GIMP and Its Interface

Begin with the end in mind:

• Familiarize themselves with the GIMP
interface.
• Open a file.
• Modify the canvas.
• Use the Crop Tool to edit an image.
• Save a file.
• Export a file
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A client asked you to

edit the photo of his pet
for his shop’s banner.
You decided to edit
using GIMP to change
its photo composition to
close-up.
Exploring the
GIMP
interface
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.
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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.

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A. Menu Bar
The menu bar contains the different functions of GIMP grouped into categories
such as File, Edit, Image, etc.
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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.
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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
the menu bar and clicking on Windows ►
Dockable Dialogs.

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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.

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F. Layers/Channels/Paths Dock
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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LET’S DO IT!
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1. To open a file in GIMP, go to the menu bar

and click on File ► Open…
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2. In the Open Image dialog box, (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.
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3. In the Convert to RGB Working Space? dialog

box, click on Convert.

Note: If this dialog box does

not appear, it means that the
image is already using the
built-in RGB color profile of
GIMP.
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The image file should then be displayed on your canvas.

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4. To crop an image in GIMP, go to the toolbox and select

the crop tool or press the shortcut key, shift + C.
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5. Drag the cursor to create a guide which indicates the
area that will not be cropped. Press Enter to crop the
excess areas.
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6. To save the file, click on File ► Save As… or simply
press Ctrl + Shift + S, then locate and select where you
want to save your file.
7. The Save Image dialog box will then
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appear. (1) Input your filename, then (2) click

on Save.
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8. You can also save your file in a

different format using Export
As… To export a file, go to the
menu bar and click on File ►
Export As… or press the shortcut
keys, Shift + Ctrl + E.
9. In the Export Image dialog box that will appear, click 26

on Select File Type (By Extension) to show the drop-down

list of file formats you can use.
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Select a file format, then click on Export.

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Can you recall where you saved the photos?

Do you have existing photos that you need to crop?

An image editing software is a

handy tool when you need to
edit your photos. It is also a
helpful tool in creating
amazing and stunning digital
artworks. Learn how to
create beautiful masterpieces
as you learn more about
GIMP.
THANK YOU! Prepared by: Teacher Dean
darwin.torres@mqsm.edu.ph