How to Make Awesome Graphics in GIMP

GIMP is a free graphics software that rivals professional -- and expensive -- products like Photoshop in its features and versatility. GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program. While you may already be using GIMP to crop photos and remove red-eye, you can also use GIMP to create awesome graphics from scratch. To learn some of the basics, try creating a button with your name on it, then start experimenting with the effects and options available.

Instructions

Getting Started

1. Download and install GIMP to your computer from the GIMP.org website, then launch it.

2. Click the "File" menu, then select "New." A dialog box opens.

3. Specify the width as "600" pixels and the height as "400" pixels by typing the values into the text fields.

4. Click "Advanced Options." Select "RGB" as the "Color Space" and "Transparency" as the "Fill With" option. Click "OK."

Drawing A Button

1. Select the "Ellipse Tool" from the Toolbox by clicking it. Drag the cursor across the document while holding down the "Shift" key. This draws a perfect circle.

2. Click the "Foreground Color" in the Toolbox. Select red by typing "f90000" in the "HTML Notation" field, or by clicking on black in the canvas. Click "OK."

3. Select the "Bucket Fill Tool" from the Toolbox. Click anywhere in the circle you drew to fill it with color.

4. Resize the circle by clicking the "Scale Tool" in the Toolbox. Click the circle. The Scale panel opens and "handles" appear on the circle. Drag the top and bottom handles until the circle fills the screen. Look at the "Height" in the Scale panel. It should be a number close to 400. Type the same number in the "Width" menu. Click "Scale.

5. Select the "Move Tool" from the Toolbox. Click the circle. A square is visible around the circle. Drag the circle into the center of the canvas by watching the position of the square compared to the ruler.

Adding Text

1. Select the "Text Tool" from the toolbox. Click the tool in the top left of the circle and drag it to form a text box. The GIMP Text Editor panel opens. Type your first name in the Editor's text field. Your name appears in the circle. Click the "Use Selected Font" check box.

2. Click the "Aa" beside "Font" in the Text panel (not the Text Editor) and select "Sans Bold." Type "60" in the "Size" field.

3. Click the "Color" box to open the Text Color panel. Type "ffffff" in the "HTML Notation" field to get white. Click "OK" to close the Text Color panel. Click "Close" to close the Text Editor panel.

4. Select the "Move Tool." Click the tool on one of the letters in your name and drag it so it is in the center of the circle.

Adding Effects

1. Click the "Filters" menu and select "Distorts." Click "Curve Bend." The Curve Bend panel opens. Your name is on the left and a line in a grid is on the right. Click the "Automatic Preview" check box. Drag the center of the line on the left, upward one-half the grid. The top of your name is now slightly curved. Click "Mirror" to curve the bottom. Click "OK."

2. Click the "Filters" menu and select "Distorts," then "Emboss." Select the "Emboss" function. Type "30" in the "Azimuth" field, "45" in the "Elevation" field and "20" in the "Depth" field. Click OK.

3. Click the "Background" layer in the Layers panel to select the button layer so you can add a shadow behind it. Click the "Filters" menu, select "Light and Shadow," then "Drop Shadow." Set both Offsets at "11" and the "Blur Radius" at "15." Type "80" in the "Opacity" field. Select "Allow Resizing" and click "OK."

4. Save your file by clicking "Save" from the "File" menu. This will preserve it so you can make changes later. To make a copy that you can upload to the Web, click "Save As." Click the "Select File Type" option, then select "PNG Image." A PNG file will preserve the transparent background.

References

• GIMP: Layer Modes
• GIMP: Curve Bend
• GIMP: Drop Shadow
• Troubleshooters.com: GIMP for the Artistically Challenged; Steve Litt; 2001