GIMP - GNU Image Manipulation Program

GIMP - Part 01

GIMP is a free and open-source raster graphic design software used for image manipulation and editing, photo retouching, image composition, and image construction. GIMP is released under GPLv3+ license and is available for Linux, macOS, and Microsoft Windows.

The Working Environment

1. The Main Toolbox

It is possible to open or close the tools in this box for editing graphics.

For the purpose, follow:

Edit → Preferences →Toolbox → The tools can be enabled or disabled.

Selection Tools

Name → Shortcuts → Description  

Rectangle → R → Selects the required area as a square or rectangular region.

Ellipse → E → Selects the required area as a circular or elliptical region.

Free (Lasso) → F → Draws free-form selections

Fuzzy (Magic Wand) → U → Selects areas on color similarity.

By Colour → Shift + O → Selects all instances of color in a graphic.

Scissors → I → Creates paths to select shapes

Foreground →  - → Selects a region containing foreground objects.

Brush Tools

Name → Shortcuts → Description  

Bucket Fill → Shift + B → Fills an area with a color or a pattern.

Blend(Gradient) → L → fills the selected area with a gradient blend

Pencil →  N → Paints hard-edged lines; that is, the pixels are not anti-aliased.

Paintbrush → P → Paints soft-or fuzzy-edged lines; that is, the pixels are anti-aliased and/or feathered.

Eraser → Shift + E → Erases pixels from a layer.

Airbrush → A → Paint tool with variable pressure to spray colors on a graphic

Ink → K → Adds color to a graphic, like a paintbrush. The quick movement of the mouse minimizes the size of the brush. Slow movement makes its vice versa

Clone → C → Copy pixels from one part of a graphic to another.

Heal → H → Resolves image irregularities removing unnecessary colors and spots Perspective

Clone → - → Clones from an image source after applying the perspective transformation.

Convolve → Shift + U → Blurs or sharpens an image

(Blur/Sharpen)

Smudge → S → Dampens graphic

Dodge/Burn → Shift + D → Lightens or darkens an image's shadows, mid-tones, or highlights.

Transform Tools

Name → Shortcuts → Description  

Move → M → To shift or move a selection

Align → Q → To align or arrange layers or objects

Crop → Shift + C → Crops or clips the image

Rotate → Shift + R → Rotates the active layer, selection, or path.

Scale → Shift + T → Scales the active layer, selection, or path

Shear → Shift + S → Shifts part of the image in some direction.

Perspective → Shift + P → Changes the perspective of the active layer, selection, or path

Other Tools

Name → Shortcuts → Description    

Path → B → Allows selecting and modifying paths

Colour Picker → O → Selects the color of any image opened on your screen.

Magnify(Zoom) → Z  → Alters the zoom level of the image

Measure → Shift + M → Shows distances and angles

Text → M → Places text into the image

2. Tool Options:   The Tool Options are available to customize the options for a tool.

3. Image Window:  Helps display the graphic created. It is possible to keep several windows open to suit selection. In this situation, several windows will be open at the same time. Or else one window can be kept open and use others as necessary. For this purpose, select:

Windows → Single-Window Mode

4. Layers, Channels, Paths:  These are shown as Tabs and can be clicked open when necessary.

5. Brushes/Patterns/Gradients:  These tabs help create and add color to a graphic.

-Yash-