GIMP Tutorials

Hello everyone, I've been using GIMP for about 6 or 7 months and I have decided to share some secrets with everyone. For those who do not know what GIMP is, it is a free photo-editing program much like photoshop (minus the $1000 or illegal download) Here's the link for those who would like to try it out:

GIMP - The GNU Image Manipulation Program

Since there seems to be people who already have the program and know the basics of it, I'm going to spare you the time of reading through the boring stuff, if you are new to the program however, there are some great tutorials on youtube, just do a search for "GIMP TUTORIALS"

Tutorial 1: Colorization
(please forgive me for not using btvs/angel images for this one, I have already made a tutorial using other images)

Go from this:


To this:




Step one(after opening the image):
make a duplicate layer of the image. Choose one, and desaturate it. Colors>Desaturate...>lightness

It should now be a grayscale image like this:


Step Two:
With the desaturated image, choose a color (I chose blue) and colorize the image. Colors > Color Balance
Play around with the levels until you find a color that you like.

It should now look something like this:


Step Three:
Now go to the original image and drop it into the colorized image so that the original copy is on top. Add a layer mask to that layer. Layer> Mask> Add Layer Mask> White

Step Four:
Choose a circular brush (preferably fuzz around the edges) make sure that black is chosen as your forground color and that the layer mask is the part that you are coloring on. Start coloring in the part that you wish to colorize starting from the inside and working outward. Do not go all the way to the edges but only the "easy" parts.

It should now look something like this:


Step Five:
Once you have gotten the inside colored in, zoom in and change your brush size to a smaller one, then work your way to the outside of the image. If you mess up a part, go over it with a white brush.



Step Six:
Once you have it to your liking, merge the layers and save your image!

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask!

That seems a lot less time consuming than what I do for colorizing. And hey, do you mind if I post a tutorial as well?

Tutorial 2: Text with an image

In this tutorial we will make a text with an image in it like this:


Step 1: Open a new background (white) make it somewhat big. choose a thick text (I used PosterBodoni BT) type your text and make the text large.

It should look something like this:


Step 2: Merge the two layers and make a duplicate image. Take the duplicate image and make the white background transparent: Layer> Transparency > Color To Alpha (make sure white is chosen in the "from ________ to alpha") set the duplicate image aside.

It should look something like this:


Step 3: Go back to the original image and invert the colors Colors> Invert

Step 4: Choose an image to put in the background, you can use something that you have created, or just a simple image. And drop it into the original image. Move that image to the bottom of the layers. Go back to the original text layer (the one that's now inverted) make sure that it is highlighted in your layers dock and make the lettering transparent. Layer>Transparency>Color to Alpha (make sure that white is still chosen as the color to alpha) and merge the layers.

It should look something like this:


Step 5:
Now make the black background transparent. Layer>Transparency>Color to Alpha this time, choose black as the color to make transparent.

It should look something like this:


Step 6:
now go back to the duplicate image, drop it into the original image and move it to the bottom of the layers. and merge layers.

It should look like this:



Step 7: (optional) Add a shadow by taking the duplicate layer and dropping it into the original image again. Blur it using the gaussian blur. Filters>Blur>Gaussian Blur (I used 5 as the blur radius) Drop the duplicate layer to the bottom of the layers and move it slightly to the side. Merge layers.

It should look something like this:


Step 8: Save as either a png or gif file, otherwise, the background will just be white.

I just wanted to add links to some tutorials that I use on an almost daily basis:

I use this one to get a lot of my 3-D textured effects: Textured Design | Gimp-tutorials.net - Gimp , tutorials , brushes , downloads, forum.

I use this one to get a subtle, two-tone effect: Split-toning in GIMP | Gimp-tutorials.net - Gimp , tutorials , brushes , downloads, forum.

I use this one to add crinkly textures (on a large and small scale): GimpTalk View topic - Foil Paper



They're all pretty basic and easy, but when you combine several of these elements at once, it makes the end result look far more advanced.




Finally, I use this as a general reference guide: http://gimp-savvy.com/BOOK/

Thanks for this, I'm using photoshop, but I've been wondering how people colourize for a while! This method should work fine!

Hi, all!

I found a really useful collection of 30 great GIMP tutorials, so I figured I would share them:

30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources

I've tried the bulk of them. Most of them are pretty easy to follow.



EDIT:
And here are two of my favorite GIMP tutorials:

This one teaches you how to make antique photo images from contemporary photo images:
Haris Corner - GIMP effect: creating an old photo

This one teaches you how to turn a photo image into a sketch image:
GIMP - Sketch Effect


EDIT again:
I have recently been asked how I cut out images in GIMP. I also noticed a few others having problems with it. My method is nowhere near the only method, but it works for me. I thought it would be helpful if I posted it for others:

Cutting Out an Image in GIMP:

Cutting out an image is hard, but it's not impossible. I use the lasso tool with a feathering radius of about 2.5. With it, I outline the desired image as closely as I can. If I want to cut the image out and place it on another image, I simply cut and paste (making sure to paste the image into its own layer). Alternatively, if I want to get rid of the background, I go to the Select menu and choose Invert, and then I click the delete button to get rid of the background. After that, I zoom in and erase problem areas manually. I tend to use a fuzzy eraser tool so that the erased edges appear more smooth. To reposition or resize the image, I right click on the layer and choose "Alpha to Selection," and then I go to Select > Float Selection. This creates a temporary layer out of the selected image and allows you to resize and reposition the image as needed. When I'm done, I click the anchor button to merge the floated selection with its layer. The cutting process is now complete!

After awhile, you get the hang of the process and it becomes sort of like second nature (albeit a tedious second nature), but cutting out images is a really time consuming and labor-intensive sort of thing.

Anyway, the above is how I cut out an image. It's important to blend the image well, too, though. No matter how precise the cut job, improperly blended images look very "cut out." I usually right-click the layer, select "Alpha to Selection," then go to Select > Border. I set a border of somewhere between 2 - 5 pixels (depending on the size of the image) and then perform a Gaussian Blur on the selected border. I then use my blur and smudge tools as needed, especially with hair, which I tend to smudge in strands. Sometimes, I even create strands in this manner. Once the entire piece is done, I tend to flatten the image and blur the edges just a little more in order to get it to seem more blended into that background.

Anywho, this is sort of a quick and dirty set of guidelines, but I hope it helps!