GIMP notes

Notes about the GIMP graphics editor.

Index

• Draw a straight line
• Copy layer to be a layer mask
• Draw an arrow
• Change one colour gradient for another
• Create a distressed background effect
• Gotchas

Draw a straight line

Hold down shift when you use the pencil.

Copy layer to be a layer mask

• Add a layer mask to a layer.
• Copy the layer you want to be the layer mask.
• Make sure the layer mask is selected.
• Paste the copied layer (it’ll appear as a floating selection).
• Right click the floating selection and anchor it.

Draw an arrow

• Install the arrow plugin.
• Create a path with two points.
• Select Tools -> Arrow to turn the path into an arrow.

References

• How to Draw Arrows in Gimp

Change one colour gradient for another

• Image must be in RGB, so convert if necessary via Image -> Mode -> RGB.
• Colours -> Map -> Colour Rotate.
• Select From range of colours and To range of colours.

Create a distressed background effect

1. Create an image with a solid background colour.
2. Add a white layer.
3. Add a layer mask to the white layer.
4. Select the layer mask.
5. Filter -> Render -> Clouds -> Plasma.
6. Set Turbulence to 1.0.
7. Click ‘New seed’ until you see a nice even effect without any strong shading at the edges (otherwise you’ll get lumps when you tile).
8. Click ‘Ok’.
9. Play with the opacity of the layer until you’re happy.

To do: How to tile (copy quarter and rotate). This is why step 7 says get a nice even effect without strong edges.

Gotchas

Perspective tool

The entire image needs to be visible as the edge points that you need to drag in order to choose the perspective will first appear around the edges of the image.

Last modified: 27/11/2012 Tags: gimp