How to Make a Balloon Speak in GIMP

Making a GIMP speech balloon can clarify the meaning of an image.

The graphics editing program GIMP provides all the tools that a cartoonist needs to make a speech balloon. The cartoonist can use GIMP's "Text" tool to display the words, then use GIMP's "Ellipse" and "Paintbrush" tools to create the outline of the speech balloon. The following scenario illustrates a humorous application of a GIMP speech balloon: draw speech balloons atop a photo of a serious-looking person, then insert comical text that's completely out of character for the person into the balloon.

Instructions

1. Launch GIMP and open the image to which you want to add the speech balloon.

2. Click the "A" icon in the toolbox to run the "Text" tool, then click and drag a selection region in the area of the image into which you want to place the speech balloon.

3. Type the text for the speech balloon into the dialog box that appears. For example, for an Army sergeant, you might type "Tennnnnn HUT!"

4. Click the "Font" button in the "Tool Options" palette to open a dialog box that allows you to choose a font appropriate for the text you've typed.

5. Click a font name from the list of fonts that appears, then click the "Ellipse" icon on the toolbox. Drag the mouse across the text to surround the text with an ellipse.

6. Click the "Selection Editor" command in the "Select" menu, then click the "Stroke" button in the lower-right corner of the dialog box that appears.

7. Click "OK" to tell GIMP to stroke the outline around the ellipse. Click the "Paintbrush" tool, then draw a cone or funnel shape extending from the speaker's mouth to the ellipse.

8. Click the "Erase" tool icon, then drag it over the portion of the ellipse that connects to the cone. This connects the balloon to the speaker and completes your speech balloon.

References

• GIMP: Text