In this tutorial I am going to walk through the BASIC Gimp tools for you. I will show where they are, what they do, and how to use them(on the harder ones). Just remember...there are soo many more tools and add-ons, these are just the basic and most used ones! Hope they help! :)
First lets start with your Tool box. This is your MOST used tool. You can move it to where ever on your page you want, by clicking and dragging it, and you can even add and remove tools in your tool box. You can do this by Going to WINDOWS, DOCKABLE DIALOGS, TOOLS. Then a new box will appear with all your tool options. You can click the eye ball to turn on and off the visibility of each tool. There are also 2 green arrows at the bottom of the box that allow you to move tools up or down on your list. This is a great way to give those tools you use the most a great spot on the top of your tool box. There is also a reset button if you ever want to go back to the original!
Now to give you an idea of what each tool is in your tools box.
Here is the BASIC break down of each tool.
Scissors Select Tool: AMAZING TOOL! This tool helps you to cut out objects on your image by clicking small points on the picture. It will automatically "connect the dots" as you go. With this tool its best to zoom in pretty close so you can get more of an exact cut. Make your points, and when you return to the start dot hit ENTER. You line will change to a moving dotted line. This means you have made a SELECTION out of your cut out. Now you can hit CTRL X(to cut) and CTRL V(to paste) it onto a new layer. There is also the option below the tool box to add a feathered edge to it. The higher the number the more rounded your edges will be.
Measuring Tool: Allows you to make exact measurements. Click a starting point and drag it to an end point. Your exact measurements will show at the bottom of your gimp screen.
Scale Tool: Allows you to re size your image. A scale box will appear and will allow you to type in an exact measurement if you know what you want(say a 5x7) or you can click and drag the corners of your picture to re size it from there. Make sure you click the little LINK option next the the height and width in the box. This will keep you picture at the right ration, so you don't get a distorted picture. Hit SCALE when you are done.
Bucket Fill Tool: Allows you to pick a color and fill in a whole layer or selection with one click.
Airbrush Tool: Allows you to paint with an airbrushed look. You can change the size, shape and color of the airbrush at the bottom of the tool box.
Blur/Sharpen Tool: Allows you to blur or sharpen small areas of your picture.
Ellipse Select Tool: Allows you to make a selection on your image in the shape of a circle or oval.
Foreground Select Tool: Allows you to separate your foreground from your background. Best when used if you have high contrasting picture with little detail. AT the bottom of the tool box there is the option to "mark foreground" and "mark background". Switch these back and forth while coloring the correct colors on your image. Hit ENTER when done to make a SELECTION out of your image. You will get a moving dotted line, and you can then edit your selection.
Move Tool: Allows you to move each layer on its own.
Shear Tool: Allows you to Shear your image from right to left.
Blend Tool: Allows you to add a gradient to your background. You can change the color and style of gradient at the bottom of the tool box. To use, just click a start and drag it to the end point. Each different start and end point will give you a different look.
Ink Tool: Gives you a calligraphy style paint brush. Options can be changed at the bottom of the tool box.
Smudge Tool: Allows you to smudge your image by clicking and dragging. Options can be changes at the bottom of the tool box.
Free Select Tool: Allows you to make a selection from your image freehand.
Paths Tool:Allows you to create and edit paths.
Alignment Tool: Allows you to align objects in different layers. Hit Shift click to select the object then use the controllers at the bottom of the toll box to move the object.
Perspective Tool: Allows you to change the perspective of your selected object or layer.
Pencil Tool: Similar to the brush tool, but used for smaller fine lines.
Clone Tool: GREAT TOOL! Allows you to replace an unwanted spot with a similar spot you have selected. Say you tool a great picture but there is a HUGE carpet stain on the floor. Simply hit CTRL and click to select a "clean area", then start painting over your carpet stain! BINGO....free carpet cleaning! ;)
Dodge/Burn Tool: Dodge helps to lighten your image, burn helps to darken your image.
Fuzzy Select Tool: AWESOME TOOL! Allows you to click a spot and it selects a continuous region based on the lines. breaks and color changes. Sometimes works PERFECT..or times not so well.
Eyedropper/color picker tool: Allows you to select a color from you image and drops it in the color pallet. Save you time from having to guess the exact color!
Crop Tool: Allows for cropping images to the correct size. You can either create your own crop size, or type in at the bottom of the tool box the right size (ex. 5x7)
Flip Tool: Allows you to flip your image or layer vertical or horizontal.
Paint brush Tool: Allows you to paint. Options can be change at the bottom of the tool box.
Healing Tool: Similar to the Clone tool, but used for skin tones. Hit CTRL click to select a copying point, then point over you area of skin you want to fix. Perfect for scraps and bruises as well as bags under the eyes and pimples! Options can be changed at the bottom of the tool box.
Select by color Tool: ANOTHER GREAT TOOL! Allows you to make a selection based on color. Click on the color you want to select and it will automatically select that same color everywhere on your image!
Zoom Tool: Allows you to zoom in or out of you image.
Rotate Tool: Allows you to rotate your image.
Text Tool:Allows you to add text to you image. Font, color and size can be changed at the bottom of the tool box.
Eraser Tool: Allows you to erase parts of your image or layers while leaving other layers alone.
Clone Perspective Tool: Similar to the clone tool, but used if you have already changed the perspective of your image.
Color selection Box: Allows you to pick any color for painting, filling or airbrushing.
I know it seems like a lot...and it is...but you really don't EVER use ALL the tools! :) Here is the next biggy..your LAYER BOX! Its a wonderful thing to know!
LAYER BOX
Pretty self explanatory! The one thing that is good to know though, is when opening up a new layer...MOST times you want it to open as a TRANSPARENT layer. This option isn't always pre set for it. And how to change it is shown above! ;)
OK, moving on to the TOP control Bar. LOTS of options....so once again..these are only the basic ones that are used most of the time.
SELECT OPTION
Select ALL: short cut....CTRL A Allows you to select your WHOLE layer.
None: short cut...Shift Ctrl A Allows you to Deselect your current selection. This is VERY important, because if you have something selected, you will not be able to do any changes outside the selection.
Invert: short cut......Ctrl I Allows you to choose the OPPOSITE of what you currently have selected.
Shrink: Allows you to make you selection shrink down in size, depending on the number of pixels you pit in.
Grow: Allows you to make your selection grow depending on the number of pixels you put in.
Border: Allows you to add a border of any size and color to your selection or layer. GREAT for collages.
VIEW OPTION
Zoom 100%: Allows you to see you image at 100%...this will also be your print size unless options are changed.
Show Guide: You can easily add guides on to you image to help align objects. click and grab any part or either ruler and drag it on to your picture. To be able to see these guides, the show guide option must be on. You can remove them by dragging them off the page, or by turning the show guide option off.
Show Grid: You can add grid lines to your image to help align objects also.
Snap to Guide: If you have guide lines set, your objects will automatically snap right up against the guide line if this option is set. This makes for right on alignments.
Snap to Grid: Similar to the Guide snap, but if you have a grid set up you objects will snap to the closest line.
IMAGE OPTION
Duplicate: Allows you to open an exact copy of you current image in a new screen..not just a new layer.
Mode: Most commonly used to convert from RGB(color) to Greyscale(black and white).
Transform: Allows you to flip and rotate your image as a whole(all layers together). If you want to do layers separate, you can use the flip and rotate tools in your tool box.
Canvas size: Allows you to expand your canvas but leave your other layers alone. Great for adding borders.
Print size: most commonly used for changing the resolution for pictures.
Scale Image: Used to change the size of your image as a whole(all layers). If you want to change separate layers, use the scale tool in your tool box.
Merge visible layers: Will bring all your layers that are visible(have the eye ball next to them) in to ONE layer. After this is done it is much harder to edit individual objects. This option will leave you images on a transparent background.
Flatten Image: Same as merge image, but it will delete non visible layers, and will put your image on a white background.(though it may not show).
Guides: Allows you to enter a value for a guide you want to create. Also has a REMOVE guide option.
Image Properties: Information of your current print size, resolution, and file name.
LAYERS OPTION
New layer: Creates a new layer :) Can also be found on the layer box.
Duplicate layer: Makes an exact copy of the selected layer. Can also be found on the layer box.
Anchor layer: When a new selection is added to a new layer, you much anchor it down on to that layer before work can be done an any OTHER layer. Can also be found on the layer box.
Merge down: Will add the selected layer to the layer directly below it. Also found on the layer box.
Delete layer: Deletes the selected layer. Can also be found on the layer box.
Text along path: Great for making your text follow a path you create( A whole different tutorial to come)
Scale Layer: Allows you to scale the selected layer and leaves the other layers alone.
COLORS OPTION
Hue/ Saturation: Changing the saturation is great for going to a black and white image, or upping the color to make them pop more. And changing the Hue of a selection is a great way to change an object to a different color.
Brightness and contrast: Can add pop and depth to a photo.
Levels: Plays with the black and white input levels in your picture.
Curves:Plays with the input levels of colors as well and black and white.
De saturate: Gives you options on converting to black and white photos.
TOOLS OPTION
Tool Box: Just in case your tool box ever goes missing! ;)
Also all of the tools in your tool box are located here.
FILTERS OPTION
ALL filters: Filters are a great way to add a little twist to your work. Play with ALL of them, and see what you like!
All right..there you have it! PLENTY of tools to keep you busy for a little while! And just remember..there are so many more fun tools out there just waiting to be found! If you ever find one you love, let me know so I can add it! :)
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