LESSON 4 – CREATING SHAPES

CREATING BASIC 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 on your keyboard. If you want to draw a
circle, press E.

In this example, I will draw a circle. To draw a circle, click on the canvas
and drag the cursor to create a circle.

TIP: If you want to create a square or a perfect circle, 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.

(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.

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 LESSON 4 – CREATING SHAPES

To fill the shape with your chosen foreground

color, go to the Menu Bar ► Edit ► Fill with
FG Color.

The circle should now be filled with the foreground color.

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.

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 LESSON 4 – CREATING SHAPES

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.

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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 LESSON 4 – CREATING SHAPES

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.

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…

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 LESSON 4 – CREATING SHAPES

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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