GIMP Sheep Tutorial

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SHORTCUTS

In this tutorial you will be shown how to use Gimp by inserting images, text, and use some of the colour tools. As well as removing backgrounds, cropping, scaling, rotating etc

If at any point you make a mistake simply press Ctrl + Z to undo the last action.

To zoom in press Ctrl and scroll using your mouse wheel
To pan around the canvas hold the Middle Mouse Button (scroll wheel button) and move the mouse.
SHIFT + S = Scale
SHIFT + R = Rotate
M = Move
CTRL + SHIFT + A = Deselect. This is needed when you finish using the Magic wand/Fuzzy Tool.

Step 1: How to Set up your canvas

First go to File > New to create a new canvas.

You will then get a pop-up which will give you a number of options.

Templates allows you to make your canvas the right size for various formats for example:

A4 (300ppi) is a good template for making A4 sized posters that will print out nicely.

1920 x 1080 (full HD 1080p) is a good template for making movie/youtube graphics.

There are also options here for landscape and portrait settings.

Step 2: Copying images onto Canvas

Now we need to get a picture to put onto our canvas.

Go to Google and find a picture of an animal. Importantly we need to find one we are allowed to use so in Google Image search make sure you select Tools > Usage Rights > Creative Commons licenses.

These images you are more likely to be allowed to use for projects like this.

When we have chosen an image we are going to click on it to show the full image on the right then Right Click > Copy image.

Step 3: Pasting Images into Gimp

Once you've copied your image from google we go back to GIMP.

There are TWO ways you can paste your image into Gimp EITHER Right Click > Edit > Paste OR Alternatively we can press Ctrl + V.

Option 1: Right Click > Edit > Paste.

Finally we are going to make the image its own layer so that we can manipulate it.

Right Click on the layer that we have just imported called Floating Selection (Pasted Layer) in the Layers Panel (normally found in the bottom right)
Select To New Layer.

Option 2: Using CTRL + V

CTRL + V will paste your image as a Floating Selection (Pasted Layer) in the Layers Panel.

YOU NEED TO then click To New Layer so it puts the image on a new layer.

You can rename it by double clicking on 'Pasted Layer'.

Step 4: Save File

At this point lets Save our file. Press File > Save or CTRL +S

What you first see

CHANGES

Name your file appropriately i.e. funsheep, partysheep etc
Select your H drive (not the yellow folder seen on the first image)
Pop it in your 9DGT folder

Step 5: Find an Accessory Image

Now you have a sheep we are going to repeat Step 2 to find an accessory like a Party Hat or a piece of jewellery, feather, or clothing.

In most cases you will need to remove the background. When looking for a suitable image you ideally want plain coloured backgrounds AND a background colour that contrasts with the image is easier.

Step 6: Repeat Step 3 - Paste into Gimp

If you can't remember how to Paste your image in Gimp go back up and look at Step 3. REMEMBER to put your FLOATING LAYER on a NEW LAYER

Step 7: Scale your Accessory

When you Paste your Image in it might be really big.

Use the shortcut SHIFT + S to scale.
Use the shortcut M to move

Step 8: Crop your Image

You may need to crop your image and this is really handy to get rid of the excess space around the item. If you are including something like wings or earrings where you have a pair you could edit one and then duplicate and flip.

Select the Crop Tool
In the Tool Options Check the Current Layer only box

Make your selection.

Everything in the white box stays.
You can adjust by using the handles on the corners or sides

Hit Enter

Step 9: Removing backgrounds using Fuzzy Select

To start with we are going to remove this white space using Fuzzy Select. Select the tool from the toolbox in the top left hand corner (it looks like a magic wand).

Part A

Click on the area of white space around the object.
You may need to change the Threshold up or down to select more of the background or less.

The Fuzzy wand is picking up the colour you selected. If you have a high Threshold it picks up more of that colour and this is a problem when your object is similar in colour to the background like in this wing example. Likewise if it is too low we are left with a white line around our object.

See the examples below.

Part B

Once you are happy with what is selected press the Delete key (not Back Space). The white space will then be removed.
You then need to DESELECT to remove the fuzzy wand selection To deselect press Ctrl + Shift + A
M to move it

Helpful tips:

If it doesn't delete check you have pushed Delete NOT Backspace
If it deletes part of the object, refer to Part A and adjust the Threshold
If you have follow everything correctly you may need to right click on the layer and select Add Alpha Channel then hit Delete

When Delete Works

Once Deselected

Step 10: Scale, Rotate, Duplicate, Flip, Move Layers

Move

To move layers around your canvas select the layer you want to move from the Layers Menu. Make sure you do not select the layer mask (box on the right with a cross through it). Next use the Move Tool (1) in the tool box in the top right, Click on an area of the layer you want to move and Drag it into the right place.

To scale a layer you need to select the layer you want to resize, then press the Scale Tool (2). You then need to Click the image you want to rotate and drag out the box. Make sure you press the Scale button when you are happy to finalize your changes.

In order to rotate the layer again select the layer you want to rotate. In new versions of GIMP you now need to Click and Hold the Scale Tool in order to show the additional functions. While continuing to hold move the mouse over the Rotate then release. The process is then the same as the Scale Tool, Click, Modify the edges, press the Rotate Button.

Scale

Rotate

Step 11: Adding text

To add text to your image we are going to click on the Text Tool (A) and then Click on our picture where you want the text. It is easiest with you just click rather than click and drag a box as the size of the box will automatically scale to the correct size if you do it this way.

To change the Font, Size or Colour. You first need to select the text you want to change (when it is selected there will be yellow boxes around the letters). Then change the settings in the popup box. Press Ctrl + A to select all the text.

When you are done you can Move and Rotate the text just like before. Make sure when you move or rotate that you press where the text is or you may modify the wrong layer.

Step 12: Recolouring and Filters

A quick crash course in some of the cool effects available in GIMP.

Changing Colours

Click on the layer you want to recolour and then Color > Hue and Chroma.

You can then change the Hue, Chroma, and Lightness to change the colours in that layer. Finally press OK.

Filters

Click on the layer you want to recolour and then select the filter you want. Some examples are below. Each effect has different sliders that can be modified to get your desired result.

Distorts > Engrave

Distorts > Mosaic

Artistic > Cartoon

Artistic > Waterpixels

Decor > Old Photo

Distorts > Ripple

Edge Detect > Neon

Map > Fractal Trace

Saving up your work

Press File > Save. Make sure you save your work to the H: Drive. This is the drive with your Student Id and has (H:) at the end.

Submitting your image

Press File > Export. Your Gimp file should already be in your H: Drive and named appropriately.

You just need to select JPEG from the Select File Type options at bottom then export.

Submitting your image

Submit your JPG file via the link below.

https://schoology.burnside.school.nz/assignment/7705640414/info

In Schoology once you are in the assignment you should see a Submit Assignment button top right and then follow the image on the right.

For Experts: Removing backgrounds using Layer Masks

For more complicated images we are going to remove the material using the layer mask.

Right click on the layer and select Add Layer Mask. Then select White (Full Opacity) and Add. Nothing will appear to happen.

We have now added a layer mask however which will let us modify which parts of the layer are visible. If it is White in the layer mask you can see it if it is Black you cant.

Now we are going to paint out the areas we don't want. To do this we are going to use the Paintbrush Tool.

There are only 3 things we are going to worry about at this stage:

Colours - The top square is our currently applied colour and the bottom is our quick change. We can swap between them pressing the arrows.
Brush - We can select a range of different brushes with different properties.
Size - Size of the brush

We are going to start with a Harness 100, and large brush to get rid of most of the material around our accessory. Paint out the areas we don't want in the layer mask with black to remove them.

Next we are going to change the size of our brush to be smaller and add some fuzziness and carefully paint out the areas we don't want. If you accidently paint somewhere you didn't mean to press Ctrl + Z to undo

EXEMPLARS

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