Things You'll Need:
- gimp 2 free download
- Your selected photograph and background
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Step 1
To use GIMP 2 you will need to have the free photo editing software downloaded to your computer. If you dont already have it then you can download it fron the link at the end of this article.
Once you have the program and its ready to use, be sure that you have already selected the photograph of whose background that you want to change and also the background that you are changing it to. -
Step 2
For your backgrounds they will need to be at 320 x 240 or higher resolution (the higher, the better). Whatever resolution you choose, use a 4:3 width/height ratio (e.g., 400x300, 640 x 480, etc.). Images can be in the following formats: .BMP, .JPG, .GIF, .TGA, or .PNG. Check the resolution by right clicking on the image and selecting the properties. If you need to change it then do so in the program that you wish to use.
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Step 3
To prepare your image for background removal in Gimp, you will need to ensure that the image you are working on is on its own layer and not the background layer. To do this: press Ctrl+A, Ctrl+X, and Ctrl+V. This will select, cut, and paste the image you have opened onto a new layer (Layer 1).
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Step 4
In the menu bar at the top of the Gimp window you will see file, image, etc. Click on Select and then Color range. The color range window will display. An eyedropper tool should now be your cursor whenever you move your cursor over the image. Use this eyedropper to select the green background in your image, and then click OK.
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Step 5
After you select ok you will see a blinking dotted line that will appear around the object. This just means that the background is selected and ready for removal. To remove it, press Ctrl-X and this will cut it from the image.Create a new layer by choosing from the menu bar, just click on layer, new, layer and then click ok.
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Step 6
Change the blending mode of your new layer to color. The blending mode is changed using the drop down menu located in the Layers tab, next to the opacity slider. Use your eyedropper tool to select a color from the object. Then, use a soft-edged paint brush on this new layer to paint the color over the green edges and restore it to its original color. After this we will need to merge these two layers together. You will first need to select the original object layer. Do this by selecting the object layer in your layer list, and choosing Select then Load Selection and then Okay in the top menu bar.
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Step 7
While the object layer is selected (you should see a blinking dotted line surrounding it), select the color layer we painted on. Then, press Ctrl+E.This action will merge the colored layer AND the objects layer together, while still keeping the object outline selected.
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Step 8
Now that you have selected the object before merging the two layers, and still have the object or subject selected, you may now press Ctrl+X and Ctrl+V to cut and paste the object from the original layer onto a new layer. Once this is done go ahead and delete the excess color layer. You are now left with only the object again and in the correct colors. The background should be white.
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Step 9
Now go back to your layers box, you can press Ctrl+L . You will need to do this while that your background image is opened. With the background image opened click on your object image and copy it by pressing Ctrl+C. Go back to the background image and press Ctrl+V and this will paste the image.
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Step 10
You can move it or change the size if you would like and then anchor the images by clicking on the anchor in the layers box. Click on layers then merge. And you are done!
