How to Airbrush Your Picture in GIMP
Airbrushing refers to the process of manipulating a photograph to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and blemishes on a subject's skin. Many of the more expensive image-editing programs contain tools for airbrushing your photographs, such as "blur," "smudge" and "heal." However, unless you're a professional photographer or image editor, you might not have several hundred dollars to spend on software. If you want to save some money, you can use the free GIMP image editor to create the same airbrushing effects.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Download and install GIMP.
-
2
Launch the GIMP application.
-
-
3
Click the "File" menu, then click "Open." Click to select the picture that you want to retouch, then click "Open."
-
4
Hold the "Ctrl" button and scroll the mouse wheel in the up direction to zoom in on a section of skin that you want to airbrush.
-
5
Click the "Healing Tool" in the "Toolbox" palette. The Healing Tool is similar to the Clone Tool, but uses an algorithm that allows the tool to work effectively on removing small wrinkles and lines.
-
6
Press and hold the "Ctrl" button, then click on a section of blemish- and wrinkle-free skin near the area you want to airbrush.
-
7
Click and drag over the blemish or wrinkle using a short stroke. This effect will cover the blemish or wrinkle with a clone of the skin created in the previous step. Repeat this process to cover any other blemishes or wrinkles.
-
8
Click the "Blur/Sharpen Tool" in the "Toolbox" palette. Click to select "Blur" from the "Convolve Type" options.
-
9
Click to select a brush size from the "Scale" slider. Click to set the "Opacity" to "50%."
-
10
Click and drag in small circular motions over areas of the skin to create an airbrushed effect, evening out skin tone and removing small lines.
-
11
Click the "Smudge Tool" in the "Toolbox" palette.
-
12
Click and drag in a single direction over the skin to create a smudge effect. This tool blends colors together and can be used to smooth out eyebrows, lips and other areas where the healing and blur tools aren't working.
-
13
Click the "File" menu, then click "Save" to save the picture.
-
1
