How to Change Hair Color with Gimp

The GNU Image Manipulation Program is a free graphics software program that rivals expensive Adobe Photoshop software in performance. Gimp includes tools similar to what you would find in Photoshop and other professional photo editing programs. Common tasks available when using Gimp include removing red-eye, fixing out of focus images, retouching and changing hair color. Changing hair color in a photo takes time and does require some practice. However, the selection tools included in Gimp simplify the process.

Instructions

1. Select the "Open" option from the File menu. Navigate to your photo and click on it. Click the "Open" button.

2. Click the "Zoom" drop-down menu at the bottom of the image and select a higher magnification until you see the hair in detail. Click the "Paths" tool in the Toolbox on the left side of the window. It looks like a pen with circles next to it.

3. Click on the image as close as possible to the hair to create the first node. Click a nearby point to create a straight line to another node or click and drag to curve as needed to the second node. Click the dots to adjust the curve.

4. Create nodes going around the hair as closely as possible to create a selection path. When you've created a node close to the start node, press the "Ctrl" key and click the start node to close the path.

5. Click the "From path" option in the Select menu. Click the "Color balance" option in the Colors menu. This option provides the best means of changing the hair color and making it look natural.

6. Manipulate the color balance levels until reaching the color you want. Press "Ctrl" and "Z" to undo any changes you don't like, or to go back and fix the path as needed. Click the "Save as" option in the File menu to save your modified photo with a new file name.

References

• Gimp: Documentation

Resources

• Gimp: Download