INTRO TO GIMP

Tools you will often use

Steps

1. Open Gimp – Set up dimen-sions for ban-ner

File> new project > put in Width and Height > Click Ad-vanced Options > > Fill with TRANSPARENCY

1. Banner Project = 1600x230 px (pixels)72 ppi

2. Poster Project =11”x17” inches150 – 300ppi

Note print MUST be higher ppi resolution (150 -300 ppi)

2. Open your Toolbox, Lay-ers and Gradi-ents

1.Windows>Toolbox2.Windows>Dockable Di-alogs> Layers3. Windows>Dockable Di-alogs> GradientsNOTE you can drag your dockable dialog tools into your tool box, click & drag corner of tool box to widen (if it is long an skinny) and drop them in.

3. Creating Lay-ers to build your composi-tion – first cre-ate new layer this will be your gradient layer

1. Create new layerMake sure the dimen-sions are the same as your banner and set it as a transparent layer.

This first create new layer will be your gradi-ent layer.

4. Setting gradi-ent to new layer

1. Choose a gradient colour from the styles provided.

2.In the tool box double click the “Fill with Gradient “ tool.

This will open up a “Tool Op-tions window for the gradi-ent. You can change the style of your gradient here (Try making it Radial other than Linear as an example)

3. With the “Fill with Gradi-ent” tool selected, click and drag your mouse across your project canvas and you will see a gradient layer fill your space – the direction and length that you click and drag your mouse sets the gra-dient look.

5. Adding other images to gimp composition (open, cut & copy)

1. File> Open > and choose your images you down-loaded or have on your computer and open them individually.

2. Using the Free select tool find an area on the image you would like to cut and copy into your banner project

3. Click point by point around the object you want to select (from be-ginning to endpoint) and then copy it.

6. Paste image into your ban-ner as floating layer

1.Paste image into your ban-ner as floating layer IMPORTANT – It should show up as a floating layer Click on Create New layer button on bottom to make it permanent. – If you don’t do this it will be merged on the same layer! Note you can also create a new layer be-forehand and copy it into that as well.

7. Scale and place image (s)

If your image is to large (or small) for your you can use the scale tool to size it

Click on the image you have pasted with the scale icon and it will create a grid around your image and a scale box will appear. If you click on the link (next to px) it will make any changes to width or height proportional. You can change px to percent and save any size changes OR click and hold the corner of the grid around your image to resize it larger or smaller.

9. Add text & or other stuff.

Click on the Text tool and add any text if you are making a poster.

8. When finished with your com-position you MUST EXPORT to a usable im-age format JPEG, PNG, GIF etc…

1. File>Export or Ex-port as

2. Name your file and where you would like it saved on your computer.

3. Click on “Select File Type (by ex-tension) and choose PNG or JPEG image and save at highest res-olution

4. Press save.

ENRICHMENT/ADVANCED ACTIVITIES:Try one or more of these!

1. Learn how to create a MASK Layer and apply to a section of your composi-tion – using the elliptical or rectangular select tools and apply a mask with a solid mask layer and adjust the opacity to the mask.https://www.gimp.org/tutorials/Layer_Masks/

2. Learn how to use the Bezier Pen tool instead of the Free Select tool – The Bezier Pen is much better for fine quality cutting of selection areas, it allow for creating vector curve that cut across pixels by using handles that will al-low you to shape a selected curve between two points. This is what the PROS use! http://www.quackit.com/web_graphics/gimp/tutorial/drawing_paths_with_gimp.cfm

http://lightningismyname.blogspot.ca/2008/06/gimp-path-tool-aka-pen-tool-tutorial_15.html

3. Learn how to use the Clone stamp tool to remove sections of an image layer – This is fun for removing your ex-partner from vacation pics.https://docs.gimp.org/en/gimp-tool-clone.htmlhttp://www.wikihow.com/Use-the-Clone-Tool-in-Gimp

4. Learn how to use feathering to soften image cuts or brush edges. Play with brushes, lines and shapes to “draw” an original logo for your poster.

http://www.mahvin.com/2010/06/gimp-tutorial-mimicking-3d-shapes.html

https://docs.gimp.org/en/gimp-tools-paint.html