How to Create Pop Art from Photographs

Pop Art Image

GIMP is an open source and FREE image-editing rival to Adobe Photoshop. It has a number of unique tools that allow the photographer to make images into print art. If your images have enough resolution, they can be transformed into limited edition prints that can be signed and sold as original pieces of art. If you plan to do this, it is recommended that you choose a commercial printer that will help you select the best paper and help you to proof your art to assure that it is worthy of a limited run. In this article we will describe how to use the ALIEN MAPPING tool in GIMP to create pop art pieces.

Things You'll Need

• GIMP 2.6
• High Resolution Digital Image

Instructions

1. 

   Open GIMP and open your digital image for editing. This is a less-than-perfect picture of the Chicago Skyline. It was the wrong time of day to take a picture of Chicago from this angle. Most of the skyline is in shadow; the gull is too far away to have an impact. Can I make this rather dull picture into something more interesting? I like to select images for these experiments that have relatively little merit on their own. If it were a good image, why would I want to mess with it?

2. 

   Once you have opened your image in GIMP, select COLORS and then MAP. Under MAP select Alien Map. Click on Alien Map to open the applet's panel. Notice that there are a number of sliders and modes and a small preview window. The preview window will get larger as you use the stretch handle to enlarge the window for the applet. You can zoom in on the image by using the PLUS and MINUS buttons.

3. 

   You can change the MODE, which allows you to choose from the two most popular color models: RGB and HSV (Hue Saturation Value). The Color Space makes a dramatic difference in the overall tone of the print you are creating. You also have three channel options for each mode. You can choose to impact the HUE, SATURATION and VALUE or RED, Blue and Green channels separately or in any combination.

4. 

   Make your changes and use the PREVIEW window to see the impact. These settings almost make this look like a background for a cartoon. Use the sliders to see the impacts with each mode setting. Small changes in the sliders will make a great impact on the image. Experiment, and as you do, make small moves to study the impact on the image.

5. 

   This is an example of what adjusting the PHASE SHIFT will accomplish. When you change the PHASE you are changing the frequency of the wave and impacting the color by sending it out of phase. So for example, I can shift the phase of the BLUES to make them look like GREENS.

6. 

   Here is what happens when we only adjust the GREENS. Each selection of MODE and slider adjustments will give you a different effect. Once you have made your adjustment, click OK and the original will be rendered with your new map. Remember to save under a different file name to protect the integrity of the source image. Who knows, you might have a need for a picture like this again.

7. 

   Here is the final image. Looks like pop art to me. It is certainly an improvement over the bland original. This is just the first stage, however. Once you have an image you like, take it to your commercial printer. Use a heavyweight paper and select the paper carefully. The paper choice will dramatically impact the final print. Print it with the proper amount of bleed, so it can be mounted and framed. Make sure your printer understands the final product before you select a paper. Once you have the prints, sign the edition and have them mounted and framed. To print a 16 inch-by-20 inch print, you will need to have an image resolution of about 7 Megapixels.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment on your own home color printer to get a feel for what you like before you take it to the commercial printer.

• Take some time to find the right image for this project. If you like what you did, then you will know what to do for your next print project.

Resources

• GIMP