Basic Edits
• Cropping (cut out region)• File format conversion
– JPEG/PNG/GIF– Native XCF format– Supports .psd (Adobe)– Others…
• Rescale/Rotate (layers)• Add caption (see text)• Remove ex-girlfriend?
Starting up the GIMP
• Toolbox (extra by default)– Basic tools found here
• Image pane– Advanced tools in menus– New/Save
• Set dimensions, mode, etc.
• Export in 2.8
– Single-window option in 2.8
• Layers, Channels, Paths, Undo
Some useful shortcuts
• [CTRL] + ScrollZoom
• [SHIFT] + ScrollSide scroll
• [CTRL] + ClickToggle tool’s settings
(varies)
• [SHIFT] + ClickPaint in straight line
• Hover + [F1]– GIMP Help Browser
• [SHIFT] + Select– Add to selection
• [CTRL] + Select– Subtract from selection
• [CTRL] + [SHIFT] + Select– Select intersection
• Standard Windozey bindings
Text (Type) Tool
• Click to type• Set font/style in toolbar• Either highlight to change, or
set font/size/style before typing
• Editor opens in new window– This is fixed in 2.7/2.8
• Outline a bit more involved– Path from text, stroke path
Painting
• Not MS Paint…– But it can compete
• Paintbrush/Pencil/Airbrush– Brush types
• Fuzzy/Fine• Custom brushes• Rotating in 2.8
• Fore/Background color
• Bucket fill
Patterns & Gradients (l)
• Fuzzy vs. Fine brushes– Custom brushes
• Paint with pattern/gradient
• Gradient tool– Fill entire selected
region– MANY advanced tricks
use this• Think mathematically
Dodge/Burn (D)
• Selectively lighten/darken with paintbrush– Different from painting
• Lighting effects– Similar to photography
• Useful for contrast, emphasis, highlighting
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DodgeBurn.png
Smudge/Blur (s/U)
• Selectively blur or rub as oil painting– Similar to smearing
paint with finger– Useful for censorship,
emphasis, painting-like effect
• [CTRL] + click for opposite effect
• Useful for texture, esp. faces
Cloning/Healing Comparison
• Clone Stamp is most common– Duplicating patterns
• Paint from clone source
– Removing sections
• Healing (Brush) more specialized– More gradual
• Takes surrounding region into account
– Removing blemishes– Smoothing small regions
Guide to Cloning/Healing
• Select clone source [CTRL] + click (origin)
• Paint anywhere using origin as palate– Origin moves with
brush as you paint
• ???• PROFIT!!!
Perspective Cloning (?)
• Just like cloning– but with perspective
• Set perspective• Switch to cloning mode• Select clone source• Paint in new perspective• ???• Meh, whatever
Fine selection
• Paths tool (?)
• “Intelligent” Scissors (magnetic lasso)
• Fuzzy Select (magic wand)
• Quick Mask (?)
• Grow/Shrink/Feather
Paths (b)
• Useful for curved but continuous selection
• Also curves in general• Select multiple points• Move/Resize vectors
to adjust curves• Create near full circle
(no intersections)• Select From Path
• GIMP is not a vector program
• But it can use vectors
Intelligent Scissors
• Easier, faster, more robust, dynamic
• Not always better (see Rainbow Dash)
• Select key points• More the merrier• Linear path finding w/
graph theory• Close loop, then adjust• To finalize, click inside
selection
Fuzzy Select (u) (Magic Wand)
• Similar-colored surrounding regions– Only contiguous
• Move mouse up/down to adjust sensitivity– Set default threshold
• Ideal for selecting multiple regions
COlor Select
• Similar-colored regions– Entire image
• Move mouse up/down to adjust sensitivity– Set default threshold
• Also ideal for selecting multiple regions– Preferable for distinctive-
colored parts
Refining your selection
• Quick Mask ([SHIFT] + Q)– Red overlay not selected
– Paint/Erase selection
• Select Grow/Shrink• Select Feather (blur)• Shapes (rectangle,
elipse, freehand)– Rounded corners– Feathered edges– Guides
Layers
• Stacked in one image• Opacity & sizes• Edit one at a time
– Preserve others
• Copy/Delete/Create, Insert
• Used for animated GIFs
• Layer grouping in 2.8
Modes, Masks, Transparency
• RGB, greyscale, indexed (image as a whole)
• Alpha channel– 24-bit vs. 32-bit
• Layer mask– Black = 0 = transparent
White = 255 = opaque– Black background and
colorful foreground gives…
Move/Resize/Transform
• Layers as their own independent images
• Perspective ([SHIFT] + P)• Filter Distort iWarp
– Cage transform in 2.8, improved in 2.10
• Rotate/Resize/Flip ([SHIFT] + R/T/F)
• Move layer or selection• Liquid Rescale (Content-
Aware Resize)– Requires plug-in