Introduction to GIMP

• GIMP or GNU Image Manipulation Program is a free and open-source image editing tool.
• It provides retouching, authoring, and composition of photos.
• GIMP is available for free download as distribution software to create image composition and authoring.
• It is a multi-platform photo manipulation tool included in most GNU/Linux distributions.
• GIMP is available for other operating systems like Microsoft Windows and Apple's Mac OS X (Darwin).
• GIMP is a Free Software application covered by the General Public License [GPL].
• The GPL provides users with freedom to access and alter the source code.

GIMP Features

• Can be used as a simple paint program.
• Functions as an expert quality photo retouching program.
• Includes an online batch processing system.
• Offers a mass production image renderer.
• Has an advanced scripting interface allowing simple and complex image manipulation procedures to be scripted easily.
• Can convert and save files to many file formats such as gif, jpeg, and tiff.
• Can load and save animations in a convenient frame as layer format.
• Virtually unlimited images can be opened at one time.
• Compatible with numerous operating systems, including Linux, Mac OS, and Microsoft Windows.

Downloading GIMP

• Go to www.gimp.org.
• Click on the "Download" button.
• Click "Download GIMP."

Supported File Formats

• TIFF - Tagged Image File format
• XWD - X Window System
• JPEG - Joint Photographic Experts Group
• XPM - X Pixmap
• GIF - Graphics Interchange Format
• PNG - Portable Network Graphics
• PSD - Photoshop Document
• PPM - Portable PixMap
• BMP - Bitmap
• PCS - Personal Computer Exchange

GIMP Compatible Platforms

• GNU/Linux (i386, PPC)
• Microsoft Windows (XP, Vista, Windows 7)
• Mac OS X
• Sun OpenSolaris
• FreeBSD

Starting GIMP

• Select Start, then All Programs, and then GIMP 2.
• The GIMP 2 window will then appear.

Creating a New File

• Click on "File Menu."
• Select "New" option.
• Set the height and width or choose a template.
• A dialog box appears where you can select a template and specify the size by setting values for both height and width.
• Press "OK."

Opening an Existing File

• Open GIMP.
• Click on "File Menu."
• Select the "Open" option.
• Select the file name and click "Open" to open an existing GIMP file or any other saved image.

Saving a File

• Go to "File" and select "Save" or "Save As."
• The "Save Image" dialog box will appear.
• Provide a name for the file, select the format, and click on the "Save" button.

Understanding the GIMP Window

• Title Bar: Located at the top of the image, shows the name and basic information about the image.
• Menu Bar: Placed below the title bar, provides access to nearly every operation that can be performed on an image.
• Toolbox: Provides tools to quickly perform basic tasks like making selections or drawing paths.
• Ruler: Rulers are shown above and to the left of the image, indicating coordinates within the image, can create guides.
• Status Bar: Placed at the bottom of the image, shows which part of the image is currently active, the amount of system memory the image is consuming, what operation is being performed, and state of progress.
• Canvas: The central area of the window is surrounded by a yellow dotted line showing the image boundary.
• The zoom level of the image display can be changed.

Tool Box

• Rectangle Select Tool (R): Selects rectangular regions of the active layer, most basic selection tool.
• Oval Selection Tool (E): Selects circular and elliptical regions with high-quality anti-aliasing.
• Lasso Tool (F): A free selection tool that allows you to select a drawing free-hand by drawing with the pointer while holding down the left mouse button. When the mouse is released, the selection is closed by connecting the current pointer location to the start location.
• Fuzzy Select (Magic Wand) Tool (U): Selects areas of the current layer or image based on color similarity.

Other Tools

• Select By Colour (Shift + O): Selects areas of an image based on colour similarity.
• Text Tool (T): Places text into an image; allows writing directly on the canvas in a rectangular frame.
• Eraser Tool (Shift + E): Removes areas of colour from the current layer or a selection.
• Bucket Fill Tool (Shift + B): Fills a selection with the current foreground colour; Ctrl + click to use the background colour.
• Colour Area: Shows GIMP's basic palette with the foreground and background colors.

Selection Tools

• The selection tools can select a section of an image
• Rectangle Select Tool selects rectangular areas
• Ellipse Select Tool selects elliptical areas

Free Select Tool

• This tool makes hand-free selections in the image
• Click Free Select Tool from the toolbox
• The selection should end at the point from where it was started - creating a closed selection

Transforming Tools

• Changing the orientation or size of an image
• The image might be scaled, rotated, flipped, etc
• Can be selected from the transform tools of the tools menu

Crop Tool

• Used to cut out parts of an image or photograph
• Called cropping

Crop Tool Usage

• Transform Tools from the Tools menu.
• Crop option from the submenu.
• The pointer will change to the shape of a knife.
• Select the area on the image to keep
• Press the enter key to crop

Rotate Tool

• Can rotate an image in any direction and angle
• Goes to tools, transform tools and rotate
• Rotate with the mouse

Scale Tool

• Resizes images by enlarging or reducing their size

Flip tool

• Can reverse a selection or flip an image vertically or horizontally

Flip Tool Usage

• tools, transform tools flip
• choose vertical or horizontal flip

Dodge/Burn Tool

• Tool box to lighten or darken an image/part of an image

Smudge Tool

• Is used to mix or smudge the colours of an image

Text Tool

• Inserts text to the image in various fonts/sizes and styles