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edit image help
#1
Hello from Canada
for many years I used Windows PC and purchased Adobe PS after taking a course.
I used this software a lot and became pretty efficient, if I do say so myself.
Couple years ago I left the Windows world and went Apple. I now have macbook air.

I am looking for a free photo editing software to do some specific tasks which I used to do in Adobe PS.
My instructor of days gone by said GIMP is pretty good. 

In PS i could erase or brush out part of image and replace it with my own image inserted or text. 
that is mainly what I would like to do now. 
attached is an image I would like to edit. removing the goofy looking birds and replacing with pictures of 
parents and child. 
it is a Christmas gift for my niece and first baby. 

i think i have downloaded the correct version for my Mac. any tips from the gallery?


Attached Files Image(s)
   
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#2
Hi Lori17. Welcome to Gimp Forum.

Yes, Gimp can do that quite easily

But Gimp is different from Photoshop, so there will be learning curve. The end result is the same, but the workflow to get there is different.

For that image I would start from scratch. Get an image of a wood panel and another image of a heart shape. Then use the heart image to cut the wood panel to a heart shape. After that, add text, photos, images on layers above the wood. Easy for an experienced Gimp user, but for a first time Gimp user there will be a learning curve.

Not a tutorial, just a quick demo to show what can be done.

Image of wood panel with a heart shape in another layer.
https://imgur.com/a/t43cH

Wood panel cut to heart shape.
https://imgur.com/a/S2mDy

Use of cut-outs and drop shadows to create 3D effect.
https://imgur.com/a/S0kBa

Small bevel added to edges.
https://imgur.com/a/M9QVM
Reply
#3
(10-28-2017, 04:30 PM)Blighty Wrote: Hi Lori17. Welcome to Gimp Forum.

Yes, Gimp can do that quite easily

But Gimp is different from Photoshop, so there will be learning curve. The end result is the same, but the workflow to get there is different.

For that image I would start from scratch. Get an image of a wood panel and another image of a heart shape. Then use the heart image to cut the wood panel to a heart shape. After that, add text, photos, images on layers above the wood. Easy for an experienced Gimp user, but for a first time Gimp user there will be a learning curve.

Not a tutorial, just a quick demo to show what can be done.

Image of wood panel with a heart shape in another layer.
https://imgur.com/a/t43cH

Wood panel cut to heart shape.
https://imgur.com/a/S2mDy

Use of cut-outs and drop shadows to create 3D effect.
https://imgur.com/a/S0kBa

Small bevel added to edges.
https://imgur.com/a/M9QVM

thanks for your reply blighty
I know that Gimp is not the same as PS but I was told it is a good alternative. 
i just hoped the flow of work would be more similar. 


so if effect I need to put layer upon layer to achieve the affect I want. correct?
thanks for the links for examples. i will work with that and see how I do.

hmmmm that may be bit too much work for the time I need to get this done. 
tho i like the idea and the looks of this app and will learn how to use it to its fullest. 

is there a downloadable manual I could get and peruse at my leisure?
Reply
#4
(10-28-2017, 05:37 PM)lori17 Wrote: is there a downloadable manual I could get and peruse at my leisure?

Link to online manual:
https://www.gimp.org/docs/

Here is a link to a pdf manual. Seems to be about 3 years old:
https://www.gimp.org/news/2014/08/14/gim...-released/
If there is a newer one hopefully someone will post a link to it.
Reply
#5
(10-28-2017, 04:30 PM)Blighty Wrote: Hi Lori17. Welcome to Gimp Forum.

Yes, Gimp can do that quite easily

But Gimp is different from Photoshop, so there will be learning curve. The end result is the same, but the workflow to get there is different.

For that image I would start from scratch. Get an image of a wood panel and another image of a heart shape. Then use the heart image to cut the wood panel to a heart shape. After that, add text, photos, images on layers above the wood. Easy for an experienced Gimp user, but for a first time Gimp user there will be a learning curve.

Not a tutorial, just a quick demo to show what can be done.

Image of wood panel with a heart shape in another layer.
https://imgur.com/a/t43cH

Wood panel cut to heart shape.
https://imgur.com/a/S2mDy

Use of cut-outs and drop shadows to create 3D effect.
https://imgur.com/a/S0kBa

Small bevel added to edges.
https://imgur.com/a/M9QVM


.xcf   gimp2_4box.xcf (Size: 531.5 KB / Downloads: 513) Blighty...thank you so much for the links.

i managed to take a picture of the wooden heart sample you sent and I managed to do some steps..
worked like a charm. i am so happy.  see image attached...hope you can see it. 

this is not going to be that difficult at all...once i get a hang of a few more steps 

i cannot figure out how to add images (pictures of people and tiny hearts or some other image) to the wooden heart image. 
 
tried copy paste but only insert name of image file.
tried drag pic to image but it took over the whole thing.

am stuck now.
Reply
#6
If you have used PS then you know that the image posted is way too small. The best way is rebuild it.

For something that will print about 15cm x 15cm @ 300 ppi (photo quality) you need about 1800 x 1800 pixels

Rebuilding in Gimp looks complicated but think in sections
Base image then text then included "Photos"

[Image: D6mZ9Un.jpg]

All standard Gimp except fonts, and wood pattern (find what suits you)

An up-to-date pdf of Gimp help http://gimp.linux.it/www/meta/

Things to look for
layer groups - keep control of the text
paths - for the shapes
layer masks - for the 'photo layers'
drop shadow
and all the rest

As a starter, a link to the Gimp file, Same as PS Gimp files tend to be large. Save as a .xcf or .xcfgz to keep all layers masks etc. When complete Export as a (much smaller) single layer png.

https://www.mediafire.com/file/z528yyp5q...rown.xcfgz about 8MB

Goes into grumpy old man mode: Went into the City Center yesterday. The !*!?!* christmas street decorations were up (not illuminated)

Say no to premature decorations https://i.imgur.com/cBjAdCp.jpg
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#7
(10-28-2017, 06:05 PM)lori17 Wrote: i cannot figure out how to add images (pictures of people and tiny hearts or some other image) to the wooden heart image. 

Various ways:

1.
Have the wooden heart image open, then do
File > Open as Layers
and select your photo

2.
Open your photo image. Copy (Edit > Copy) or Ctrl-C
Switch to wooden heart image
Edit > Past As > New Layer

3. (new users often get caught out by this one !)
Open your photo image. Copy (Edit > Copy) or Ctrl-C
Switch to wooden heart image
Edit > Paste or Ctrl-V
In your layers dialogue you now get a layer called (Floating Selection - Pasted Layer)
Right click on this and choose To New Layer
Reply
#8
(10-28-2017, 04:30 PM)Blighty Wrote: Hi Lori17. Welcome to Gimp Forum.

Yes, Gimp can do that quite easily

But Gimp is different from Photoshop, so there will be learning curve. The end result is the same, but the workflow to get there is different.

For that image I would start from scratch. Get an image of a wood panel and another image of a heart shape. Then use the heart image to cut the wood panel to a heart shape. After that, add text, photos, images on layers above the wood. Easy for an experienced Gimp user, but for a first time Gimp user there will be a learning curve.

Not a tutorial, just a quick demo to show what can be done.

Image of wood panel with a heart shape in another layer.
https://imgur.com/a/t43cH

Wood panel cut to heart shape.
https://imgur.com/a/S2mDy

Use of cut-outs and drop shadows to create 3D effect.
https://imgur.com/a/S0kBa

Small bevel added to edges.
https://imgur.com/a/M9QVM

i think i hit reply in wrong place on this forum. so there may be a duplicate.

thanks rich200 for your suggestion. i am having trouble getting the bars on side with tools etc showing when I open my .xcf heart file. so i cannot easily follow thru with your sample unless i know which tool bar to select. 

following the suggestion by you or someone else 3 different ways to get picture inserted  that is copy/paste.. 
i managed to get small pics (after I resized it to 120) inserted in a layer on my wooden heart but they are both up at top left. looked to see how I could move them to where i wanted them but could not. 

one would think it is as easy as clicking on text box feature and dragging to location. cannot make it do that.

i know i have to get out of PS brain mode and into GIMP mode and i am working on that. once i get this
logic working...i shall be on my way and a happy camper. 

this is a wonderful forum full of very helpful members.
Reply
#9
(10-28-2017, 04:30 PM)Blighty Wrote: Hi Lori17. Welcome to Gimp Forum.

Yes, Gimp can do that quite easily

But Gimp is different from Photoshop, so there will be learning curve. The end result is the same, but the workflow to get there is different.

For that image I would start from scratch. Get an image of a wood panel and another image of a heart shape. Then use the heart image to cut the wood panel to a heart shape. After that, add text, photos, images on layers above the wood. Easy for an experienced Gimp user, but for a first time Gimp user there will be a learning curve.

Not a tutorial, just a quick demo to show what can be done.

Image of wood panel with a heart shape in another layer.
https://imgur.com/a/t43cH

Wood panel cut to heart shape.
https://imgur.com/a/S2mDy

Use of cut-outs and drop shadows to create 3D effect.
https://imgur.com/a/S0kBa

Small bevel added to edges.
https://imgur.com/a/M9QVM

i managed to get layer with picture inserted in my wooden heart. but still cannot figure out how to move them to desired
location.
i found that i need to have my GIMP in single window mode in order to have the bars of tools on either side.
how does one do that?
Reply
#10
(10-28-2017, 08:17 PM)lori17 Wrote: i managed to get layer with picture inserted in my wooden heart. but still cannot figure out how to move them to desired
location.
i found that i need to have my GIMP in single window mode in order to have the bars of tools on either side.
how does one do that?

I was just going to mention that Wink

If you are not in Gimp single window mode it might help to use it until you find your way around the tools and dialogs.

Gimp menu Window -> Single Window mode

If you have copied then used Edit -> Paste as new Layer it does locate top left (that is 0,0 origin)

https://i.imgur.com/Ch9RJft.jpg

Use the move tool, make it a bit easier and enable move active layer. Make sure you are on the correct layer, click and drag.

https://i.imgur.com/3VTaoQP.jpg
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