Cut out a speech bubble from a transparent PNG image?!

[cutoutperson]

Hi there.

I have a PNG with transparent background.

I want to upload iinto GIMP.

I want to then overlay a speech bubble.

I want to then cut out whatever is in that speech bubble, and export that ... so that l have nothing that was outside of the speech bubble in the exported image.

Best l've been able to do so far merely cuts out a silhouette of whatever was in the speech bubble, minus any colours or anything like that.

All l want is a speech bubble containing a picture, that l can then paste into other larger pictures.



Seriously considering a physical paper and scissors solution right now. GIMP seems able to do anything but this. FWIW l don't for a moment think it'd be straightforward on any other art program made after 1999, when the world got unnecessarily complex for no reason!

[Blighty]

Always a bit of guess work without seeing your images. For example, does your speech bubble have a transparent or white interior.

1. Open your png in Gimp.
2. File > Open As Layers to open your speech bubble.
You now have an image with 2 layers.
3. Use the Move tool to move the speech bubble into position.
4. In the layers dialogue select the speech bubble layer.
5. Use the Fuzzy Select tool to select the interior of the speech bubble.
6. Select the png layer.
7. Edit > Copy or Ctrl-C
8. Edit > Paste As > New Image or Shift-Ctrl-V
9. EXPORT this new image

[Ritergeek]

Ditto on the challenge of following your thought train without seeing your components, but here's one way I'd do speech bubbles in GIMP. This method avoids the need for a third file, although if you plan to use that speech bubble more than once, using Blighty's method will save time and work.

1. Open the larger image as Layer 1.
2. Add a path to define the shape of a speech bubble.
3. Add a transparent layer, Layer 2.
4. Select Layer 2 and fill the path with (white). Move it into position if needed.
5. From the File tab, open your png as a layer (Ctrl+Alt+O), adding Layer 3.
6. Position Layer 3 within the speech bubble and scale to fit.

If you have a speech bubble shape you like, you can trace a bitmap or just create it from scratch in Inkscape, which has slightly better path tools. Save as an SVG file. In your GIMP image, open the Paths dialog, right-click within the dialog, and import the SVG file there. This route preserves scalability all the nodes and lets you edit the path. Opening an SVG as a new image or layer imports it as a raster image ─ a situation that took me a frustrating while to finally comprehend.

[cutoutperson]

Thanks for your input guys, you seem to have gotten the idea of what l'm after. Just to reiterate what l'm trying to say, this time using an example:

I have the word "LOL!" in a speech bubble. The speech bubble has a black outline.

I want to paste that all over a new image such that the speech bubble is transparent.


UPDATE:
- I no longer want a transparent background around the speech bubble
- I actually used another solution on the net, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3Z6cO4KNOI
- Your solutions appear to be even easier, especially because l no longer want a transparent background, but with your solutions, there doesn't seem to be a tool to create a bold outline around the cutout speech bubble that l generate. However, l found a way:

Select --> To Path
then Edit --> Stroke Selection --> set desired line thickness --> Press "Stroke"


FINAL MOANS:
- As an asides, there's no direct n easy no way to just copy and paste an image repeatedly on the page, a la Microsoft Paint
- I see no "Move" tool @ Blighty
- I'll say this about every art program l've tried (CorelDRAW, GIMP, Photoshop - but l can't even recall when l used Photoshop): they need to build the software around basic manipulations, branching out radially to the more complex stuff. So, to copy and paste a Christmas tree all over the page, or draw a speech bubble saying "I am an idiot" and "Me too LOL" over your friend's photos, should be made more accessible. My bottom hurts from hours just sat there, trying to make one miserable speech bubble, which l have finally now sussed out and l just feel empty inside for it, no sense of achievement.

Also GIMP: How about a hand select tool?!

Once again, thanks guys!!! ))

Thanks guys bye for now!

[Ofnuts]

(04-16-2019, 10:46 PM)cutoutperson Wrote: FINAL MOANS:
- As an asides, there's no direct n easy no way to just copy and paste an image repeatedly on the page, a la Microsoft Paint

There is... There are "clipboard" brush and pattern (first choices in the brush/pattern lists). They will use the current clipboard content.

Quote:- I see no "Move" tool @ Blighty

In the Toolbox this is the icon.

Quote:- I'll say this about every art program l've tried (CorelDRAW, GIMP, Photoshop - but l can't even recall when l used Photoshop): they need to build the software around basic manipulations, branching out radially to the more complex stuff. So, to copy and paste a Christmas tree all over the page, or draw a speech bubble saying "I am an idiot" and "Me too LOL" over your friend's photos, should be made more accessible. My bottom hurts from hours just sat there, trying to make one miserable speech bubble, which l have finally now sussed out and l just feel empty inside for it, no sense of achievement.

There are programs that will do this easily, but they will only do this.

Quote:Also GIMP: How about a hand select tool?!

There is one, but its icon looks like

[Ritergeek]

Cutoutperson, I feel your pain. I've moved through more than half a dozen graphics programs, including Photoshop, myself, and trying to find equivalent tools in a new one is frustrating and time-consuming. But rest assured, with the exception of adjustment layers (which I've heard may yet be forthcoming in a future version), GIMP can do anything the others can, in some cases better.

You've done well to come here for answers. Folks here are amazingly prompt and generous about sharing their expertise. As you continue to ask questions and work with GIMP, you'll continue to discover workarounds that will allow you to do things you never imagined possible with pixels instead of paper.

Aside from anything else, I especially appreciate that GIMP is more than a mere piece of software, it's a community. Some may avail themselves more of the give and take on forums more than others, but this amazing piece software has been and continues to be developed and supported by volunteers. Yes, cash contributions help, but they aren't required, and at least most development and support time is donated. What a marvel! I just wish we could bottle the civility and respect shown on this forum and pour it out onto the rest of the web!

---

P.S. when you create a basic shape like a speech bubble that you like, right-click its path and export the path to a library of components. That can save you lots of time in future projects as you import and adapt the basic shape for other purposes. Also, if you find a (speech bubble) you like in print or another graphic, try this:

1. Scan or open that graphic in GIMP.
2. Isolate the part you want to use (for example, a speech bubble) removing extraneous elements.
3. Copy and paste that element into a new document in Inkscape, which will interprets raster input as a bitmap.
4. Trace that bitmap image.
5. Simplify the path and adjust as necessary.
6. Save the path as an SVG as part of a library of paths. I have a separate folder for this.
7. Import that path into GIMP any time and adjust to fit its new use.

Inkscape has its own learning curve, but its vector tools are smoother and easier to use than GIMP's. The two make a great team, much like CorelDraw and PhotoPaint or Illustrator and Photoshop.