How to Combine Animals in GIMP
You can use the free graphic design program GIMP to merge pictures and create fun and fictional scenes. For example, you can combine animal images to make a creature be half-zebra and half-alligator. Or, you can merge several animals together to create a complex and completely-customized character. After you have located images of the animals you want to combine, you can turn to GIMP's user-friendly tools to complete the task.
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Instructions
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Launch GIMP and create a new workbook by clicking on "File" and "New." Choose a "Template" or insert customized dimensions to give your animal workbook the size you want it to have. Click on "OK" when satisfied.
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2
Insert the first animal image you want to work with by clicking on "File" and "Open as Layer." Assign the layer a transparency channel by clicking on "Layer," "Transparency" and "Add Alpha Channel." Use the "Eraser Tool" located in the main toolbox to double-click and drag your cursor over any unwanted portions of this image.
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Insert additional images by repeating the "File" and "Open as Layer" process. Erase image portions you want to remove, or use the "Free Select Tool" to outline sections you want to delete and then press the "Delete" key on your keyboard. Either approach will only affect the current active layer, meaning if you want to go back and edit a previously inserted layer you will need to select the layer's corresponding thumbnail in the "Layers" dialog to make it the active layer.
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Click on the "Move Tool" and then double-click and drag your animal parts to line up as you see fit.
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Re-size any parts, as needed, by clicking on the "Scale Tool" and then clicking on the image itself. A pop-up box will appear letting you scale the width and height according to your needs. Click on "Scale" when done.
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Save your multi-layer animal workbook using a picture file extension such as ".jpg" or ".png."
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Tips & Warnings
If you want to perform an effect on the completed image, click on the "Layer" tab and select "New from Visible." This will make a copy of all of the animal parts and merge it into one layer that can then undergo a "Filter" or "Color" tool.
When saving your animal scene as picture file, you will be prompted during the saving process to "flatten" or compress the file into one layer.
