How to Enlarge a Selection in GIMP

If you cannot afford an expensive photo-editing program, consider using the GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP). GIMP features advanced photo- and graphic-editing tools, such as selection and enlargement tools. When combined, a selected portion of an image may be enlarged, while the rest of the image remains its original size. The enlargement tool lets you distort the image while resizing, or restrain its horizontal and vertical proportions to maintain the image integrity when enlarged.

Instructions

1. Open your image in GIMP.

2. Click one of the selection tools, located at the top row of the toolbox, and make a selection on the image. If you cannot see the toolbox, hold the Ctrl key and press B. The Rectangle Select Tool allows you to define a rectangular area, while the Ellipse Select Tools allows you to create a circular area. The Free Select Tool lets you define an area by drawing a selection marquee. The Fuzzy Select Tool automatically selects continuous regions.

3. Click the "Scale Tool" from the toolbox. Alternatively, hold the Shift key and press T. A Scale window appears.

4. Click the chain symbol, located between the Width and Height fields, to lock or unlock the aspect ratio. When the chain symbol appears broken, you can distort the selection while enlarging. When the chain symbol appears linked, the width and height proportion is locked. When locked, you cannot distort the image by dragging the corner boxes on the selection marquee, nor by entering manual values in the Scale window. You may still distort the image by dragging the side boxes on the selection marquee.

5. Click and drag the boxes that appear on the selection marquee. The corner boxes allow you to alter width and length, whereas the side boxes only allow you to lengthen that one side. Alternatively, enter specific numeric vales in the Scale window to enlarge to a defined size.

6. Click the "Scale" button in the Scale window to accept your changes. Click "Cancel" to discard your changes, or "Reset" to revert to the original size while keeping the Scale window open.