, but ma+e sure

that "ayer 6ill Type" is set to "Transparent(" %ith your ne& layer sele'te$, use thearro& +eys in the ayers $ialogue to mo!e the ne& layer $o&n the layer sta'+ until it-s

un$er the t&o te#t layers(

Mo!ing layers ; press the $o&n arro& t&i'e to mo!e the sele'te$ layer $o&n the sta'+ to

its ne& position(

In the main GIMP panel, sele't the ")ele't *e'tangular regions" tool 9the $ashe$ s


15/36

Jere you 'an see the $rop sha$o&, a se'on$ blurre$ an$ hal transparent 'opy o the te#t(

@ou 'an also see the "mar'hing ants" sele'tion bo# 'entere$ aroun$ the te#t(

To blur the e$ges o the sele'tion, use the ")ele't ;E 6eather (((" $ialogue, using a .0

pi#el eather( )ele't the bu'+et ill tool rom the main panel 9it-s easy to spot ; it-s a

bu'+et:( 1y $eault, bu'+et ill uses the oregroun$ 'olour ; that-s the 'olour in the lo&erlet 'orner o the main panel( The upper, "$ominant" 'olour 9usually bla'+ by $eault: is


16/36

the "oregroun$" 'olour( *e!erse the oregroun$ an$ ba'+groun$ 'olours by pressing the

$ouble;en$e$ arro& by the 'olours=

*e!ersing the oregroun$ an$ ba'+groun$ 'olours(

Cli'+ insi$e the sele'te$ area in the image( This shoul$ bu'+et ill the sele'te$ area in

your ne& layer &ith &hite( /gain, subtlety is goo$= re$u'e the !isibility o the layer to

about 0 9&hat loo+s goo$ &ill $epen$ on the 'olour o the image you-re &or+ing abo!e:(To get a goo$ loo+ at your ne& 'reation, use ")ele't ;E None" to get ri$ o the mar'hing

ants(

Sa.ing the ImageThe GIMP 'an open almost any +in$ o image ormat a!ailable to$ay, an$ it 'an also

sa!e in almost any ormat( 1ut unless you-re absolutely sure you-ll ne!er &ant to e$it thepi'ture again, sa!e in the GIMP-s nati!e ormat, KC6( KC6 iles sa!e all the layers,

'hannels, an$ paths you-!e 'reate$( It e!en stores un$o inormation, an$ it-s not a lossy

ormat( /s a result, KC6 iles ten$ to be !ery large(

Use the "6ile ;E )a!e /s (((" $ialogue to sa!e the image( The $eault setting or ")a!eOptions" is "3etermine 6ile Type= 1y #tension" &hi'h means that you a$$ the

e#tension o your 'hoi'e an$ it uses that as the ile type( )o enter "ilename(#'" in the

te#t bo# an$ say "OA("

KC6 iles 'an-t be !ie&e$ by &eb bro&sers, so $o "6ile ;E )a!e /s (((" again, this time

using "ilename(7pg" as the ile name( @ou-ll be 'onronte$ &ith the ollo&ing $ialogue=


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The "#port ile" $ialogue bo#(

/s this states, the PG ile ormat 'an-t $eal &ith transparen'y( It also 'an-t $eal &ith

layers, so the GIMP pushes all the layers into one beore sa!ing as a PG( I yourba'+groun$ has transparent areas 9not the 'ase here: the GIMP &ill ill it in &ith some

'olour ; your mileage may !ary( )in'e &e ha!e transparen'y but it-s not in the

1a'+groun$, the result &ill be a PG that loo+s almost e#a'tly li+e &hat &e see in theGIMP( Cli'+ on "#port(" 1ut you-re not $one yet= most ile ormats ha!e their o&n set

o options, an$ PG is no e#'eption=


18/36

The ")a!e as PG" $ialogue bo#(

Jere you 'an a$7ust the "Luality" or 'ompression ; an$ se!eral other things( The higher

the 'ompression, the smaller the image ; an$ the poorer the inal image


19/36

superbly: an$ $oesn-t &or+ as &ell &ith 'lear lines( To gi!e you some i$ea o the tra$e;

o, ta+e a loo+ at the ollo&ing three images=

The image sa!e$ at a


20/36

The image sa!e$ at a 58 bytes:(


21/36

The image sa!e$ at a


22/36

The Ne& Image $ialogue bo#(

The steps &e-re going to mo!e through no& aren-t going to 'reate an image &orth

+eeping= this is to $emonstrate some o &hat the $ra&ing tools in the GIMP 'an $o( I-$

re'ommen$ ollo&ing the steps I lay out as &e mo!e along= a little $ull, but there-s areason or the stru'ture(

The 1rawing Tools


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The $ra&ing tools a!ailable in the main panel( oo+ or the spe'ii' i'ons I-!e mar+e$,

not the lo'ation ; your GIMP panel may be laye$ out $ierently than mine(

The a!ailable $ra&ing tools are "pen'il," "brush," "in+," an$ "airbrush(" There-s also aneraser, the gra$ient tool 9not in$i'ate$ on the abo!e pi'ture ; although the a'ti!e gra$ient

is:, an$ "bu'+et ill" &hi'h &e sa& pre!iously( a'h has spe'ial properties( I li+e the in+tool, &hi'h is spee$;sensiti!e= it narro&s as you mo!e the pointer aster( et-s start &ith

that one( Choose a 'olour= $o this by 'li'+ing on the oregroun$ 'olour to get the "Color)ele'tion" $ialogue(

Colour Selection

The Colour )ele'tion 3ialogue bo# ; I-m 'hoosing a slightly o re$(

Noti'e the set o tabs along the top o the Colour )ele'tion $ialogue bo#= ea'h brings you

to another &ay to sele't 'olours( I generally use the $eault GIMP metho$, but I

sometimes use the Triangle as &ell( Maybe one o the others &ill suit you better( Noti'e

that GIMP an$ GTA both allo& you to 'ontrol *G1 9*e$;Green;1lue: an$ J) 9Jue;)aturation;alue:, an$ that the GIMP metho$ uses he# !alues &hereas the GTA one uses

a range o 0(0 to .(0 ((( Probably not $eeply important to you no&, but you may &antthese metho$s o 'reating 'olours later( *ight no&, 'hoose a 'olour, sele't the in+ tool,

an$ $ra& a horiontal line ; as you $ra&, mo!e slo&ly then


24/36

No& sele't the pen'il tool( It $ra&s plain lines &ith sharp e$ges 9e!en i you-!e sele'te$ a

uy;e$ge$ brush ; &e-ll get to them shortly:( Pi'+ another 'olour 9I-m going &ith green

this time: an$ $ra& another horiontal line belo& the pre!ious one( Noti'e that the &i$th$oesn-t !ary i you spee$ up or slo& $o&n(

-rush Selection

)ele't the paint brush tool no&, an$ sele't another 'olour 9I-ll try blue:( 1ut this time I-m

going to sele't a ne& brush( Cli'+ on the item I labelle$ "/'ti!e brush" to get the 1rush)ele'tion $ialogue( )o ar &e-!e been using the $eault brush, &hi'h is a har$ e$ge$

'ir'le . pi#els in $iameter( /s you-ll see, you ha!e a lot o 'hoi'es in brushes( Noti'e

that there-s e!en a "Ne&" button ; you 'an 'reate your o&n brushes i you &ant to(

The brush sele'tion $ialogue bo#(

I 'hose the "Calligraphi' 1rush2," an angle$ line that o''upies a 20#20 s


25/36

The irst set o lines $ra&n &ith the !arious paint tools(

et-s try out the eraser( )ele't the eraser tool rom the main panel, an$ run in !erti'ally

$o&n a'ross the other lines you $re&( Noti'e that it erases in the shape o the brush that

you ha!e sele'te$( /n important note is that on any other layer than the ba'+groun$ 9&e

ne!er a$$e$ any layers to this image, so &e-re still &or+ing on the ba'+groun$: you&oul$ remo!e / 'olour ; the area you erase$ &oul$ be'ome transparent( On the

ba'+groun$, it erases to the original ba'+groun$ 'olour(

)ele't the paint brush tool( 3ouble;'li'+ on the paint brush to bring up the "ToolOptions" $ialogue &in$o&( Noti'e that &e ha!e a huge sele'tion o options( )et the

opa'ity to appro#imately 50(0 an$ $ra& another !erti'al line 'utting a'ross yourhoriontal lines 9I still ha!e yello& sele'te$, i you-re ollo&ing that 'losely:( Noti'e that

the resulting line isn-t entirely opa


26/36

is the 'olour= you-ll in$ that at irst it seems you-re $ra&ing in blue, until you hit another

line( )in'e the mo$e is set to $ieren'e, the 'olour you use is in!erte$ &hen you $ra& on

a &hite ba'+groun$, an$ you get the $ieren'e o 'olours e!ery time you 'ross anotherline( )in'e blue an$ yello& are 'olour opposites, &hen your yello& line 9&hi'h loo+s

blueB: 'rosses the blue line, you get &hite ; be'ause blue an$ yello& are 'ompletely

$ierent( /t this point, &e-!e mo!e$ into a realm o $ra&ing that has no parallel in thephysi'al &orl$ o paper an$ paint ; up until no&, you 'oul$ almost imagine yoursel

$oing all o this on paper (((

/ir brush an$ painting &ith "$ieren'e" mo$e a$$e$(

There are a lot o $ierent mo$es, an$ you +no& ho& to 'hange them no&( %hetherthey-re o pra'ti'al use to you &ill $epen$ on ho& you 'hoose to use the GIMP( I

re'ommen$ that you e#periment at least a little &ith the mo$es to see &hat they $o ; butthat e#ploration is up to you(

To 'lose this se'tion, let-s ta+e a


27/36

'onetti( Change the 'olour to re$ an$ $ra& another !erti'al line &ith your ne& brush(

@ou-ll noti'e as you $ra& that this brush only mar+s your 'an!as !ery inre


28/36

No& might be a goo$ time to mention the &on$ers o tear;o menus( There are 'ertain

menus that I en$ up using a great $eal, an$ it be'omes te$ious to +eep right;'li'+ing on

the image an$ then na!igating the menu system to the item I &ant only to ha!e to repeatthe pro'ess almost imme$iately( The authors o the GIMP ha!e 'ome up &ith a airly

ni'e solution to this= right;'li'+ on the image, na!igate to the menu you &ant to use 9I

&oul$ suggest "6ilters": an$ noti'e at the !ery top o the menu there-s a $ashe$ line( Iyou put your pointer o!er that, you-ll noti'e that it be'omes highlighte$ li+e any other

menu item( Cli'+ on it, an$ the menu be'omes its o&n &in$o& that you 'an position

any&here you &ant(

The 6ilter menu, ater it-s torn o(

I re'ommen$ 'reating most ne& material or tiles on their o&n layers ; parti'ularly &henyou-re &or+ing &ith the "*en$er" menu item, as it o!er&rites the 'urrent layer( )o as airst step, 'reate a ne& layer( No& 'li'+ on "*en$er" in the 6ilters menu, an$ sele't

"Clou$s ;E )oli$ Noise (((" In the $ialogue bo# that appears, 'li'+ the "Tileable"

'he'+bo#( This is ob!iously a really ni'e eature to ha!e i you-re &or+ing on tiles, an$it-s a!ailable in a e& o the $ialogue bo#es &e-ll be &or+ing &ith( I-m going to 'li'+ the

"Turbulent" 'he'+bo# as &ell be'ause I li+e the ee't( I you-re 'urious, you 'an 'reate a

se'on$ layer &ith "Turbulent" toggle$ the other &ay so you 'an see &hat the t&o $o


29/36

$ierently( The "*an$om )ee$" setting is interesting too= by $eault it-s set to ".", an$ i

you 'ome ba'+ to this $ialogue later, you-ll get the same pattern again &ith the number

set on the same time( I you &ant to get a $ierent pattern ea'h time, 'li'+ the "Time"button an$ you-ll get a 9mostly: ran$om number 'hosen e!ery time you generate a Noise

pi'ture(

The ")oli$ Noise" $ialogue bo#(

To !eriy that the material you-!e 'reate$ is tileable 9a goo$ pra'ti'e ; I-!e spent a lot o

&or+ on some images only to in$ I $i$ something non;tileable se!eral steps ba'+ an$ Iha$ to $is'ar$ the image: right;'li'+ on the image, sele't the "Image ;E Transorms ;E

Oset (((" item( In the $ialogue bo# that appears, sele't the "Oset by 9#?2:, 9y?2:" button(

@ou-ll noti'e that it puts 200 in the K bo# an$ 200 in the @ bo# 9i you-re &or+ing &ith a400 by 400 image:( )ay "OA(" The image is oset by 50D in both $ire'tions, an$ youshoul$ still see a seamless image( I you $on-t, go ba'+ an$ 'he'+ that you ha$ the

"Tileable" button s&it'he$ on( *emember to perorm this 'he'+ o''asionally( @ou 'an

no& 'li'+ CT*;H to reset the image to its original position( In a't, I-$ re'ommen$ this ;not be'ause it-s ne'essary no&, but i you ma+e tiles mu'h you-ll in$ yoursel &or+ing

&ith layers that mat'h up in a parti'ular position, an$ osetting one &ill ruin the image(

)o hitting CT*;H to un$o the 'hange is goo$ pra'ti'e(

Ma+e a ne& layer( In the ne& layer, use "6ilters ;E *en$er ;E Clou$s ;E Plasma (((" togenerate some 'olours to a$$ to this bla'+ an$ &hite image( No& hit CT*;)JI6T;O

9the +eyboar$ e


30/36

The inal orm o the tile$ image(

The tile &e-!e generate$ isn-t that e#'iting, but in 'ombination &ith the pre!iously

mentione$ GIMP tutorials you shoul$ be on your &ay to 'reating something mu'h better(

I you-re intereste$ in ma+ing tiles, I &oul$ highly re'ommen$ that you $o&nloa$ the

Plasma2 plugin rom the GIMP plugin registry at http=??registry(gimp(org?( I you ha!ethe %in$o&s !ersion o the GIMP, it-s alrea$y in'lu$e$, but most inu# users &ill ha!e

to $o&nloa$ it or themsel!es(

Cha%ter 3' Miscellaneous GIMP 4eatures

Introduction

/s I-!e emphasie$ many times, the GIMP 'an $o many things( I-m not going to go into

as mu'h $etail as I-$ li+e about the !arious eatures mentione$ in this 'hapter, but I
http://registry.gimp.org/http://registry.gimp.org/


31/36

&ante$ to point out they e#ist( They-re the ones I use the most, an$ I-m stret'hing that to

guess that maybe they-ll be useul to you( This se'tion is in'omplete ; I hope to inish it

up later(

Taking a Screenshot

Many programs 'an ta+e s'reenshots, but e& are as goo$ at $o'toring the image ater it-s

ta+en as the GIMP is(

On the main panel, 'li'+ on the "6ile" menu, an$ sele't "/'


32/36

et-s start &ith the seamless plasma rom the tile 'hapter 9I-!e set the layer mo$e ba'+ to

"Normal":=

The seamless plasma image(

Open the "Cur!es (((" $ialogue( The $eault or "Cur!es" is to mo$iy the brightness o

the entire image ; but you 'an 'hoose to &or+ 7ust on a spe'ii' 'olour 'hannel( Jere-s the

results o the most basi' "$rags" you 'an $o on the 'ur!e=


33/36

3ragging the 'ur!e $o&n $ar+ens the image(


34/36

3ragging the 'ur!e up lightens the image(


35/36

Creating an ")" 'ur!e in'reases 'ontrast, but 'reating an in!erte$ ")" 'ur!e li+e this one

re$u'es 'ontrast(


36/36

The gra$ient on the let is transorme$ by the 'ur!e into the image on the right( This +in$

o treatment isn-t useul on photographs, but sho&s &hat Cur!es 'an $o an$ 'an &or+

&ell on 'omputer;generate$ images(

/ter $oing a lot o &or+ on $amage$ images, I-!e 'ome to the 'on'lusion that i#ing an

image is a magi'ian-s art, there-s !ery little s'ien'e in!ol!e$( The s'ien'e is in thenumbers, in &hat the 'ur!e $oes to the image( The magi' is ma+ing it amount to

something that loo+s goo$, an$ that isn-t easy( I 'oul$ ha!e sho&n you this &ith a "real"image, but the ee'ts are 7ust as ob!ious on the plasma image an$ the only &ay to learn

to use 'olour 'orre'tions is to pra'ti'e yoursel(

/s al&ays, subtlety is a goo$ thing= i in'reasing the 'ontrast ma+es an image loo+ better,then in'rease it until you start to thin+ it-s too mu'h( Then pull ba'+ &ell beyon$ &hat

you thought &as the a''eptable limit( /s al&ays, your mileage may !ary, but this has

almost al&ays &or+e$ or me ; an$ sa!e$ me rom posting some blaringly 'ontrasty

images( @ou loo+ at that neon;bright !ersion o an image too long an$ it starts to loo+

o+ay (((

Cha%ter 6' !ther Resources

The tutorials at the GIMP site are !ery goo$= http=??&&&(gimp(org?tutorials(html

There are at least t&o boo+s a!ailable online= the GIMP User's Manual, a+a GIMP: TheOfficial Handbooka!ailable athttp=??manual(gimp(org?, an$ Grokking the GIMP

a!ailable at http=??gimp;sa!!y('om?1OOA?in$e#(html(O the t&o, I $einitely a!our the

latter= it-s airly straight;or&ar$, &hile I in$ the ormer $ii'ult to use online an$sometimes o!erly 'omple#( 1oth are also a!ailable in paper !ersions= I thin+ I-$ li+e the

User Manual better in paper, but I $on-t o&n it an$ 'an-t say or sure(

T&o other goo$ boo+s on the sub7e't are /le# Jaror$-s GIMP: Essential Reference,

publishe$ in 2000 by Ne& *i$ers, an$ Mi'hael Jammel-sEssential GIMP for WebProfessionalspublishe$ in 200. by Prenti'e Jall PT*( O all o these boo+s, I in$

mysel reerring to GIMP: Essential Referencethe most( I-m not sure it-s the best to learn

rom 9Essential GIMP for Web Professionals&as pretty goo$ or that:, but on'e you+no& the GIMP it-s !ery &ell organie$ as a reeren'e 9I $on-t ta+e it or grante$ these

$ays that something that says it-s a "*eeren'e" &ill a'tually be goo$ or that (((:

The GIMP plugin registry at http=??registry(gimp(org?(
http://www.gimp.org/tutorials.htmlhttp://www.gimp.org/tutorials.htmlhttp://manual.gimp.org/http://manual.gimp.org/http://gimp-savvy.com/BOOK/index.htmlhttp://gimp-savvy.com/BOOK/index.htmlhttp://registry.gimp.org/http://www.gimp.org/tutorials.htmlhttp://manual.gimp.org/http://gimp-savvy.com/BOOK/index.htmlhttp://registry.gimp.org/

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