How to Make a Wax Seal Image with GIMP

In the old days a letter would be sealed with wax, and the wax would be imprinted with a customized seal. If you'd like to create your own seal to add to e-mails, certificates, or your web site you can do it easily with GIMP - and there's no messy wax to deal with. These instructions are specific to GIMP, but the technique can be adapted for other image software.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• GIMP (a free, open source image editor)

1. 
    

   Open a new white image. Select Layer>New Layer>Transparent to create a second transparent layer above the first. On the transparent layer use the pencil tool to draw a black shape that looks like the outline of a blob of wax. Use the fill bucket to fill the shape solid black.

2. 
    

   Use the Ellipse Select tool to select a circle in the center of your blob. Use the fill bucket, set to Fill Whole Selection, to fill your circle with white.

3. 
    

   Use the Select by Color tool to select the black part of your image. Then select Filters>Render>Clouds>Solid Noise. In the Solid Noise dialog make adjustments until your result looks about like the natural uneven surface of dripped wax (for my example I used x and y sizes of 4 and detail of 1, but you can play around with it until it looks the way you like.) When you are through, clear your selection ( Select>None)

4. 
    

   Add your image or initials to the center of your seal and merge onto your seal layer. For my example I used the text tool and just added my initials, but you can use any black and white line drawing. Just make sure your image is very crisp, and simple is better.

5. 
    

   Duplicate your image layer, name the duplicate Bump Map. On the Bump Map layer, select Filters>Decor>Add Bevel. This gives your edge a raised look. Then select Colors>Invert. Make this layer invisible with the eye icon on your layers dialog.

6. 
    

   On your image layer, use the Fuzzy Select Tool to select the background, then Selection>Invert to reverse the selection to only your seal. Use the Bucket Fill tool, set at about 75%, and fill selection with the desired color. The color will darken in the final step, so use a shade or two lighter than you want your finished image.

7. 
    

   Open the Filters>Lighting Effects dialog. Go to the Bump Map tab and choose your Bump Map layer for your bump map. Adjust your material and lighting until you have a look you like. Wax should be a little shiny, but not too much. For my example I used a shiny setting of .40, and a directional light. When you have it the way you like, apply the effect. You can now delete the Bump Map layer. Add a drop shadow and merge down your layers.