How to Use GIMP
The GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) is a free, open-source, image-editing suite. GIMP's features are designed to rival the capabilities of commercial editing suites, such as Paint Shop Pro and Adobe Photoshop. You can create, edit and convert images across a wide range of different formats. Learning to use GIMP is actually fairly simple, thanks to the ample documentation provided by the community that created it.
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Instructions
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Download the GIMP installation package from the GIMP homepage (see Resources).
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Run the completed installation file, and install GIMP on your local hard drive.
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Open GIMP when the installation is complete.
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Click "File" and "New" to create a new image file. Use the Template menu to select a premade template for your new image, or select "Blank" to start from scratch.
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Use the toolbar located along the left side of the screen to select different tools and brushes. Hover your mouse cursor over the icons to bring up a brief description of each tool. Some brushes, such as Pencil and Paint, attempt to recreate the natural look of these materials. Other tools, such as Clone, Burn and Smooth, are used to alter an existing image.
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Use the Paint and Pencil brushes to create an image from scratch, or add new detail to an existing image. These brushes are highly customizable, featuring options for width, hue and brush shape. These settings can be adjusted directly from the toolbar to your liking.
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The Clone tool works by simulating the same color and texture patterns found in parts of an image. This pattern can then be "stamped" over offending sections of an image. The Clone tool is a great way to remove acne, sores and overlapping foreign objects from images of people. You can also use it to cut an object out of the background by simply duplicating other sections of the background on top of the object.
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Use the Smooth tool to smooth out rough and jagged edges in an image. The Smooth tool is especially useful when you are creating digital collages from a collection of different images, as it can be used to soften the outer sections of cropped or pasted images. You can also use the Smooth tool to create smooth gradients when it is applied in an area where multiple colors are touching.
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Use the Transformation tools, such as Stretch, Flip and Rotate, to affect the orientation and aspect ratio of your image. Use the Stretch tool to distort the length or width of an image. Use Rotate and Flip to turn an image in 90-degree increments or to create a mirror image of the original.
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Click "File" and "Save As" to save a copy of your work. Enter a name for the created image, and then click on the drop-down menu labeled "File Type" to select the file format you wish to use.
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