Teaching the skills of tomorrow…today!

TECHNOGIMP

ISBN: #

Teaching the skills of tomorrow…today!

TECHNOGIMP

Table of Contents

SESSION 1 ............................................................................................................... 1
Assignment 1: GIMP and Its Interface .................................................................. 3
GIMP ....................................................................................................................... 3
Basic Parts of GIMP............................................................................................... 3
Assignment 2: Getting Started ............................................................................... 7
Creating a New File ............................................................................................. 7
Modifying Canvas Size ........................................................................................ 9
Opening a File..................................................................................................... 10
Saving a File......................................................................................................... 11
Exporting a File .................................................................................................... 12
Assignment 3: Creating Shapes .......................................................................... 13
Creating Simple Shapes .................................................................................... 13
Creating Custom Shapes .................................................................................. 17
Assignment 4: Using Layers ................................................................................... 21
Creating a Layer................................................................................................. 21
Renaming a Layer .............................................................................................. 22
Duplicating a Layer............................................................................................ 23
Organizing Layers ............................................................................................... 24
Changing Layer Visibility ................................................................................... 26
Opening a File as a Layer ................................................................................. 27
Assignment 5: Paintbrush Tool and Text Tool ..................................................... 29
Paintbrush Tool .................................................................................................... 29
Text Tool ................................................................................................................ 32
Assignment Activity: Create Your Own Name Tag ...................................... 34
Assignment 6: Creating a GIMP Artwork............................................................ 35
Creating an Artwork .......................................................................................... 35
Assignment 7: Coloring a Character .................................................................. 45
Coloring the Character ..................................................................................... 45
Session Activity: Create a Colored Image..................................................... 52

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SESSION 2 ............................................................................................................. 53
Assignment 8: Transform Tools.............................................................................. 55
Rotate Tool .......................................................................................................... 55
Scale Tool ............................................................................................................. 56
Flip Tool ................................................................................................................. 57
Warp Transform ................................................................................................... 58
Shear Tool ............................................................................................................ 59
Perspective Tool.................................................................................................. 60
Unified Transform Tool ........................................................................................ 60
Assignment Activity: Transform and Arrange Objects ................................. 63
Assignment Activity: Create a Collage .......................................................... 64
Assignment 9: Fixing Overexposed and Underexposed Photos .................... 65
Fixing Overexposed Photos .............................................................................. 65
Fixing Underexposed Photos ............................................................................ 67
Assignment Activity: Fix Overexposed and Underexposed Photos........... 68
Assignment 10: Enhancing Photos ...................................................................... 69
Color Enhance .................................................................................................... 69
Hue-Saturation .................................................................................................... 70
Assignment 11: Correcting Colors in a Photo ................................................... 73
Color Balance ..................................................................................................... 73
Assignment 12: Improving Photos Using Levels and Curves ........................... 77
Levels .................................................................................................................... 77
Curves................................................................................................................... 79
Assignment 13: Creating Grayscale Photos ...................................................... 81
Using Grayscale .................................................................................................. 81
Using Decompose .............................................................................................. 82
Using Color to Gray ............................................................................................ 84
Using Desaturate ................................................................................................ 84
Using Mono Mixer ............................................................................................... 86
Assignment 14: Creating Threshold Images ...................................................... 87
Using Threshold.................................................................................................... 87
Assignment 15: Making Photos Look Old ........................................................... 91

Teaching the skills of tomorrow…today!

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Desaturated Sepia ............................................................................................. 91
Assignment 16: Converting an Image to a Pencil Drawing ........................... 93
Creating a Pencil Drawing Image .................................................................. 93
Assignment Activity: Create Your Own Pencil Drawing Image ................. 98
Session Activity: Enhance Photos and Make a Collage ............................. 99
SESSION 3 ........................................................................................................... 101
Assignment 17: Retouching Photos .................................................................. 103
Healing Tool ....................................................................................................... 103
Assignment 18: Applying Dodge/Burn and Blur/Sharpen Tools ................... 109
Dodge/Burn Tool .............................................................................................. 109
Blur/Sharpen Tool .............................................................................................. 114
Assignment 19: Fixing Damages in a Photo .................................................... 119
Clone Tool .......................................................................................................... 119
Assignment Activity: Fix the Damaged Wall ................................................ 122
Assignment 20: Layer Mask ................................................................................ 123
Using Layer Mask .............................................................................................. 123
Assignment Activity: Mask the Roses ............................................................ 128
Assignment 21: Creating a Typographic Portrait ........................................... 129
Preparing the Portrait....................................................................................... 129
Placing Typography on the Portrait .............................................................. 134
Assignment Activity: Create Your Own Typographic Image ................... 140
Assignment 22: Using Filters................................................................................. 141
Using Filters ......................................................................................................... 141
Assignment Activity: Put Some Filter On ....................................................... 144
Assignment 23: Gradient Tool and Map .......................................................... 145
Gradient Tool .................................................................................................... 145
Gradient Map ................................................................................................... 149
Assignment Activity: Apply Gradient Effect ................................................ 152
Assignment 24: Creating a Watermark ............................................................ 153
Create a Watermark with Text Tool............................................................... 153
Assignment Activity: Create Your Own Watermark ................................... 159
Session Activity: Edit the Image ..................................................................... 160

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SESSION 4 ........................................................................................................... 161
Assignment 25: Advanced Selection Tools ..................................................... 163
Free Select Tool ................................................................................................. 163
Fuzzy Select Tool ............................................................................................... 165
Select by Color Tool ......................................................................................... 166
Paths Tool ........................................................................................................... 167
Assignment 26: Cutting an Image in GIMP ..................................................... 169
Cutting an Image Using Paths Tool ............................................................... 169
Assignment 27: Changing the Background of the Subject .......................... 173
Extracting and Editing the Subject Image ................................................... 173
Placing the Subject in a New Background ................................................. 179
Assignment Activity: Change the Background .......................................... 182
Assignment 28: Changing the Color of an Object ........................................ 183
Changing the Color of an Object................................................................. 183
Assignment Activity: Change the Color of the Shirt ................................... 188
Assignment 29: Creating a Flat Icon ................................................................ 189
Using Guides ...................................................................................................... 189
Designing the Icon ........................................................................................... 194
Assignment Activity: Creating Your Own Icon ............................................ 202
Assignment 30: Creating a GIF .......................................................................... 203
Extracting Images from Videos ...................................................................... 203
Creating a GIF in GIMP.................................................................................... 206
Assignment Activity: Create Your Own GIF ................................................. 209
Session Activity: Change the Color and Background ............................... 210
APPENDICES ....................................................................................................... 211
Appendix A: Terminology List ............................................................................. 213
Appendix B: Glossary........................................................................................... 215
Appendix C: Toolbox Tools ................................................................................. 217
Appendix D: Contact Information .................................................................... 219

Teaching the skills of tomorrow…today!

SESSION 1
INTRODUCTION TO GIMP
In this session, you will learn about the GIMP interface and its basic functions.
You will also learn how to create a GIMP file, modify the canvas size, and save
your work. In addition, you will discover how to use layers, the Paintbrush Tool,
and the Text Tool.

Assignment 1: GIMP and Its Interface

Assignment 2: Getting Started
Assignment 3: Creating Shapes
Assignment 4: Using Layers
Assignment 5: Paintbrush Tool and Text Tool
Assignment 6: Creating a GIMP Artwork
Assignment 7: Coloring a Character
INTRODUCTION TO GIMP

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Assignment 1: GIMP and Its Interface

GIMP

GNU Image Manipulation Program or GIMP is a free and open-source image editor that can run
on multiple platforms like Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS, and other operating systems. Since it
is an open-source editor, professional users can edit the source code, enabling them to create
plug-ins or updates that provide different tools and new customizations to existing tools. Since its
release in 1996, it has now evolved to become a competitive and free alternative to Adobe
Photoshop.

Basic Parts of GIMP

The GIMP interface has six major parts: (A) Menu Bar, (B) Toolbox, (C) Tool Options, (D) Canvas, (E)
Brushes/Patterns/Fonts Dock, and (F) Layers/Channels/Paths Dock.

You have the option to hide all the docks or dialog boxes in the GIMP interface, leaving only the
canvas and the Menu Bar.

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To do this, go to the Menu Bar ► Windows ► Hide Docks or simply press Tab on your keyboard.

A. Menu Bar
The Menu Bar contains the different functions of GIMP grouped into categories such as
File, Edit, Image, etc.

B. Toolbox
The Toolbox contains the different tools for creating and editing your work.

a. Tools Selection – where you can select the different tools used to create or edit an
image.
b. Foreground and Background Color Selector – where you set your foreground and
background colors.

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C. Tool Options
The Tool Options displays the options for the currently selected tool. You can modify the
settings of the tools in this panel.

D. Canvas
The canvas contains the image you are working on.

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E. Brushes/Patterns/Fonts Dock
The Brushes/Patterns/Fonts Dock is where you can select different types of brushes,
patterns, fonts, gradients, etc. You can also view more dockable dialogs by going to
Windows ► Dockable Dialogs.

F. Layers/Channels/Paths Dock
The Layers/Channels/Paths Dock displays the Layers Dialog by default, which contains the
important buttons used when dealing with layers.

The following are some of the commonly used buttons:

a. Layer visibility button – changes the visibility of a layer.
b. New Layer button – adds a new layer to your work.
c. New Layer Group button – creates a folder where you can place the layers
together.
d. Duplicate Layer button – creates a copy of the selected layer.
e. Delete Layer button – deletes the selected layer.

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Assignment 2: Getting Started

In this Assignment, you will learn the basics in using GIMP such as creating a GIMP file, modifying
the canvas size, and saving your work.

Creating a New File

The first thing you need to do is to create a new file. To do this, go to the Menu Bar ►File ► New…

The Create a New Image dialog box will then appear where you can input your preferred (A)
Width and Height for your image. To view more options for your new file, click on (B) Advanced
Options.

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After clicking on Advanced Options, a drop-down selection will appear. Here, you can (1) change
the image presets such as the X and Y resolution, Color space, and Fill. Once done, (2) click on
OK.

The canvas will now appear with the dimensions you inputted.

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Modifying Canvas Size

You can still modify the canvas size if you want to change the image’s dimensions without the
need to create a new file. To do this, go to the Menu Bar ► Image ► Canvas Size…

The Set Image Canvas Size dialog box will then appear. Here, you can change the (1) Width and
Height of the canvas. After inputting the new dimensions, click on (2) Resize.

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Opening a File

Before you can edit images in GIMP, you first need to learn how to open a file. To open a file in
GIMP, go to the Menu Bar ► File ► Open…

The Open Image dialog box will then appear. (1) Locate and select the file you want to open,
then (2) click on Open. The selected image file should then be displayed on your canvas.

After clicking on Open, GIMP may show a dialog box asking you to convert to an RGB Working
Space. This option converts the color profile of an image to the built-in sRGB color profile in GIMP.
Click on Convert to make the image more compatible with GIMP. If this dialog box does not
appear, it means that the image is already using the built-in sRGB color profile of GIMP.

The file formats GIMP can open are JPEG, PNG, GIF, PNG, PSD, and XCF. If you want to increase
the number of file formats that GIMP can support, use a plug-in.

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Saving a File

Saving a file is one of the most basic things you need to know when using GIMP. To do this, go to
the Menu Bar ► File ► Save… or Save As…

 Save… – saves your work as a GIMP file without making a separate file from the original
file, overwriting the new version with the old version.
 Save As… – saves your work as a different file. Use a different filename so as to not
overwrite the previous version of the file. This is also used if you want to save your work in a
different format.

Note: Remember to always save your work to secure your progress. The shortcut for Save… is Ctrl
+ S, while Save As… is Shift + Ctrl + S.

The Save Image dialog box will then appear. (1) Input your filename, then (2) click on Save.

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Exporting a File

You can also save your file into a different format using Export As… To export a file, go to the Menu
Bar ►File ► Export As… or press the shortcut keys, Shift + Ctrl + E.

In the Export Image dialog box that will appear, click on Select File Type (By Extension) to show
the drop-down list of file formats you can use.

After selecting a file format, click on Export.

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Assignment 3: Creating Shapes

In this Assignment, you will create simple and custom shapes. To create simple shapes, use the
Rectangle Select Tool and Ellipse Select Tool found in the Toolbox. These two are generally used
for selecting rectangular and oval objects, but you can also use them to create shapes. To create
customs shapes, use the Paths Tool also found in the Toolbox. It is a selection tool that allows you
to draw or connect paths to create a shape.

Creating Simple Shapes

To create a rectangle or a square in GIMP, go to the Toolbox and select the Rectangle Select Tool
or press the shortcut key, R.

Click on the canvas and drag the cursor to create a rectangle. If you want to create a square,
hold the Shift button while dragging the cursor to make all sides symmetrical.

After creating the outline for your shape, go to the Toolbox and click on the foreground color.

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(1) Select a color for your shape in the Change Foreground Color dialog box that will appear. In
this example, the color red was used. (2) Click on OK when done.

To fill the shape with your chosen foreground color, go to the Menu Bar ► Edit ► Fill with FG Color.

The rectangle should now be filled with the foreground color.

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To create round shapes in GIMP, go to the Toolbox and select the Ellipse Select Tool or press the
shortcut key, E.

Click on the canvas and drag the cursor to create a round shape. If you want to create a perfect
circle, hold the Shift button while dragging the cursor.

(1) After creating the outline for your shape, go to the Toolbox and click on the foreground color.
Select a color for your shape in the Change Foreground Color dialog box that will appear. In this
example, the color dark blue was used. (2) Click on OK when done.

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Instead of filling the circle with the foreground color, use it to create a solid colored outline. To do
this, go to the Menu Bar ► Edit ► Stroke Selection…

The Stroke Selection dialog box will then appear. (1) Adjust the Line width to your preferred value,
then (2) click on Stroke.

The circle should now have a blue outline instead of a blue fill.

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Creating Custom Shapes

Now that you can create different rectangles and circles in GIMP, you will now learn how to create
custom shapes using the Paths Tool. The Paths Tool is not only used to make shapes; it can also be
used to create complex and precise selections.

Go to the Toolbox and select the Paths Tool or press the shortcut key, B. In the Paths or Tool Options,
you will see that there are three available modes for the Paths Tool: Design, Edit, and Move. Make
sure that the mode is set to Design if you want to create new paths.

The Paths Tool allows you to create shapes by connecting points together; connecting two points
creates a path. Click on the canvas to create an origin point.

To create a triangle, click on the canvas again to add a second point. Try to align it diagonally to
the origin point. Notice how a path was automatically created, connecting the two points.

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Add a third point to create the second side of the triangle. Make sure to align it horizontally to the
second point and diagonally to the origin point.

After creating the third point, hover the cursor to the origin point, then hold the Ctrl key. Two
overlapping circles should then appear, indicating that the two points can be connected. While
holding the Ctrl key, click on the origin point.

The origin point and the last point should now be connected.

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Next, put a color fill or outline to the created path. To do this, go to the Paths Dialog.

Right-click on the unnamed path, then click on Fill Path…

In the Fill Path dialog box, (1) tick Solid color, then (2) click on Fill.

The triangle should now be filled with the foreground color. In this example, the foreground color
green was used.

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If you want the path to have an outline instead of a solid fill, go back to the unnamed path and
right-click on it. Then, click on Stroke Path…

In the Stroke Path dialog box, (1) adjust the Line width to your preferred value, then (2) click on
Stroke.

The triangle should now have a green outline instead of a green fill.

Using the Paths Tool, an infinite number of complex shapes can be created.

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Assignment 4: Using Layers

In this Assignment, you will use learn to create, rename, duplicate, and organize layers in GIMP.
Having layers is an essential function in digital image editors like GIMP as it separates every element
of your work into individual layers. When using image editors that enable layers, it is good practice
to put every change or element you add into separate layers.

Creating a Layer

To create a layer in GIMP, click on the New Layer button located at the bottom of the Layers
Dialog.

The New Layer dialog box will then appear. Click on OK to create a new layer.

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A new layer will now appear on top of the Background layer. The first default layer name is Layer.
The next layers to be created will be named Layer #1, Layer #2, Layer #3, and so on.

Renaming a Layer

Renaming layers organizes layers and distinguishes them from one another. To rename a layer, go
to the Layers Dialog and double-click on the name of the layer.

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Input the new layer name and press the Enter key.

Duplicating a Layer

To copy or duplicate a layer, (1) select the layer you want to duplicate, then (2) click on the
Duplicate Layer button located at the bottom of the Layers Dialog.

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A new layer will then be added to the Layers Dialog but with the word “copy” added to the layer
name it was duplicated from.

Organizing Layers

Organizing layers can be helpful when dealing with layers. In GIMP, you can arrange layers from
top to bottom. Layers at the bottom are covered by layers on top of them.

In the example below, there are three layers in the Layers Dialog: Square layer, Circle layer, and
Background layer. The circle is not visible on the canvas because its layer (Circle layer) is placed
below the Square layer.

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To make the circle visible, drag its layer (Circle layer) on top of the Square layer. While dragging
the layer, a line and arrow will appear.

Now that the Circle layer is placed on top of the Square layer, the circle should now appear on
top of the square on the canvas.

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Changing Layer Visibility

Use the Layer visibility button to change the visibility of a layer on the canvas. Notice how all the
visible layers have an eye icon on the left side of their layer name.

In the example below, the circle is visible because the eye icon is present in its layer (Circle layer).

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To hide the circle on the canvas, click on the eye icon beside the layer name in the Layers Dialog.
If the eye icon is not present, it means that the specific layer is hidden from the canvas.

Opening a File as a Layer

In Assignment 2, you learned how to open files in GIMP. However, opening files that way will only
add it to a new Background layer or tab. This time, open a file as a layer so it will instantly be on a
separate layer inside the current tab or project you are working on.

To open a file as a separate layer, go to the Menu Bar ►File ► Open as Layers… or press the
shortcut keys, Ctrl + Alt + O.

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Next, locate the image file you want to open. (1) You can select multiple files to be opened as
layers at once. After selecting the files, (2) click on Open to open the files as layers.

The files opened as layers should now appear in the Layers Dialog.

Since all the images were opened as layers, all of them should also appear on the canvas.

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Assignment 5: Paintbrush Tool and Text Tool

In this Assignment, you will use the Paintbrush Tool for coloring the canvas and the Text Tool for
inserting texts on the canvas.

Paintbrush Tool
The Paintbrush Tool in GIMP allows you to paint different kinds of strokes on the canvas. A wide
variety of brush strokes is available for use in the Brush Dialog.

Using the Paintbrush Tool, you will create and color a digital name tag. To do this, first create a
new file with 1800px as Width and 600px as Height.

Go to the Toolbox and click on the Paintbrush Tool or press the shortcut key, P.

Next, go to the Brush Dialog and select your preferred brush stroke to paint on the canvas.

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After selecting a brush stroke, go to the Tool or Brush Options under the Toolbox to change the
Size, Aspect Ratio, Angle, Spacing, Hardness, and Force of the brush.

Change the brush color in the Foreground Color Selector. In this example, f1e3e6 was used as the
HTML notation or color code, which are for getting a specific shade of color.

Choose a hard brush style. Use 2. Hardness 100 (51 X 51) as your brush stroke to easily color the
white canvas. You can also increase the brush size to easily cover big areas.

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The image below is a comparison between a (A) hard brush and a (B) soft brush that both use 150
as their brush size. Notice how the soft brush is lighter and smaller because of its fuzzy edges.

Click on the canvas and drag the cursor until all white areas are covered.

Use other brush strokes and colors to design the name tag. Three color codes where used in this
example: a5cac2, e98dc7, and f1c699.

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Text Tool

The Text Tool is used to insert text in the image you are working on. To use this tool, go to the Toolbox
and click on the Text Tool or press the shortcut key, T.

Click on the canvas and drag the cursor. A rectangular text guide will then be created while
dragging the cursor.

Type the name or text that you want to put in the name tag. In this example, “JADE” was typed in
uppercase letters.

Highlight or select the whole text by dragging the cursor over the text. Increase its font size using
the dialog box on top of the text. You can use the arrow keys or simply input your preferred font
size.

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Change the font by going to the Tool or Text Options located below the Toolbox, and clicking on
the box next to the font name.

A drop-down list of fonts will then appear. In this example, MV Boli was selected.

Use the Move Tool to move the text to the center. The shortcut key for the Move Tool is M. When
moving the text, make sure that the Text Layer is selected. If you accidentally move the
background, press Ctrl + Z to undo the action.

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As a last touch, you can change the font color using the dialog box on top of the text. Make sure
that the text is selected or highlighted before clicking on the Change Color Palette.

In the Change Color dialog box that will appear, (1) choose your preferred color for the selected
text using the color slider or picker. (2) Click on OK once you are done selecting a color. In this
example, the color dark gray was selected.

The font color should now be changed to the color you have picked. If the text color did not
change, it means that the text was not selected or highlighted.

Assignment Activity: Create Your Own Name Tag

Using what you have learned in this Assignment, create your own name tag.

1. Use colors different from the examples given in the Assignment.

2. You can also use different brush types when coloring the name tag.
3. Use the Text Tool to insert your name in the name tag.
4. Save your output.

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Assignment 6: Creating a GIMP Artwork

In this Assignment, you will create a digital artwork using the Rectangle Select Tool, Ellipse Select
Tool, Brush Tool, Bucket Fill Tool, and other GIMP tools. The image below is an example of a digital
artwork created using GIMP.

Creating an Artwork

Use the Bucket Fill Tool to fill the background with a solid color. To do this, click on it in the Toolbox
or press the shortcut keys, Shift + B.

Click on the Foreground Color Selector and select the color you want to use to fill the background.
In the example below, the HTML notation, 1f2c44, was used.

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After selecting a color, click on the white canvas to change its color.

In the Layers Dialog, create a new transparent layer by clicking on the New Layer button.

Click on the Rectangle Select Tool in the Toolbox or press the shortcut key, R.

Draw a rectangle on the canvas that will serve as one of the buildings.

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Select a color for the building. In the example below, the HTML notation, 545454, was used.

Use the Bucket Fill Tool to fill the rectangle with color. If the Bucket Fill Tool does not work, press Ctrl
+ A and make sure that the correct layer is selected.

Create a new layer by clicking on the New Layer button. Practice using a separate layer every
time you create a new shape.

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Select the Ellipse Select Tool or press E to add an additional shape or design to the building.

Using the Ellipse Select Tool, add a circle on top of the rectangle to create a dome.

Then, fill the circle with the same color as the rectangle to finalize the shape of the building.

Create another layer by clicking on the New Layer button.

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Using the Rectangle Select Tool, create a pinnacle for the building and fill it with the same color
as the rectangle and circle.

Create another new layer by clicking on the New Layer button.

Use the Ellipse Select Tool to create the base of the pinnacle. Make sure that the base is not a
perfect circle.

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The base is a small detail to add, but it makes the building look more realistic and complete.

Next, right-click on the topmost layer and select Merge Down. This will merge the selected layer to
the layer under it. Repeat this process until all building layers have been merged; do not merge
the building layers to the Background layer.

There should now have a single layer that contains all the parts of the building. Rename the layer
to Building 1 for better organization.

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You can design the building further by using different brush strokes. In the example below, the
brush type, Block 01 (51 x 13), was used to add black details to the buildings.

Add more buildings using different shapes and sizes. Make sure that each building has its own
layer.

Now, add windows to the buildings. Click on the layer of the building that you want to put windows
on, so that the new layer will be placed on top of that building. Merge them down after adding
the windows. In the example below, the brush types, Pixel (3 x 3) and Block 01 (51 x 13), were used
for the windows. You can adjust the window size by adjusting the brush size.

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As you can see in the Layers Dialog below, the windows of each building were merged to their
assigned building. Next, add a new layer for the moon and name it, Moon.

To create a more realistic look for the lighting of the moon, use a soft brush. In the example, brush
type, 2. Hardness 075, and a brush size, 520, were used.

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Click on the background to add a brush stroke, then click on top of the first brush stroke to add
another stroke. Make sure that the two circles overlap with each other perfectly. Doing this will
make the moon look brighter and bigger.

To add the finishing detail to the moon, select the brush type, Smoke (167 x 168).

Adjust the brush size and make sure it does not go outside the moon. Click on the moon once to
give it a more realistic look.

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Add a new layer for the stars and name the layer, Stars.

Use the brush type, 2. Star (55 x 55), and adjust the brush size.

In the example below, different brush sizes were used to add different sizes of stars.

After adding the stars, the artwork is finally complete.

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Assignment 7: Coloring a Character

In this Assignment, you will learn how to color vector drawings of characters using the Paintbrush
Tool and Bucket Fill Tool in GIMP.

Coloring the Character

Open the image file, Teddy Bear.png. Then, right-click on the image layer and select Add Alpha
Channel to add transparency to your layer. If the Add Alpha Channel button is not available or
clickable, it means that the image already has an alpha channel.

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To color the illustration faster, separate the character from its background. Right-click on the
image, then choose Select ► By Color to select the areas with the same color in the layer.

Next, click on the white background to select all the white areas in the image. The image should
look like this after selecting all the white areas. Then, press Delete to remove the background.

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Now, only the character remains in the layer along with the alpha channel or the transparency
that you have added. Press Ctrl + Shift + A to deselect.

Create a new layer and (1) name it, Paintbrush Layer. (2) Set the Fill with as White, then (3) click
on OK.

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The canvas should now be colored with white because the new layer is on top of the image layer.

Rename the Teddy Bear.png layer to Bucket Fill Layer. Then, drag the Bucket Fill Layer above the
Paintbrush Layer.

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To manually color the character, select the Paintbrush Tool and choose a color in the Foreground
Color Selector. Make sure that the Paintbrush Layer is selected before coloring.

While coloring, notice that the brush only colors the white areas and not the black outline of the
character. This is because the Paintbrush Layer is below the Bucket Fill Layer, which has the outline
of the character. Do not use the Bucket Fill Tool while on the Paintbrush Layer as it will fill the whole
image with color.

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To use the Bucket Fill Tool to color the character, first make sure that the Bucket Fill Layer is selected
or active in the Layers Dialog.

Using the Bucket Fill Tool, click on the head of the bear to instantly color it. Keep in mind that the
Bucket Fill Tool only colors closed areas.

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You can fill or brush the teddy bear with color while the Foreground Color Selector dialog box is
open. No need to click on OK to change the color every time; simply choose a color and click on
the character, then choose another color.

You may choose different colors in the color selector to create a different output from the
examples below.

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Session Activity: Create a Colored Image

Using what you have learned in this session, create a colored image by coloring and arranging
the different vector drawings.

1. Download and open the following vector drawings: Buildings.png, Bus 1.png, Bush.png,
Car 1.png, Car 2.png, Cloud 1.png, Cloud 2.png, Fire Hydrant.png, Helicopter.png, House
1.png, House 2.png, House 3.png, Platform.png, Sun.png, Tree 1.png. Notice that they are
not colored.
2. Use the Paintbrush Tool and the Bucket Fill Tool to color all the vector drawings.
3. After coloring each of the vector drawing, make sure to save them in PNG format.
4. Create a new file and open the colored vector drawings as layers.
5. Name the layers according to the name of the object.
6. Arrange the vector drawings using what you have learned about layers.
7. You can duplicate the layers to add more objects in your colored image.
8. Refer to Assignment 7 for coloring the vector drawings and Assignment 4 for arranging and
duplicating the layers.
9. Save your outputs using different filenames.

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PHOTO EDITING I
In this session, you will learn how to edit photos in GIMP using Transform Tools,
Brightness-Contrast, Color Enhance, Hue-Saturation, Color Balance, Levels,
Curves, Threshold, Decompose, and Desaturate.

Assignment 8: Transform Tools

Assignment 9: Fixing Overexposed and Underexposed Photos

Assignment 10: Enhancing Photos

Assignment 11: Correcting Colors in a Photo

Assignment 12: Improving Photos Using Levels and Curves

Assignment 13: Creating Grayscale Photos

Assignment 14: Creating Threshold Images

Assignment 15: Making Photos Look Old

Assignment 16: Converting an Image to a Pencil Drawing

PHOTO EDITING 1

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Assignment 8: Transform Tools

In this Assignment, you will learn how to modify an image using different Transform Tools in GIMP:
Rotate, Scale, Flip, Warp Transform, Shear, Perspective, and Unified Transform Tool. To begin the
Assignment, create a new file and set its dimensions to 1920x1080px, then open Sample Image.jpg
as a layer.

Rotate Tool

The Rotate Tool is used to rotate the selected layer or image. To use this tool, go to the Toolbox
and click on the Rotate Tool or press the shortcut keys, Shift + R.

Rotate the image by (A) moving your cursor up, down, left, or right. If you want to reset the position
or angle of the image, (B) click on the Reset button in the Rotate dialog box.

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Scale Tool

The Scale Tool is used to resize the height and width of an image. To use this tool, go to the Toolbox
and click on the Scale Tool or press the shortcut keys, Shift + S.

After selecting the Scale Tool, click on the layer or image that you want to scale. Then, (A) click
on one of the corner squares or handles and drag your cursor to resize the image. If you want to
revert the image to its original size, (B) click on the Reset button in the Scale dialog box.

You will notice that while scaling, the height and width proportionally increases and decreases. To
toggle the Free Size option, hold the Shift button while scaling.

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In addition, holding the Ctrl button toggles the Around Center option. This option keeps the image
or layer at the center of the canvas while scaling.

Flip Tool

The Flip Tool is used to flip the image or layer horizontally or vertically. To use this tool, go to the
Toolbox and click on the Flip Tool or press the shortcut keys, Shift + F.

Go to the Flip or Tool Options, then choose if you want to flip the image horizontally or vertically.
In this example, Horizontal was selected.

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After selecting the direction on how to flip the image, click on the image that you want to flip.

Warp Transform

The Warp Transform is a brush-like tool used to create a warp effect to an image or layer. To use
this tool, go to the Toolbox and click on the Warp Transform or press the shortcut key, W.

You can adjust the Size, Hardness, Strength, and Spacing of the Warp Transform in the Warp
Transform or Tool Options. Drag the sliders to increase and decrease the value of each option.

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For the image below, the Warp Transform was used around the subject which created a warped
effect to its background.

Shear Tool
The Shear Tool is used to tilt or shift an image or layer. To use this tool, go to the Toolbox and click
on the Shear Tool or press the shortcut keys, Shift + H.

After selecting the Shear Tool, choose one side of the image (left side or right side), then (A) drag
the cursor upward or downward to tilt the image. If you want to revert the image to its original
position, (B) click on the Reset button in the Shear dialog box.

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Perspective Tool

The Perspective Tool is used to change the perspective of an image. To use this tool, go to the
Toolbox and click on the Perspective Tool or press the shortcut keys, Shift + P.

To change the perspective of an image, (A) click on one of the corner diamonds or handles. If
you want to revert the image to its original position, (B) click on the Reset button in the Perspective
dialog box.

Unified Transform Tool

The Unified Transform Tool is a combination of multiple transform tools: Rotate, Scale, Shear, and
Perspective. To use this tool, go to the Toolbox and click on the Unified Transform Tool or press the
shortcut keys, Shift + T.

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Drag the side or corner handles to scale the image. Hold the Ctrl button to toggle the Around
Center option.

Drag the diamonds around the image to shear the image. The selected diamond will turn yellow
after clicking on it. Similar with the Shear Tool, drag the cursor upward or downward to tilt the
image.

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Click on the small diamonds inside the square to change the perspective of the image.

To rotate the image using the Unified Transform Tool, click on anywhere outside the image, then
drag the cursor.

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Assignment Activity: Transform and Arrange Objects

Using what you have learned in this Assignment, arrange the objects below using what you have
learned about layers and Transform Tools.

1. Download and open the following images as layers: Butterfly.png, Flower.png, Grass.png,
Rock1.png, and Rock2.png.
2. Create a new file and use the default dimensions of 1920x1080px.

3. Use your creativity to arrange the objects or layers; feel free to duplicate them. The image
below is an example of how you can arrange the objects or layers.

4. Save your output.

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Assignment Activity: Create a Collage

Using what you have learned in this Assignment, create a collage using the different Transform
Tools.

1. Download and open the following images as layers: 1.jpg to 9.jpg.

2. The images have large dimensions. To better manipulate them, use a large canvas,
preferably with the dimensions of 3000x3000px.
3. Save your output.

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Assignment 9: Fixing Overexposed and Underexposed Photos

In this Assignment, you will learn to adjust the brightness and contrast of a photo. Learning this will
allow you to fix overexposed (too bright) and underexposed (too dark) photos.

Fixing Overexposed Photos

Overexposed photos are images that are too bright. This mostly happens to photos when the
subject was in extreme exposure to any source of light. You can easily edit overexposed photos
using the Brightness-Contrast Tool in GIMP.

Open the image file, Overexposed 1.jpg. This image is an example of an overexposed image.

To fix an overexposed photo, simply decrease its brightness and adjust its contrast. To do this, go
to the Menu Bar ► Colors ► Brightness-Contrast…

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In the Brightness-Contrast dialog box, decrease the (A) Brightness to -40 and increase the Contrast
to 20. Adjusting the contrast can give more details in the highlights and shadows, but make sure
to increase or decrease them moderately because doing it too much may create noise in the
image. Try to tick the (B) Split View option to compare the changes made. This option divides the
photo into two sides: the edited and unedited side.

This is what you see when you tick the Split View option. The adjustments you make with the
brightness and contrast of the photo is shown on the left side, while the original setting of the photo
is shown on the right side.

Click on OK to apply the adjustments. The overexposed photo should now look darker than before.

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Fixing Underexposed Photos

Underexposed photos are images that are too dark. This mostly happens when there was little to
no light when the photo was taken. However, like with overexposed photos, the Brightness -
Contrast Tool in GIMP can fix it.

Open the image file, Underexposed 1.jpg. This is an example of an underexposed image.

To fix an underexposed photo, simply increase the brightness and adjust the contrast. To do this,
go to the Menu Bar ► Colors ► Brightness-Contrast…

In the Brightness-Contrast dialog box, increase the (A) Brightness to 50 and increase the Contrast
to 25. Try to tick the (B) Split View option to compare the changes made.

In the Split View, you will notice that the left side of the image has become lighter compared to
the underexposed right side of the image.

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Click on OK to apply the adjustments to the photo. The underexposed photo should now look
brighter than before.

Assignment Activity: Fix Overexposed and Underexposed Photos

Using what you have learned in this Assignment, fix the given overexposed and underexposed
photos.

1. Download and open the following images: Overexposed 2.jpg and Underexposed 2.jpg
2. Adjust the brightness and contrast of the images.
3. Save your outputs.

Overexposed 2.jpg Underexposed 2.jpg

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Assignment 10: Enhancing Photos

In this Assignment, you will learn how to enhance photos in one click using the Color Enhance
command in GIMP. However, you can also adjust the Hue-Saturation to manually enhance
photos.

Color Enhance

The Color Enhance command instantly enhances the colors in a photo by automatically
increasing the Saturation Range, making dull photos more vibrant. However, this command only
changes the Saturation and not the Hue.

Open the image file, Nature.jpg. This image is an example of a dull photo.

To access the Color Enhance command, go to the Menu Bar ► Colors ► Auto ► Color Enhance
(legacy).

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The photo should then instantly be enhanced.

Hue-Saturation
The Hue-Saturation command in GIMP allows the user to adjust the Hue, Saturation, and Lightness
of a photo. Unlike the Color Enhance command, this command allows the user to manually adjust
the saturation of a photo, including the hue and lightness.

Manually enhance the same dull photo using the Hue-Saturation command.

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To use this command, go to the Menu Bar ► Colors ► Hue-Saturation…

The Hue-Saturation dialog box will then appear.

The Hue, Lightness, and Saturation each has a slider:

A. Hue – gives the photo different kinds of tones. Do not increase or decrease the hue too
much if you want a natural look for the photo.
B. Lightness – adjusts the brightness or the light in the photo.
C. Saturation – adjusts the saturation of the photo. Adjusting this can make the photo look
vibrant or dull, depending on how you adjust the slider.

Use the Reset Color button below the sliders if you want to revert to the original color of the photo.
Tick on the Split View option if you want to compare the adjustments made in the photo.

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Click on OK once you are satisfied with the new look of the photo.

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Assignment 11: Correcting Colors in a Photo

In this Assignment, you will make a photo look more natural using the Color Balance Tool, which
adjusts the RGB color model of the Shadows, Midtones, and Highlights of photos.

Color Balance
The Color Balance Tool modifies the balance of color levels using an RGB and CMY slider. It can
adjust three different ranges in a photo: Shadows, Midtones, and Highlights. To use the Color
Balance Tool, go to the Menu Bar ► Colors ► Color Balance…

The Color Balance dialog box will then appear.

A. Range – where you will choose what range to adjust. There are three ranges in a photo:
Shadows (dark pixels), Midtones (medium pixels), and Highlights (bright pixels).
B. Color Levels – allows you to change the color levels of a photo using CMY and RGB colors
in the image. CMY stands for Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow, while RGB stands for Red, Green,
and Blue.

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C. Preserve Luminosity – activating this will maintain the brightness of the selected layer by
not changing the value of the brightest pixels.
D. Split View – activating this will divide the photo into two sides. The left side will show the
adjustments or changes applied to the photo, while the right side will show the original
version of the photo.

Open the image file, Family Picture.jpeg. This image is an example of a photo with reddish tone in
its color levels. Use the Color Balance Tool to remove the reddish tone to make it look more natural.

Start with the Midtones since these are the in-between colors, making them safer to adjust. (1)
Select the Midtones, then (2) go to the Color Levels and adjust the first slider, which is Cyan-Red.
Decrease the color levels going to Cyan to reduce the redness in the photo. In the example, the
value was set to -30. Tick the Split View option to view the changes. Notice how the redness of the
photo has now decreased.

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Next, (1) click on Shadows in the range selector. Notice that the slider went back to 0.0. (2) Adjust
the Cyan-Red slider again to -30 to decrease the redness of the photo even more.

Lastly, (1) adjust the Highlights. (2) Go to the Cyan-Red slider and decrease the value to -20. Notice
that the redness of the photo has completely disappeared.

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Click on OK once you are finished adjusting the color levels. The image now looks more natural
since the reddish tone and light are gone.

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Assignment 12: Improving Photos Using Levels and Curves

In this Assignment, you will improve dull and dark photos by editing the levels and curves of a
photo. Use them to highlight some features of the photo to improve its overall look.

Levels
The Levels Tool is used to change the intensity range of the selected layer or image by working on
shadows and highlights. By changing the intensity range of an image, it can make an image look
either brighter or darker. It is also a better tool to use when fixing overexposed and underexposed
photos than the Brightness-Contrast Tool because the Levels Tool can change the intensity range
of an image or active layer in every channel.

Open the image file, Girl 1.jpg. This image is an example of a photo with dark lightning. Use the
Levels Tool to improve its overall look.

To use the Levels Tool, go to the Menu Bar ► Colors ► Levels…

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The Levels dialog box will then appear. Click on the Auto Input Levels button to automatically
improve the photo. Take not, though, that doing this results in minimal changes. In the example,
only the background of the photo became brighter and sharper.

There are three sliders in the Input Levels: the left, mid, and right sliders. (1) Adjust the mid slider to
the left to brighten the photo. To precisely adjust the Input Levels, set the Clamp input’s value to
2.20. Notice that the whole image became brighter including the subject of the photo.

Note: There is no need to adjust the Output Levels since you only want to brighten the photo.

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(A) Click on Reset to revert to the photo’s original state. (B) Tick the Split View option to see the
improvements made and compare it to the original photo. (C) Click on OK to apply the changes.

After adjusting the levels, the image should now look brighter than its previous version. Take note
that when using Levels, it is important to increase or decrease the input levels little by little to avoid
overexposing or underexposing the photo.

Curves

The Curves Tool provides a wide variety of adjustments when modifying the brightness, color,
contrast, or transparency of the selected layer or image. The Levels Tool works with the shadows
and highlights of a photo, while the Curves Tool works on any tonal range of a photo.

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The Curves Tool is a complex tool with different functions. Here, you will use it to supplement the
improvements made using Levels. To use Curves, go to the Menu Bar ► Colors ► Curves…

You can adjust the Curves by moving the linear line on the graph. (A) A point will be made when
you click on the line. You can create multiple points, but for now, use only one point to make little
improvements. (B) The Input and Output values can also be changed.

After adjusting the Curves, the image now looks brighter and sharper.

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Assignment 13: Creating Grayscale Photos

In this Assignment, you will convert colored images to grayscale images in five different ways:
Grayscale, Decompose, Color to Gray, Desaturate, and Mono Mixer.

Using Grayscale

The easiest way to convert an image to grayscale is by using the Grayscale Tool. To use this tool,
go to the Menu Bar ► Image ► Mode ► Grayscale.

Open the image file, Leap of Faith.png. This image is an example of a colored image.

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Clicking on Grayscale automatically changes all the RGB colors of the photo to gray. Take note
that no other adjustments can be made using this tool.

Using Decompose

Another way to convert an image to grayscale is by using the Decompose Tool. This tool
decomposes color models like RGB, LCH, HSV, HSL, CMY, etc. into separate layers which are in
different shades of grayscale.

To use this tool, go to the Menu Bar ► Colors ► Components ► Decompose…

The Decompose dialog box will then appear. For the sample image, (1) the Color model used was
RGB. (2) Click on OK to begin decomposing the image. GIMP will notify you if the image cannot
be decomposed using that color model.

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A new tab containing the grayscale version of the image will automatically be created.

Three separate layers will also be created—red, green, and blue—since the RGB color model was
separated into three parts.

The images below are other examples of decomposed color models. Take note that not all color
models are available for decomposing; it still depends on the image you are editing.

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Using Color to Gray

The Color to Gray Tool desaturates the image and converts the colors of the image to gray. To use
this tool, go to the Menu Bar ► Colors ► Desaturate ► Color to Gray…

The image will automatically turn to black and white. In the Color to Gray dialog box, (1) edit the
Radius, Samples, and Iterations sliders to adjust some of the black and white features of the photo.
(2) Click on OK to apply the changes.

Using Desaturate
The Desaturate Tool can be used to convert all the colors of the selected layer to different shades
of gray. To use this tool, go to the Menu Bar ► Colors ► Desaturate ► Desaturate…

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The Desaturate dialog box will then appear. Mode in the settings is automatically set to Luminance.
However, you can select other modes to achieve a different black and white look.

In the example below, Mode was changed to Value (HSV), which made the poster look brighter.

Click on OK to apply the changes.

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Using Mono Mixer

The Mono Mixer Tool also desaturates an image to achieve a black and white look. In addition,
the grayscale features of the image can be edited using the RGB colors on the photo.

To use this tool, go to the Menu Bar ► Colors ► Desaturate ► Mono Mixer…

In the Mono Mixer dialog box, use the three RGB Channels Mixer sliders—Red Channel Multiplier,
Green Channel Multiplier, and Blue Channel Multiplier—to manipulate the grayscale tone.

In the example below, (1) the Red Channel Multiplier was decreased which made the red pixels
look darker. (2) You can try to adjust the Green and Blue Channel Multipliers as well, then (3) click
on OK to apply the changes.

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Assignment 14: Creating Threshold Images

In this Assignment, you will create a threshold image. It is also called a binary image because it
contains only two colors: black and white. However, do not confuse a threshold image with a
grayscale image. While threshold images use black and white, grayscale images use multiple
shades of gray.

Using Threshold

The Threshold Tool converts all existing pixels of the selected layer to black and white pixels. For
example, the image of Dr. Jose Rizal below is in grayscale, which means it is not made up of purely
black and white pixels.

To use the Threshold Tool, go to the Menu Bar ► Colors ► Threshold…

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The pixels of the image are instantly converted to black and white.

There are two sliders found in the Threshold dialog box: (A) the black and white sliders. At the
bottom-left of the main slider, you can precisely adjust or input the (B) value of the black slider.
Meanwhile, you can adjust the (C) value for the white slider on the lower-right side of the main
slider.

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In the example below, the value of the black slider was increased to 155. This darkened some
regions of the image because the white pixels were converted to black pixels.

By decreasing the value of the black slider to 65, the facial features of Dr. Jose Rizal becomes
more visible.

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Click on OK to apply the changes. The image should now look like this. The features of the
character are still visible even if the image is in black and white.

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Assignment 15: Making Photos Look Old

In this Assignment, you will use sepia-toning to make a modern photo look old. Sepia is a soft-
brown tint mostly seen in old photos. The tint is caused by a chemical process applied in a dark
room to prevent the image from fading for preservation.

Desaturated Sepia

To apply sepia, go to the Menu Bar ► Colors ► Desaturate ► Sepia…

In the Sepia dialog box that will appear, make the adjustments to achieve the sepia effect.

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You can uncheck the sRGB checkbox to process the image using linear color space.

You can also adjust the strength of the sepia effect using the Effect Strength slider. In the example,
the effect strength was decreased.

Click on OK to apply the changes.

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Assignment 16: Converting an Image to a Pencil Drawing

In this Assignment, you will create a pencil drawing image. Using different GIMP tools, a normal
photo can be converted to a pencil drawing image that looks like it was sketched and digitally
scanned. The image below is an example of a pencil drawing image created using GIMP.

Creating a Pencil Drawing Image

The first step you need to do to convert an image to a pencil drawing is to create three layer
copies of the image. Use the Duplicate Layer button in the Layers Dialog to create two duplicates
of the original layer.

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Select the topmost layer and go to the Menu Bar ► Colors ► Hue-Saturation…

In the Hue-Saturation dialog box, (1) set the Saturation value to -100. You can input the value or
use the slider to do this. The color of the image should then be converted to grayscale. (2) Then,
click on OK to apply the adjustment.

In the Layers Dialog, go to Mode above Opacity and select HSV Saturation from the drop-down
list. The image should then become more saturated.

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Next, (1) select the second layer and go to Mode again. In the drop-down menu, (2) select Dodge.

The Dodge Mode eliminates some elements in the photo by brightening and darkening selected
parts.

After switching to Dodge mode, go to the Menu Bar ► Colors ► Invert.

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Inverting the photo will remove most—if not all—parts of the photo. In the example below, the
image completely disappeared.

Go to the Menu Bar ► Filters ► Blur ► Gaussian Blur…

Selecting Gaussian Blur will show a faint trace of the image.

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(1) Adjust the values of Size X and Size Y to adjust the intensity of the blur and make the lines of
the drawing more visible. (2) Click on OK to apply the changes.

Then, select the third layer.

Go to the Menu Bar ► Colors ► Levels…

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(1) Adjust the Levels using the triangle sliders or the value box, (2) tick the Split View option, and
try inputting different values. (3) Click on OK to apply the changes.

The image should now look like a pencil drawing.

Assignment Activity: Create Your Own Pencil Drawing Image

Using what you have learned in this Assignment, create your own pencil drawing image.

1. Choose a photo of a family member.

2. Create a pencil drawing image by following the steps in this Assignment.
3. Print or save a digital copy of the pencil drawing image and give it to your family.

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Session Activity: Enhance Photos and Make a Collage

Using what you have learned in this session, enhance multiple photos and create a collage.

1. Choose four or more of your favorite photos. These can be photos with your family, friends,
or even your pet/s.
2. If you do not have any photos, you can download and open the following images: Black
Pug.jpg, Happy Dog.jpg, Maltese Puppy.jpg, Sad Puppy.jpg, White Puppy.jpg, and Wink
Puppy.jpg.
3. Enhance the photos using Color Balance, Brightness-Contrast, Hue-Saturation, Color
Enhance, Levels, or Curves. You can also apply a sepia tone to the photos.
4. After enhancing each photo, open them as layers in a new image file.
5. Arrange the photos using the Transform Tool. You may rotate, flip, skew, and resize the
images.
6. Save the collage as a PNG image.

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PHOTO EDITING II
In this session, you will learn more ways to edit photos in GIMP using the Healing
Tool, Dodge/Burn Tool, Blur/Sharpen, Clone Tool, Layer Masks, Filters, and
Gradient Map Tool.

Assignment 17: Retouching Photos

Assignment 18: Applying Dodge/Burn and Blur/Sharpen Tool

Assignment 19: Fixing Damages in a Photo

Assignment 20: Layer Mask

Assignment 21: Creating a Typographic Portrait

Assignment 22: Using Filters

Assignment 23: Gradient Tool and Map

Assignment 24: Creating a Watermark

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Assignment 17: Retouching Photos

In this Assignment, you will retouch photos using the Healing Tool. Remove small unwanted marks
in the photo like dark spots, pimples, scars, etc.

Healing Tool
The Healing Tool is a smart brush tool used to remove small irregularities in a photo. This tool is mostly
used for retouching photos to remove skin blemishes, wrinkles, etc. It removes unwanted
imperfections by copying a smooth area, then pasting it on top of the problem area. The copied
smooth area automatically blends with the pixels around the area, making this tool perfect for
removing skin imperfections.

Open the image file, Debut Picture.jpg. Use the Healing Tool to remove the pimples and other
blemishes of the girl in the image.

To use this tool, go to the Toolbox and click on the Healing Tool or press the shortcut key, H.

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Then, go to the Brush Dialog and choose a hard brush. The recommended hard brush is Hardness
100 (51x51).

You will notice that the brush size is too big for the small blemishes to be removed.

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To adjust the brush size, go to the Heal or Tool Options. In the example, the size was decreased to
20, but you can use a smaller brush size like 10.

When dealing with small details, it is best to use the Zoom Tool. To use this tool, go to the Toolbox
and click on the Zoom Tool or press the shortcut key, Z.

Click on the image to zoom in and press Ctrl + click to zoom out. You can also press the plus sign
(+) to zoom in and the minus sign (-) to zoom out. The most efficient way to use the Zoom Tool is
by holding the Ctrl key and using the mouse scroll—scroll up to zoom in and scroll down to zoom
out.

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After zooming in, click on the Healing Tool again and choose a smooth area on the face. This will
be used to cover the blemishes. To copy an area, press the Ctrl key, then click on the area. The
circle will stay in place, indicating that the area has been copied.

In the image below, (A) the first circle indicates the area to be copied, while (B) the second circle
is the Healing Tool.

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Hover the brush over the blemishes that you want to remove. Make sure that they are inside the
circle. Then, click on the blemishes to remove them. If you need to undo an action, just press Ctrl
+ Z.

The left cheek has no more blemishes and the skin still looks natural. Next, remove the blemishes
on the right cheek.

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To easily go to the right cheek, press and hold the Spacebar on your keyboard, then drag the
cursor to the left to move to the right cheek. You can select a new area to be copied or use the
same area that you used on the left cheek. Just make sure the skin tones are similar.

Do the same for the rest of the blemishes. You can also remove the excess strands of hair to clear
the girl’s forehead.

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Assignment 18: Applying Dodge/Burn and Blur/Sharpen Tools

In this Assignment, you will use the Dodge/Burn and Blur/Sharpen Tools in editing a photo.

Dodge/Burn Tool

The Dodge/Burn Tool is used to lighten and darken selected areas of a photo using different brush
types.

Open the image file, Tiger.png. Use the Dodge Tool to lighten the tiger and the Burn Tool to darken
the background.

To use these tools, go to the Toolbox and click on the Dodge/Burn Tool or press the shortcut keys,
Shift + D.

Go to the Brush Dialog and select a soft brush so it can blend with the surrounding pixels around
the brushed area. In the example, the Hardness 050 (51 x 51) brush type was used.

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In the Dodge/Burn or Tool Options, select a brush type by clicking on the (A) Brush Selector and
adjusting the (B) Brush Size by using the slider. Make sure that the (C) Force of the brush is always
at 50 or above because the brush will not work if it is near the value of 0.

Scroll down the Dodge/Burn or Tool Options to view more settings. Under Type, choose between
(A) Dodge or Burn. Click on the image, then hold the Ctrl button if you want to toggle between
the Dodge or Burn Tool.

There are three ranges that you can choose from: (B) Shadows, Midtones, and Highlights. For this
image, select Highlights as the range.

 Shadows – only dark pixels are changed.

 Midtones – only pixels that are neither dark nor light (average tone) are changed.
 Highlights – only light pixels are changed.

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After selecting the Dodge Tool and the Highlights as the range, start brushing on the tiger’s head.

Notice that it is now lighter. Use the Dodge Tool to lighten the rest of the tiger’s body. Make sure to
lighten it as evenly as possible; decrease the brush size when you work on the legs and tail.

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The tiger now looks lighter. The result would look very different if the range used was either Shadows
or Midtones.

After lightening the tiger, go back to the Dodge/Burn or Tool Options. Under Type, (1) select the
Burn or hold the Ctrl button to switch to the Burn Tool. (2) Select Highlights again for the Range.

Start using the Burn Tool by dragging the cursor around the background. Use a bigger brush size
to easily darken big parts of the background and switch to a smaller brush size when darkening
the background near the tiger.

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Remember that the soft brush can blend the pixels around the brushed area. To make the image
look more natural, brush the outline of the tiger to blend the pixels of the tiger with its background.

The tiger should now look lighter and its background darker.

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Blur/Sharpen Tool

The Blur/Sharpen Tool uses a brush to blur or sharpen a selected area. The Blur Tool is used to soften
a part of an image that stands out too much, while the Sharpen Tool increases the contrast of the
brushed area. Take note that sharpening an area too much will create noise, possibly destroying
the quality of the photo.

Open the image file, View.jpeg. Use the Blur Tool to blur the image’s background, including the
mountain, trees, sky, and clouds, and the Sharpen Tool to increase the contrast of the person,
including his bag and his other things.

To use the Blur Tool, go to the Toolbox and click on the Blur/Sharpen Tool or press the shortcut keys,
Shift + U.

Select a brush in the Brush Dialog. Take note that it is better to use a soft brush. In the example, the
brush type, 2. Hardness 075 (51x51), was used.

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In the Blur/Sharpen or Tool Options, (1) select the Brush Type, (2) adjust the Brush Size, and (3)
adjust the Brush Hardness.

First blur the background of the photo. To do this, scroll down under the Blue/Sharpen or Tool
Options, then select Blur under the Convolve Type.

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Start brushing on the background, but avoid the person, cliff, bag, and other objects near the
person.

Use the Zoom Tool to see the blur effects of the brush. You can see below that a part of the tree
has been blurred.

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Most parts of the background are now blurred, except for the parts near the person. Use a smaller
brush size to carefully blur these areas.

Use the Zoom Tool again to blur the areas near the person.

The background of the photo has now been blurred successfully. See the difference between the
original and the blurred versions of the image below.

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Next, go back to the Blue/Sharpen or Tool Options and select Sharpen under Convolve Type or
hold the Ctrl button to switch between Blur and Sharpen.

Then, use the Sharpen Tool to increase the contrast of the person. You can sharpen the bag and
the other things as well.

After using the Blur and Sharpen Tools, the person in the image should now stand out more.

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Assignment 19: Fixing Damages in a Photo

In this Assignment, you will learn how to fix damages in a photo using the Clone Tool. Unlike the
Healing Tool, the Clone Tool is used for covering large areas of a photo. It also only copies a sample
area and pastes it without blending it with the pixels around the problem area.

Clone Tool

The Clone Tool is used to fix or repair problem areas in an image. To do this, select and copy an
area without any damage first, which the Brush Tool will then use to cover the damaged areas.

Open the image file, Old Wall.jpg. See how the image of the wall has cracks and dents; the top
area of the wall is the only area without any damage. Use the Clone Tool to copy this area and
brush it over the area with cracks and dents.

To use this tool, go to the In the Clone or Tool Options, change the (A) Brush Type instead
Toolbox and click on the of going to the Brush Dialog. The soft brush used is 2. Hardness
Clone Tool or press the 075 (51x51). The (B) Brush Size and (C) Hardness can also be
shortcut key, C. adjusted in the Clone or Tool Options.

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Find an area that you want to copy. As much as possible, choose an area that has no damage.
To select an area, press and hold the Ctrl key, then click on the area that you want to copy.

If you successfully copy an area, a circle should stay in place on the area that you have copied.
Next, brush the damaged areas near the copied area. Take note that the circle of the copied
area also moves along with the brush.

To easily cover the whole photo, use a bigger brush size. However, you can only use a bigger brush
size if you already have a bigger area to copy.

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Copy a new area using a bigger brush size to easily cover more areas on the wall. Press the Ctrl
button and click on the area you want to copy again. When brushing, the first circle where you
copied the smooth area will also move parallel to your brush, so make sure that this circle does
not go to the areas you do not want it to copy.

Remove the remaining parts of the wall that still have cracks and dents.

Remove all traces of damage on the wall. The final look of the wall should no longer have cracks
or dents like in the image below.

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Assignment Activity: Fix the Damaged Wall

Using what you have learned in this Assignment, remove all the cracks on the wall.

1. Download and open Blue Wall.jpg.

2. Use the Clone Tool to remove all the cracks on wall.
3. Save your output.

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Assignment 20: Layer Mask

In this Assignment, you will learn what Layer Masking is and how to use it for image manipulation
in GIMP.

Using Layer Mask

Begin with two layers. The first layer is a duplicate black and white version of Moose.jpg. Use the
Duplicate Layer button found in the Layers Dialog and turn the image to grayscale by going to
Menu Bar ► Colors ► Desaturate ► Desaturate… Take note that you can use any Mode when
desaturating this image.

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The first step in using a layer mask is to add it on the active or grayscale layer. To do this, right-click
on the active layer and select Add Layer Mask…

In the Add Layer Mask dialog box that will appear, (1) select White (full opacity). This action will
create a white layer mask which will result in the layer having full opacity. After selecting it, (2) click
on the Add button.

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A white rectangle will appear beside the image in that layer. This indicates that the white layer
mask was successfully added to the layer. Select the rectangle before making any changes.

Next, select the Paintbrush Tool in the Toolbox and make sure that the foreground color to be used
for brushing is black. Aside from black, you can also use other colors, but it may affect the shade
of the image. The only color you cannot use is white. If the foreground color selected is white, you
will not see any changes because the layer mask is also white.

Select a soft brush and brush the areas inside the stuffed toy. Notice that brushing the stuffed toy
colors it.

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You now have successfully separated the stuffed toy from the background by coloring the stuffed
toy and turning the background color to black and white.

On the other hand, if you want to color the stuffed toy to black and white instead of the
background, (1) select the Black (full transparency) to add a black layer mask. After selecting it,
(2) click on the Add button.

The black and white image will automatically turn back to its normal color because you covered
it with a black mask. Notice that a black rectangle will appear next to the layer image in the
Layers Dialog. This is the black mask. Before making any changes, make sure that the black mask
is selected.

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On the white layer mask, you used the Paintbrush Tool to change the color of the stuffed toy. But
now that you are using a black layer mask, you can use the Eraser Tool to color selected areas of
the image to black and white. Make sure that the foreground color is black.

You can also use the Paintbrush Tool to color the image to black and white. To do this, select the
Paintbrush Tool and click on the bent double arrow button. This will switch the foreground color
and the background color, instantly making the foreground color white.

Brush the area inside the stuffed toy again and notice that the area now turned to black and
white.

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Now, the stuffed toy is in black and white while the background has retained its original color. You
will also notice that the shape of the stuffed toy has appeared in the black mask in the Layers
Dialog because you painted the layer mask with white.

Assignment Activity: Mask the Roses

Using what you have learned in this Assignment, use layer masking to desaturate the background
of an image.

1. Download and open Roses.jpg.

2. Turn the image to grayscale and use the Brush Tool to paint the roses back to their original
color.
3. Save your output.

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Assignment 21: Creating a Typographic Portrait

In this Assignment, you will create a typographic portrait in GIMP using the Text Tool, Brush Tool,
Paths Tool, and Layer Masking. A typographic portrait is an image of a person made up of text,
usually the name or a quote of the person in the portrait.

Preparing the Portrait

To create a typographic portrait, first find an image to use as the portrait. It would be easier if the
image has either a white background or no background at all. If the image has a background,
you would need to extract the subject from the background.

Open the image file, Cool Man.jpg.

Then, go to the Menu Bar ► Colors ► Threshold…

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In the Threshold dialog box, (1) move the black slider to the right to make the other parts of the
image more visible. You can also (2) input 160 as the value in the left-side box. (3) Click on OK to
apply the threshold, but make sure the facial features of the subject are clear.

Create a new layer and set Fill with to Transparency in the New Layer dialog box. Then, click on
OK.

Right-click on the new transparent layer and select Add Layer Mask… Then, (1) select White (full
opacity) and (2) click on Add to add the mask to the transparent layer.

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After adding the mask, a white mask will appear next to the transparent layer. Click on the original
image layer and press Ctrl + C to copy it.

Then, click on the layer mask and press Ctrl + V to paste the original image layer on the mask.

Select the Floating Selection (Pasted Layer) that will appear and click on Anchor at the bottom of
the Layers Dialog.

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The image should now appear on the layer mask.

With the layer mask still selected, right-click on the image and go to Colors ► Invert. You can also
access this command in the Menu Bar.

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After inverting, the black and white colors of the image in the mask will be inverted.

Create a new layer and (1) set Fill with to White in the New Layer dialog box. Then, (2) click on OK.

Drag the new white layer between the transparent layer mask and the original image layer.

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Placing Typography on the Portrait

You can use the Text Tool to place texts on the portrait individually, but it would take a lot of time.
One trick is to create your own brush stoke of the text and use the Brush Tool.

To make your own brush stroke of the text, create a new image by going to the Menu Bar ► File
► New… (1) Adjust the Image Size to your preferred Width and Height. In the example, 720px was
used for both the width and height. Also make sure that the (2) Fill with is set to Transparency. (3)
Click on OK to create the new image.

Use the Text Tool to type a name or a quote, and change it to your desired text format.

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In the Layers Dialog, right-click on the text layer and select Merge Down.

Click on the Background layer and press Ctrl + C to copy it on the clipboard.

Go to the Brush Stroke Selection and find your name or quote.

Note: GIMP has a feature where it automatically converts an image to a brush stroke when you
copy it on the clipboard.

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Go back to the the original image file by clicking on the first tab above the canvas.

In the Layers Dialog, (1) click on the white layer and (2) decrease its Opacity to 30. A grayish image
of the subject will then appear. This will serve as the guide for your typogrpahy.

Next, click on the transparent layer.

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Select the Paintbrush Tool from the Toolbox and select the newly-created brush stroke from the
Brush Stroke Selection.

Start using the brush to fill the portrait with texts. You can use different brush sizes to fill the portrait.
Press the left bracket key ([) to decrease the brush size, and the right bracket key (]) to increase
its size.

Do not click and drag the brush because this will paint the portrait with a solid color. One click will
suffice to put a complete text.

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Notice that only the gray areas are painted using the Brush Tool. This is because of the layer mask
that you placed on the image.

Fill the vertical spaces with texts. The final output will look better if almost all gray areas in the
portrait are filled with text.

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In the Brush or Tool Options, change the angle of the brush to 90.

Take your time filling in all spaces using the vertical brush.

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(1) Click on the white layer again and (2) change the Opacity back to 100 to remove the gray
threshold image that you used as a guide.

You can change the background color using the Bucket Fill Tool. Just make sure to change the
background color and not the foreground color, and that Layer #1 in the Layers Dialog is selected.

Assignment Activity: Create Your Own Typographic Image

Using what you have learned in this Assignment, create your own typographic image.

1. Choose a portrait of your idol or a celebrity you look up to.

2. Create a text brush. Use his/her name or nickname as the text for the brush. You can also
use word/s that describe/s him/her.
3. Do not forget to use layer masking when applying the texts in the portrait.
4. Save your output.

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Assignment 22: Using Filters

In this Assignment, you will transform an image using different GIMP filters.

Using Filters

Open the image file, Little Girl.jpg. Use the different filters in GIMP to transform the image.

First, try using the Artistic Filters to give the image an oil painting effect. To do this, go to the Menu
Bar ► Filters ► Artistic ► Oilify…

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In the Oilify dialog box that will appear, (1) adjust the options to achieve different oily looks. Once
done, (2) click on OK to apply the changes.

The image should now look like an oil painting.

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Now, try using the Decor Filters. To do this, go to the Menu Bar ► Filters ► Decor ► Old Photo…

This filter automatically creates a new tab and applies a sepia tone to the image, making it look
like an old photo. Take note that the original image is kept on its original tab so you can still go
back to it and try to use other filters.

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In the example below, Cubism filter under the Artistic Filters was used. Feel free to experiment with
other filters found under Artistic and Decor.

Assignment Activity: Put Some Filter On

Using what you have learned in this Assignment, try using filters to transform photos.

1. Choose any image with a good quality.

2. Use the filters found under Artistic and Decor.
3. You may save one or more images with different filters.
4. Name the files based on the filter you used.

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Assignment 23: Gradient Tool and Map

In this Assignment, you will use the Gradient Tool and the Gradient Map to manually add a filter or
effect to a photo.

Gradient Tool
The Gradient Tool creates a solid gradient blend using the current foreground and background
colors. A gradient blend instantly covers the image when you drag the cursor on the canvas,
creating a gradient line with two end points. The gradient blend can be modified by changing
the position of the two end points. It can also serve as a filter by decreasing its opacity.

Open the image file, Friends.jpg. Use the Gradient Tool to apply filter to the image.

Create a new layer and name the layer, Gradient. You will use this layer to separate the gradient
blend from the original image.

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To use the Gradient Tool, (1) go to the Toolbox and click on the Gradient Tool or press the shortcut
key, G. Then, (2) click on the Foreground and Background Color Selector, and select new colors.

The color codes used were selected:

Foreground color: ff5a5c

Background color: fcfc2a

Notice the small black and white boxes at the bottom-left side of the color selector. This indicates
that the foreground should have the darker color and the background should have the lighter
color. Clicking on this will revert the foreground and background colors back to black and white.

After selecting the two colors for the gradient blend, drag the cursor across the image to create
a line.

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The image should now cover the whole image.

Decrease the opacity of the Gradient Layer to 50 in the Layers Dialog.

After changing the opacity, the image will reappear and the gradient blend will look like a filter.

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In the Gradient or Tool Options, you can change the (A) Opacity of the gradient blend, (B)
Gradient, (C) Color Space, (D) Shape, and (E) Repeat.

You can also adjust the two points of the gradient line to change the distribution of colors.

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Gradient Map

The Gradient Map is almost similar to the Gradient Tool, except that the Gradient Map
automatically transforms an image by recoloring it, rather than placing a gradient blend on top
of the image.

To use the Gradient Map, first duplicate the image layer. The Gradient Map will only work with a
duplicate of the image layer.

Change the foreground and background colors.

The Foreground and Background Color Selector should look like this.

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To use the Gradient Map, go to the Menu Bar ► Colors ► Map ► Gradient Map.

The image should then automatically be transformed. Notice that the colors used in the image
are the foreground and background colors.

You can also change the look of the gradient map by changing the Mode in the Layers Dialog.
In the example below, Lighten only was chosen as the mode.

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After selecting Lighten only, notice that the image turned brighter.

In the example below, Luminance was used as the mode.

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In the example below, Multiply was used as the mode. You can try other modes to achieve
different effects for your photo.

Assignment Activity: Apply Gradient Effect

Using what you have learned in this Assignment, apply a gradient effect to a photo using the
Gradient Tool or Gradient Map.

1. Choose a group photo with your friends.

2. Apply a gradient blend using your two preferred colors (foreground and background).
3. Save your output.

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Assignment 24: Creating a Watermark

In this Assignment, you will create a watermark for photos. Watermarks are a digital signature that
people put on their work to claim that it is theirs. It is especially useful for photographers to prevent
content theft.

Create a Watermark with Text Tool

Create a new image file with a small dimension because most photography watermarks are small.
The dimensions used below are 640px for Width and 480px for Height.

After creating the file, right-click on the Background layer and select Add Alpha Channel to add
a transparent layer under the white Background layer.

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Delete the white background by inverting the image. Press Ctrl + I to invert the image and press
Delete to remove the background. The transparent layer will now serve as the transparent
background of the watermark.

Next, open an image to be used as a logo for the watermark. Go to File ► Open as Layer… and
open Camera.png.

Insert a text in the watermark. To do this, go to the Toolbox and select the Text Tool or press the
shortcut key, T.

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Go to the Text or Tool Options and select your preferred (A) Font, (B) Font Size, (C) Text Color, and
(D) Justify.

Input your name or the name of the company.

Use the Move Tool to arrange the text and the logo.

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(1) The baseline of the text was set to 10, while the (2) kerning was set to 1.

Add another design to the logo by creating a new transparent layer.

Using the Rectangle Select Tool, create a thin rectangular shape which will serve as a line for the
watermark logo.

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Next, fill the shape with a solid color. Change the foreground color similar to the color of the
camera, then right-click and select Edit ► Fill with FG Color.

Change the color of the logo using the Bucket Fill Tool. If you have problem filling the layer with
the color, press Ctrl + A, then click on the layer that you want to color. Make sure that the layer of
the logo is selected.

In the Layers Dialog, (1) click on the camera layer and (2) decrease its Opacity to 55. Do the same
for the text and line layers.

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The watermark should now look like this. Change the opacity of the watermark so it blends well
with the photograph.

Next, remove the extra spaces in the image using the Crop Tool. To use this tool, go to the Toolbox
and click on the Crop Tool or press the shortcut keys, Shift + C.

Drag the cursor to create a rectangular guide which indicates the area that will not be cropped.

Press Enter to crop the excess areas. Next, save your watermark in PNG format and name it,
Watermark.png. Close the watermark tab afterwards.

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Open the image file, Lightbulbs.jpg. Then, go to the Menu Bar ► File ► Open as Layers… and
open Watermark.png. Use the Move Tool to reposition the watermark anywhere on the image. In
the example below, the watermark was placed on the lower-right side of the photo. Decrease
the Opacity of the watermark in the Layers Dialog, and change its size using the Scale Tool.

Assignment Activity: Create Your Own Watermark

Using what you have learned in this Assignment, add a watermark to your photo.

1. Take a photo of a random thing using a smartphone camera. Make sure that the photo
quality is good.
2. Download the image to your computer.
3. Create a watermark of your name.
4. Place your watermark on the photo you took.
5. Save your output.

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Session Activity: Edit the Image

Using what you have learned in this session, edit an image using the Healing Tool, Clone Tool,
Blur/Sharpen Tool, and Dodge/Burn Tool.

1. Download and open Lantern.jpg.

2. Remove the mud stains on the woman’s clothes using the Healing and Clone Tools.
3. Increase the brightness of the image using the Dodge/Burn Tool.
4. Edit the background using the Blur/Sharpen Tool to make the woman stand out.
5. Save your output.

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BASIC IMAGE MANIPULATION
In this session, you will learn basic image manipulation techniques in GIMP
using Advanced Selection Tools, Layer Modes, etc. Learning to use these tools
will allow you to cut an image from its background, change the background
of your photo, and change the color of different objects.

Assignment 25: Advanced Selection Tool

Assignment 26: Cutting an Image in GIMP

Assignment 27: Changing the Background of the Subject

Assignment 28: Changing the Color of an Object

Assignment 29: Creating a Flat Icon

Assignment 30: Creating a GIF

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Assignment 25: Advanced Selection Tools

Selection Tools are used to select a region of an active layer so you can make changes to it
without affecting the other regions. They are important in image manipulation as you will not be
able to change or manipulate an object or area without selecting it first.

In Assignment 3, you learned to create basic shapes using the Rectangle Select and Ellipse Select
Tools, which are Basic Selection Tools. In this Assignment, you will be introduced to the Advanced
Selection Tools which are used to create different kinds of selection in GIMP.

Free Select Tool

The Free Select Tool or Lasso Tool lets you create a selection by drawing it using the cursor. You
can also create a selection by connecting the points with each other. To use this tool, go to the
Toolbox and click on the Free Select Tool or press the shortcut key, F.

Open the image file, Objects.jpg. Use the Free Select Tool to trace the corners of the phone in the
image.

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Create a selection by connecting one point to another. Close the selection by connecting the
last point to the origin point.

When the last point meets the origin point, it must turn yellow to indicate that you can now close
the selection.

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After connecting the last and origin points, a marching ants border will appear around the object,
indicating that a selection was created.

Fuzzy Select Tool

The Fuzzy Select Tool or the Magic Wand Tool creates a selection of an object based on color
similarity in just one click. To use this tool, go to the Toolbox and click on the Fuzzy Select Tool or
press the shortcut key, U.

Keep in mind that the performance of the Fuzzy Select Tool varies on the pixel color. It is best used
when selecting an object with only one color that differs from the background color.

Open the image file, Oranges.png. Select the orange slice in the middle using the Fuzzy Select
Tool. Notice how the orange slice was automatically selected, but the selection was not that
clean. To make a precise selection, increase the Threshold in the Fuzzy Select or Tool Options.

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For this example, the value of the threshold was increased from 50 to 150. Notice that the selection
made on the same fruit is now more precise.

Select by Color Tool

The Select by Color Tool creates a selection based on color similarity, similar to the Fuzzy Select
Tool. The difference between the two is the Fuzzy Select Tool only selects similar colors connected
to the area that was clicked, while the Select by Color Tool selects all similar colors in the whole
image or canvas.

To use this tool, go to the Toolbox and click on the Select by Color Tool or press the shortcut keys,
Shift + O.

Click on one of the fruits and see how all of them get selected since they all have similar colors.
Take note that you may need to adjust the Threshold to create precise selections.

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Paths Tool

The Paths Tool or Scissors Select Tool is a selection tool that allows you to create complex curves
called Bézier curves. You can easily edit, move, and save the paths that you have created using
this tool.

To use this tool, go to the Toolbox and click on the Paths Tool or press the shortcut key, B.

Open the image file, Objects.jpg. Create multiple points to begin selecting the shirt in the image.

Close the selection by connecting the last point to the origin point. To do this, press the Ctrl key
and click on the origin point when the two overlapping circles appear in the cursor.

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Then, right-click inside the outline that you have made and click on Select ► From Path or press
Shift + V.

A marching ants border will then appear around the object, indicating that a selection was
created.

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Assignment 26: Cutting an Image in GIMP

In this Assignment, you will cut out an object from its background using the Paths Tool in GIMP.
Cutting an object from its background allows you to place it on a different background or save it
in PNG format with transparent background.

Cutting an Image Using Paths Tool

Open the image file, Car.jpeg. Before cutting the car from its background, give the image a
transparent layer first. To do this, go to the Layers Dialog and right-click on the image layer, then
select Add Alpha Channel.

Using the Zoom Tool, drag the cursor to the edge of the image you want to cut and create a
rectangular shape. This will zoom in to that part of the image.

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Go to the Toolbox and select the Paths Tool or simply press B.

There are three modes when using the Paths Tool: Design allows you to create a new path, Edit
allows you to edit a path, and Move allows you to move a path. In the example, Design was
selected to create a new path.

Create points to trace the edges or outline of the car. The connecting points will serve as the
tracing outline. If you need to undo an action, just press Ctrl + Z.

After tracing the whole car, hold the Ctrl button and click on the origin point to close the path.

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After connecting the last point to the origin point, the selection should now look like this. Make sure
that no part of the background is included in the selection path.

Right-click inside the selection and go to Select ► From Path or press Shift + V.

This will create a selection using the path you created.

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Next, delete the background by right-clicking on the selection and going to Select ► Invert or by
pressing Ctrl + I. Then, press Delete to remove the background.

The image should look like this after deleting the background. Export the image file as PNG image
to get a transparent background.

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Assignment 27: Changing the Background of the Subject

In this Assignment, you will change the background of a subject by extracting the subject, then
placing it on a different background. You will also use the Feather edges feature to blend the
subject image with the new background.

Open the image files, Girl 2.jpg and Eiffel Tower.jpg. Use the Eiffel Tower as the background of the
girl so it will look like she’s in Paris.

Extracting and Editing the Subject Image

Before extracting the subject from its original background, give the image a transparent layer first.
To do this, click on the Girl 2.jpg Layer, then select Add Alpha Channel. If this command is not
available, it only means that the image you are using already has an alpha channel or a
transparent layer.

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(1) Go to the Toolbox and select the Paths Tool or simply press B. Then, (2) go to the Paths or Tool
Options and set it in Design mode.

Create a path around the girl or subject. As much as possible, make sure that no parts of the
background are included inside the path.

Note: No need to include small details of the subject like strands of hair. Only include the important
parts.

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After connecting the last point to the origin point, the selection should now look like this. Make sure
that no part of the background is included in the selection path.

Right-click inside the selection and go to Select ► From Path or press Shift + V.

This will create a selection using the path you created.

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Next, delete the background by right-clicking on the selection and going to Select ► Invert or by
pressing Ctrl + I. Then, press Delete to remove the background.

After deleting the background, the Alpha Channel or transparent layer will appear around the
girl. Press Shift + Ctrl + A to deselect.

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The next step is to smoothen the rough edges of the subject layer.

To do this, go to the Toolbox and select the Fuzzy Select Tool or press the shortcut key, U.

Click on the subject or girl to select it.

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Then, go to the Fuzzy Select or Tool Options and enable Feather edges. Adjust the value of the
Radius to 30 or less. Then, click on the transparent background using the Fuzzy Select Tool and
press Delete.

Press Delete two to three times and notice how the edges of the subject or girl become smoother
each time. Smoother edges make the subject blend better with the background.

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Placing the Subject in a New Background

After extracting and applying feather edges on the subject layer, copy the subject image to the
new background. To do this, click on the Girl 2.jpg Layer and press Ctrl + C. This automatically
copies the image to the clipboard.

Go to the Tabs on the upper-left corner of the canvas, then go to the Eiffel Tower image tab.

Paste the subject image to the new background by pressing Ctrl + V. After pasting, the subject
layer will appear as a Floating Layer.

To resize the subject image, go to the Toolbox and select the Scale Tool or press Shift + S.

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Click on the subject or girl using the Scale Tool. Then, click on any of the squares or handles and
drag it while holding the Ctrl button to decrease the size of the girl proportionally. Press Enter to
apply the changes.

Also use the Move Tool to properly position the subject on the Eiffel Tower background.

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Once done scaling and moving the subject, go to the Layers Dialog and click on the Anchor
button to combine the floating or subject layer with the background.

The subject or girl should now look like she’s in Paris.

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Zoom in on the image to see that the subject layer has blended well with the background through
feather edges. To better blend the subject with the background, you can also produce color
similarity using Color Enhance, Levels, and Curves.

Assignment Activity: Change the Background

Using what you have learned in this Assignment, change the background of a photo.

1. Use a high-quality photo of yourself or a photo of a celebrity.

2. Use another photo that will serve as a good background for your chosen image.
3. In the first image, extract the person or subject from its background, then use Feather
edges.
4. Paste the extracted photo on the second photo or the new background.
5. Use the Transform or Scale Tool to resize the subject.
6. You can use other tools like Color Enhance, Levels, and Curves to blend the image well
with the background.
7. Save your output.

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Assignment 28: Changing the Color of an Object

In this Assignment, you will change the color of an object using the Brush Tool and the Hue Layer
Mode in GIMP.

Changing the Color of an Object

There are different ways to change the color of an object using an image editing software; most
of them require the use of selection tools or masking. In this Assignment, however, you will learn
how to change the color of an object using a layer mode. Take note that this method is best used
for objects with bright colors.

Open the image file, Red Sports Car.jpg. Change the color of the red sports car in the image.

First, create a new transparent layer.

Use the Paintbrush Tool to paint the object with the new color. To use this tool, go to the Toolbox
and click on the Paintbrush Tool or press the shortcut key, P.

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Select the color that you want to use in the Foreground Color Selector. In this example, the color
yellow with the HTML notation, cce918, was used.

In the Layers Dialog, create a new layer and select HSV Hue as the Mode. This step is crucial so
you can effectively paint the new color on the car. By using HSV Hue mode, GIMP can easily
distinguish the color of the car from the background color, allowing you to paint on the car easily.
Make sure that the subject has a bright color compared to the background.

Also make sure that there is no selection before brushing. Otherwise, the paintbrush will not work.
Right-click on the image and click on Select ► None or press the shortcut keys, Shift + Ctrl + A.

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Go to the Paintbrush or Tool Options to adjust the brush settings. (1) Make sure the value of Opacity
is 100. Otherwise, the color you will paint will look different from your chosen color. (2) Use a soft
brush like 2. Hardness 075. Finally, (3) set the brush size to a medium size, and just decrease its size
when painting on the edges of the car.

Use the Paintbrush Tool to color the entire car. In the example, only red was affected by the brush—
not even the windows and wheels—because it is the only bright color in the image. When you
paint over the edges, use smaller brush sizes to make sure that parts of the background are not
colored.

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The car should now be painted with a different color. Notice how the details like the shadow in
the car hood is still present. This is because you used HSV Hue mode, which paints only on the car
(bright color) and not on the background.

No matter how carefully you brush inside the car, it is still possible to paint on some areas of the
background.

To remove the excess color, right-click on the transparent layer and select Alpha to Selection.

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The Alpha to Selection command creates a selection where you brushed on. This visible selection
path will be the guide to where you can erase the excess color.

To use the Eraser Tool, go to the Toolbox and select the tool or press the shortcut keys, Shift + E.

Zoom in on the problem areas and erase them with the Eraser Tool. Use a small brush size to do
this.

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Below is the before and after images of the car. Notice how the yellow-green car still looks realistic.

Assignment Activity: Change the Color of the Shirt

Using what you have learned in this Assignment, change the color of the man’s t-shirt.

1. Download and open Orange Shirt.jpg.

2. Change the color of the man’s t-shirt from orange to blue.
3. Make sure to use HSV Hue as the layer mode.
4. Save your output.

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Assignment 29: Creating a Flat Icon

Icons are small symbols used on every user interface to refer to different elements. Every
smartphone or computer today uses icons to help users access different functions. In fact, icons
can be considered as the hieroglyphics of the modern age. In this Assignment, you will learn how
to create a simple flat icon in GIMP using the Ellipse Select Tool, Guides, Text Tool, and Gradient
Tool.

The Assignment also includes the use of guides when creating symmetrical shapes for your icon.
Using simple GIMP tools, you can easily create and design icons like the one below.

Using Guides

To start creating an icon, create a new image first. To do this, go to the Menu Bar ► File ► New….

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Adjust the Image Size. Make sure that the width and height have the same value. In the example
below, the value, 1080px, was used.

Click on Advanced Options and set Fill with to Transparency.

A new transparent layer will then appear on the Canvas.

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Next, use the GIMP guidelines to create a perfect circle. Go to the Menu Bar ► Image ► Guides
► New Guide (by Percent)…

In the dialog box that will appear, set the Direction to Horizontal and the Position (in %) to 50 to
make sure that the line is exactly at the middle of the canvas.

Create a new guide again and set the Direction to Vertical and the Position (in %) to 50.

A vertical and horizontal line will then intersect on the canvas. Use the Move Tool to move the
guides, or remove them by dragging them to the edge of the canvas.

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Enable the Snap to Guides and Snap to Canvas Edges to make the guides seem magnetic, pulling
layers or objects near it. These commands are useful for accurate positioning or placement of
elements in the canvas.

Go to the Toolbox and select the Ellipse Select Tool.

Position the cursor at the intersection of the vertical and horizontal guides.

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Starting at the intersection, click and drag the cursor, then hold the Ctrl key. This will allow you to
create the circle at the middle.

Keep dragging the cursor until the circle snaps to the edges of the canvas. The circle should then
perfectly fit inside the square canvas.

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Designing the Icon

To design the icon, (1) go to the Toolbox and select the Gradient Tool. (2) Change the foreground
and background colors with your desired colors for the gradient blend.

The color codes used in the example below are:

Foreground color: 3eb1af

Background color: a15abf

Drag the cursor to create a gradient line. Doing this will instantly color the circle selection with a
gradient blend of the foreground and background colors. You can adjust the two endpoints of
the line to change the position of the gradient blend.

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(1) Click on the Text Tool and go to the Menu Bar ► Select ► None or press Ctrl + Shift + A to
deselect the circle. Then, (2) click on the smaller version of the Foreground and Background Color
Selector to instantly turn the foreground and background colors back to black and white. Make
sure to do this after deselecting the circle; otherwise, the gradient blend of the circle will turn to
black and white.

Insert text inside the circle. In the example, the font used was Forte with font size, 650px, and font
color, white. You can make other adjustments to the text under the Text or Tool Options.

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Use the Move Tool to move the text to the middle and align it to the vertical and horizontal guides.

Next, crop the font to its own size. To do this, select the Menu Bar ► Layer ► Crop to Content. This
command automatically removes the empty areas in the text layer and ensures that the text is
perfectly aligned to the center.

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Use the Move Tool again or the Alignment Tool to make sure that the letter is aligned to the center
of the circle.

Right-click on the text layer and select, Alpha to Selection. This command will create a selection
from the alpha channel.

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In other words, the letter itself will be selected as seen in the image below.

Create a new transparent layer.

Fill the new layer with black by going to the Menu Bar ► Edit ► Fill with BG Color.

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The color of the letter should then turn to black, like the background color. Press Ctrl + Shift + A to
deselect.

Then, drag the new layer below the original text layer. This will make the text color white again
because the white G Layer is now on top of the layer with the black G.

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With the layer with the black G selected, go to the Menu Bar ► Filter ► Light and Shadow ► Long
Shadow…, giving the letter G a long shadow. Before doing this step, make sure that there are no
selections on the canvas.

In the Long Shadow dialog box that will appear, (1) select Fading (fixed length) for Style, (2) set
the Angle to 45, (3) set the Length to 900, and (4) make sure the Midpoint is set to 0.500. If you
want the shadow to have a darker tone, increase the value of the Midpoint.

(5) Select your preferred color for the long shadow. In the example, the color code used was
54496d. (6) Click on the OK button to apply the changes.

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Notice that there is excess shadow outside the icon. You can remove this by right-clicking on the
Background layer and selecting Alpha to Selection.

Right-click inside the icon and go to Select ► Invert or press Ctrl + I.

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Inverting will select everything outside the icon. Go back to the Layers Dialog and select the new
layer or the layer with the black G as this is where the long shadow is placed. Then, press Delete
to remove anything outside the icon.

Your flat icon should now have a long shadow effect. Make sure to save the file as PNG to get the
transparency of the image. You can also create icons by inserting PNG images instead of just using
text layers.

Assignment Activity: Creating Your Own Icon

Using what you have learned in this Assignment, create and design your own icon.

1. Make sure that the icon you will create is in a transparent layer.
2. You can use different shapes for your icon.
3. Use the Gradient Tool to color your icon.
4. Use filters or shadow effects.
5. Save your output as a transparent PNG file.
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Assignment 30: Creating a GIF

In this Assignment, you will learn how to create a Graphics Interchange Format or GIF using GIMP.
A GIF is a bitmap image format developed in 1987. It is a collection of images in chronological
order compiled in a single file to create a moving image. GIFs are not videos, but the concept is
similar to a flipbook.

Extracting Images from Videos

The first thing you need to do when creating a GIF is to find an image sequence. However, it is
difficult to find images like those on the internet. The next best thing is to extract images from
videos. In fact, most GIFs are taken from video clips. In this Assignment, you will use VLC Media
Player to extract images from a video.

In this example, the images will be extracted from an eight-second video. Keep in mind that to
produce good quality images, you must use video clips with good quality like 720P or 1080P.

Create a new folder in the desktop. In the example, the folder was named Animation GIF. This is
where you will save the extracted images from the video.

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Open the folder and copy the complete file location of the folder that you created.

Open VLC Media Player and go to the Menu Bar ► Tools ► Preferences.

In the Simple Preferences dialog box, select the All radio button below Show settings.

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Under Video, click on Filters and tick Scene video filter.

Then, (1) click on the drop-down button on Filters. (2) Scroll down and select Scene filter. (3) Paste
or input the location of the folder you created earlier, then (4) set the value of the Recording ratio
to 5. This option adjusts how often VLC will take images from the video frames. (5) Click on Save
to apply the adjustments.

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Next, go to Media ► Open File… and open the video file that you want to extract images from.

Play the video and open the Animation GIF folder. Notice that while the video is playing, the
extracted images are instantly saved in the folder.

Creating a GIF in GIMP

Now that the images are extracted, transform them to GIF using GIMP. To start creating the GIF,
open the extracted images as layers by going to the Menu Bar ► File ► Open as Layers…

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Go to the Animation GIF folder where you saved the images and (1) select them all or press Ctrl +
A. Then, (2) click on Open.

Wait for all the images to open. This may take a while depending on the size and quantity of the
images. Wait for all the images to appear in the Layers Dialog.

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Next, export the images as GIF files. To do this, go to the Menu Bar ► File ► Export as…

(1) Choose to save the file as GIF image in the Select File Type or simply type .gif after the filename.
(2) Then, click on Export.

In the Export Image as GIF dialog box that will appear, (1) tick As animation, (2) adjust the value
of the Delay between frames where unspecified to 150 milliseconds, and (3) click on the Export
button to create the GIF.

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Open the GIF image and see that the image now automatically plays.

Troubleshoot: After creating the GIF animation, check if the images are played in the correct
order. If you notice that the GIF plays the images backward, simply reverse the order of the layers.
To do this, go to the Menu Bar ► Layer ► Stack ► Reverse Layer Order. After reversing the order
of layers, export the images again as GIF image.

Assignment Activity: Create Your Own GIF

Using what you have learned in this Assignment, create a GIF of a scene from your favorite movie
or TV show.

1. Download the scene online or cut it from a movie.

2. Use videos lasting only 8 to 10 seconds so as not to have too many images.
3. Extract the images from your chosen video clip using VLC Media Player.
4. Open the images as layers using GIMP and arrange them accordingly.
5. Export the images as GIF image.

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Session Activity: Change the Color and Background

Using what you have learned in this session, change the color of an object and the background
of the subject.

1. Download and open Rapper.jpg.

2. Change the color of the man’s t-shirt to your preferred color. You can also change the
color of his cap.
3. Extract the man from its background using the Paths Tool. Then, place him in a different
background.
4. Save your output.

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Refer to the appendices to see a complete list of the terminologies and
definitions, tools in GIMP, and TechnoKids' contact information.

➢ Appendix A – Terminologies List

➢ Appendix B – Glossary
➢ Appendix C – Toolbox Tools
➢ Appendix D – Contact Information
APPENDICES

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Appendix A: Terminology List

A
L
Alpha Channel 56
Layers 12

B
M
Bézier curve 178
Bitmap Image 214 Masks 134

C P

Canvas 14 Path 24
Channel 14 Pixel 84
Clipboard 146 Plug-in 14
Color Model 93
CMY 84
R

D RGB 21

Desaturate 95
Dock 12
S

Saturation 80
F Subject Image 184

Floating Selection 142

T

G Tab 15

GIF 214
Gradient 156
V
Grayscale 92
Guide 200 Value 27

H X

HSV 93 XCF 21
HTML notation 41
Hue 81

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Appendix B: Glossary

TERM DEFINITION
This represents the transparency or opacity of an image or
Alpha Channel
layer.

This is a parametric curve which appears when using the Paths

Bézier curve Tool. Using this helps trace complicated curves or edges of an
image.

bitmap This is a collection of bits that form an image.

This is the area where you place your image or layers. It can be
canvas
filled with a background color or be fully transparent.

This is a component of an image. For example, an RGB image

channel
has three channels: red, green, and blue.

This is a temporary area in GIMP where your copied, cut, and

clipboard
pasted image or layer is stored.

This is a system or way to describe how colors in an image will

color model
appear on your screen or in print.

This is a subtractive color model which has cyan, magenta, and

CMY
yellow as its components.

This is used to decrease the saturation of an image by

desaturate
increasing the lightness or brightness.

This is another term for a tab or dialog box in GIMP. This can be
dock
detached from the main interface.

This blends the edges of an image to create a smooth transition

feathering
between the subject of an image and its background.

Sometimes called a floating layer, this usually appears when you

floating selection copy and paste a layer to a new project. You need to anchor the
floating layer before you can edit other layers in the project.

This stands for Graphics Interchange Format. This is a file format

GIF where a collection of images is compiled to create a moving
image.

This is a combination of two or more colors smoothly

gradient transitioning from one to the other. This is used to fill a region of
an image.

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This is an image color mode where only different shades of gray

grayscale
are used.

These are temporary horizontal or vertical lines that you can

guides
display on the canvas as guidelines.

This is a color model which has Hue, Saturation, and Value as its
HSV
components.

This is a way to encode and identify specific shades of colors

HTML notation
for computers. This is also called color codes or color hex codes.

This is a property or attribute of a color where it is differentiated

hue
from the primary colors.

This is a feature which allows you to divide characteristics or

layers
aspects of an image.

This is an important tool in image manipulation that allows you

mask
to modify the transparency or opacity of a selected region.

This is an outline made up of straight lines and curves. You can

path create shapes and selections when creating paths using the
Paths Tool.

This is also called a picture element, and is the smallest

pixel
modifiable point or element in an image.

This is an add-on software you can install to add new features

plug-in
in GIMP.

This is the most basic color model which has red, green, and
RGB
blue as its components.

This is a range of the color intensity of white in an image. The

saturation saturation of an image has a range of 0 to 100. Highly saturated
image will be too bright or will turn white.

subject or subject image This is the image that you intend to edit, copy, or extract.

This is a second or third project that you can access

tab
simultaneously.

This is a number used to describe or measure the intensity of the

value
tool you are using.

XCF This is the default file format in GIMP.

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Appendix C: Toolbox Tools

Tool Icon Key Description

This tool helps align and arrange layers or
Align Tool Q
objects in the canvas.

This tool blurs or sharpens the selected area

Blur/Sharpen Tool Shift + U
when brushed.

This tool fills an area with the selected solid

Bucket Fill Tool Shift + B
color.
This tool copies a selected image or
Clone Tool C pattern, then copies it to different areas
using a brush.
This tool copies the color of the areas
Color Picker Tool O
based on the select color of the pixel.

Crop Tool Shift + C This tool crops the image or canvas.

This tool lightens or darkens an image using

Dodge/Burn Tool Shift + D
a brush.
This selection tool is used to select a
Ellipse Select Tool E circular region and create any circular
shapes.
This tool erases the image or layer leaving
Eraser Tool Shift + E
only the background or the transparency.

This tool flips the layer horizontally or

Flip Tool Shift + F
vertically.

This selection tool is used to draw a custom

Free Select Tool F
selection.

This selection tool is used to select an area

Fuzzy Select Tool U
based on color similarity.

This tool is used to fill an area with a

Gradient Tool G
gradient color or blend.

This tool is used to heal image irregularities

Healing Tool H
by blending the pixels.

This tool is used to move layers, objects,

Move Tool M
and other selections.

This tool is used to paint smooth brush

Paintbrush Tool P
strokes on the canvas.

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This tool is used to create, edit, and move
Paths Tool B paths. It can also be used for selections or
creating custom shapes.
This tool is used to change the perspective
Perspective Tool Shift + P
of an image or layer.

Rectangle Select This tool is used for selecting rectangular

R
Tool regions and creating rectangular shapes.

Rotate Tool Shift + R This tool is used to rotate a layer or image.

Scale Tool Shift + S This tool is used to scale an image or layer.

This selection tool is used to select different

Select by Color
Shift + O regions in an image based on color
Tool
similarity.
This tool is used to tilt or shift the selected
Shear Tool Shift + H
image or layer.

This tool is used to smudge a specific area

Smudge Tool S
in an image or layer using a brush.

Text Tool T This tool is used to insert a text or text box.

This tool is the combination of all transform

Unified Transform
Shift + T tools. You can rotate, scale, shear, change
Tool
perspective, and flip using this tool.
This tool is used to deform an area in an
Warp Transform W
image or a layer.

Zoom Tool Z This tool is used to adjust the zoom level.

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Appendix D: Contact Information

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