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Index
The Book of GIMP: A Complete Guide to Nearly Everything
Introduction
This Book
The Authors
Production Notes
Conventions
Acknowledgments
I. Learning GIMP
1. Getting Started
1.1 GIMP Basics
The Screen Layout
Dockable Dialogs
The Toolbox
The Single-Window Interface
1.2 Image Handling Basics
Opening an Image
Maximizing an Image
Scanning
Previewing the Picture
Selecting and Scanning
Image Window Menus
Zooming
Saving an Image
1.3 Working with Images
Resizing an Image
Cropping an Image
Adding a Frame with Filters
Using Layers
Drawing in GIMP
Printing with GIMP
1.4 Using a Tablet
Installing a Tablet
The Tablet Mouse and Stylus
Working with a Tablet in GIMP
1.5 Exercises
2. Photograph Retouching
2.1 Tutorial: Enhancing Badly Taken Photographs
Cropping, Straightening, and Restoring Perspective
Correcting Exposure
Correcting the Color Balance
Removing an Object
Improving Sharpness
Removing Red Eye
2.2 Global Transformations
Resizing an Image
Shearing an Image
Changing Brightness, Contrast, and Levels
Adjusting Colors
2.3 Local Transformations
Making a Selection
The Selection Tools Options
Simple Selection Tools
The Scissors Select Tool
The Foreground Select Tool
Modifying Sharpness
Modifying Brightness
Using the Clone Tool
Perspective Cloning
More Correction Methods for Red Eye
First Method: Selecting the Red Channel
Second Method: Selecting the Red Spots
Changing the Sky of a Landscape
2.4 Retouching a Scanned Photograph
Correcting Colors
Correcting Scratches and Spots
Restoring Very Old Photographs
2.5 Advanced Techniques
Making a Photograph Look Older
Improving a Portrait
Using Multiple Captures of the Same Scene
2.6 Exercises
3. Drawing and Illustration
3.1 Tutorial: Colorizing a Drawing
The Black and White Drawing
Using Layers to Keep Outlines Visible
Defining Objects and Base Colors
Coloring the Mushrooms
Shading
Finishing Touches
3.2 Painting and Drawing
Brushes
The Pencil Tool
Drawing an Icon
Pixel Art
The Paintbrush Tool
The Airbrush Tool
The Ink Tool
3.3 Filling an Area
The Bucket Fill Tool
Gradients
Patterns
3.4 Dodging, Burning, and Smudging
The Dodge/Burn Tool
The Smudge Tool
3.5 The Digital Painting Process
Composition
Sky and Clouds
Mountains
Hills
Grassland
Trees
River
3.6 Drawing Shapes
Drawing a Straight Line
Drawing Ellipses and Rectangles
Drawing a Complex Shape
3.7 Exercises
4. Logos and Textures
4.1 Tutorial: Making a Luggage Tag
4.2 Textures
Tiling
The Make Seamless Filter
Other Filters for Generating a Tilable Image
Creating Textures
Building the Background
Transforming the Background
Other Texture Tools
Using the Blend Tool
Some Simple Blending Effects
The Difference Blending Mode
Using Edge Detection
A Piece of Silk
Hanging Drapes
Using the Noise Filters
First Method: The Brushed Metal Effect
Second Method: A Canvas Texture
Third Method: A Wood Texture
Using the Embossing Filters
First Example: A Realistic Canvas Texture
Second Example: A Water-like Texture
Third Example: The Scott Effect
Fourth Example: A Stone Texture
More Ways to Create Textures
Using a Gradient Brush
Using a 1-Pixel-Wide Layer
Constructing by Hand
4.3 Logos
The Text Tool
Adding Relief
Proper Shade vs. Cast Shadow
Generating a Cast Shadow
Adding Relief and Proper Shade
Applying a Texture
A Burning Logo
A Radioactive Logo
A Golden Logo
A Textured Logo
4.4 Exercises
5. Composite Photography
5.1 Tutorial: Building a Composite Portrait
Taking Features from Different Portraits
Smoothing Transitions
5.2 Selections, Overlaying, and Blending Modes
Masks and Selections
Overlaying Images
Using Blending Modes
5.3 Building a Panorama
Taking the Pictures
Superimposing the Pictures
Touching Up the Panorama
The Pandora Plug-in
5.4 Image Overlaying
Digital Collage
Self-Compositing
A Composite Photography Project
5.5 Exercises
6. Animation
6.1 Tutorial: Animated Text
Method One: Frame by Frame
Method Two: Filtering All Layers
Method Three: Moving Along a Path
6.2 Building an Animated GIF by Hand
Drawing a Rainbow Daisy
Zooming Toward the Viewer
Adding Rain to a Landscape
Adding Snow to a Landscape
6.3 Using Animation Tools
Interactive Deformation
Animating a Still Image
Morphing
6.4 Using GAP
The Move Path Tool
Binocular Animation
Improving the Binocular Animation
6.5 Exercises
7. Image Preprocessing
7.1 Tutorial: Extracting Information from a Picture
Dynamics Extension
Histogram Modification
Noise Reduction
Edge Detection
7.2 The Principles of Preprocessing
Subjective Aspects of Preprocessing
Histograms and Decomposition into Channels
Extracting Information through Dynamics Extension
7.3 Filtering
The Principles of Filtering
Characteristic Matrices
Comparing the Built-in Filters
7.4 Edge Detection
The Principles of Edge Detection
Edge Detection Methods
7.5 Exercises
8. Designing a Website
8.1 Tutorial: Laying Out a Website
Planning
Layout
Adding Color
Choosing a Color Palette
8.2 Fixed- and Variable-Width Designs
8.3 Web Design Tools
Image Map
Image Map Tools
Useful Image Map Dialogs
Semi-Flatten
Slice
8.4 Optimizing Images for the Web
JPEG
GIF
PNG
Transparency
8.5 Exercises
II. Reference
9. The GIMP Interface
9.1 The Main Windows
Multi-Window Mode
Single-Window Mode
Docking Windows and Dockable Dialogs
The Image Window
9.2 Fundamental GIMP Commands
Closing Windows and Quitting GIMP
Working with Multiple Images
Common Tab Menu Options
9.3 Working with the GIMP Interface
Menus
Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard Tips
Clicking and Dragging
9.4 Creating, Loading, Saving, and Exporting Files
Creating a New Image
Loading a Web Page as an Image
Loading an Image from a File
Saving an Image
Exporting an Image
9.5 Undoing
9.6 The GIMP Help System
10. Display
10.1 Rulers and Units
10.2 Guides
10.3 Grids
10.4 Zoom
10.5 Using Multiple Views
11. Layers
11.1 The Layers Dialog
Components of the Layers Dialog
A Layer Entry in the Layers Dialog
Keyboard Shortcuts in the Layers Dialog
Uses of the Layers Dialog
11.2 The Layers Menu
11.3 Layer Groups
11.4 The Image: Layer Menu
The Stack Menu
The Mask, Transparency, and Transform Menus
The Final Five Entries
12. Color
12.1 Concepts
Color Models
Stored Representations
Indexed Mode
12.2 Blending Modes
Modes That Leave Pixels Intact
Lightening Modes
Darkening Modes
Luminosity Modes
Color Distortion Modes
HSV Modes
12.3 Color Management
Color-Managed Workflow
Using Color Management
12.4 The Major Color Tools
The Color Chooser
Levels
Curves
12.5 Additional Color Tools
Color Balance
Hue-Saturation
Colorize
Brightness-Contrast
Threshold
Posterize
Desaturate
Inversion
12.6 The Color Submenus
The Auto Submenu
Equalize
White Balance
Color Enhance
Normalize
Stretch Contrast
Stretch HSV
The Components Submenu
Channel Mixer
Decompose
Recompose
Compose
The Map Submenu
Rearrange Colormap
Set Colormap
Alien Map
Color Exchange
Gradient Map
Palette Map
Rotate Colors
Sample Colorize
The Info Submenu
Histogram
Border Average
Colorcube Analysis
Smooth Palette
The Remaining Color Tools
Color to Alpha
Colorify
Filter Pack
Hot
Maximum RGB
Retinex
13. Selections
13.1 What Is a Selection?
A Selection as an Outline
A Selection as a Grayscale Image
13.2 The Seven Selection Tools
Common Options
The Rectangle Select Tool
The Ellipse Select Tool
The Free Select Tool
The Fuzzy Select Tool
The Select by Color Tool
The Scissors Select Tool
The Foreground Select Tool
13.3 The Paths Tool
Building a Path
Modifying a Path
Using a Path
The Paths Dialog
13.4 Using Selections
The Select Menu
The Edit Menu
Modifying the Selection Border
14. Masks
14.1 Selection Masks
The Channels Dialog
Creating a Selection Mask
The Quick Mask Tool
14.2 Layer Masks
Building a Layer Mask
Manipulating a Layer Mask
Using a Layer Mask
14.3 Using Masks and Channels
Building a Natural Mask
Transparency and the Alpha Channel
Converting Masks, Selections, and Channels
15. Drawing Tools
15.1 Digital Art
15.2 An Overview of the Drawing Tools
15.3 Shared Features
Drawing Tool Options
Paint Dynamics
Using Dockable Dialogs with Drawing Tools
The Dialog Menu
Using Tags
Six Useful Dockable Dialogs
The Brushes Dialog
The Patterns Dialog
The Gradients Dialog
The Palettes Dialog
The Device Status Dialog
The Tool Presets Dialog
15.4 The Fill Tools
The Bucket Fill Tool
The Blend Tool
15.5 The Painting Tools
The Pencil Tool
The Paintbrush Tool
The Eraser Tool
The Airbrush Tool
The Ink Tool
15.6 The Cloning Tools
The Clone Tool
The Heal Tool
The Perspective Clone Tool
15.7 The Modifying Tools
The Convolve Tool
The Smudge Tool
The Dodge/Burn Tool
15.8 The Text Tool
The Text Tool Options
Choosing a Font
Using the Text Tool
Editing Your Text
15.9 The Color Picker Tool and the Measure Tool
The Color Picker Tool
The Measure Tool
15.10 Combining Tool Presets, Brushes, and Paint Dynamics
Getting to Know the Dialogs Involved
Predefined Paint Dynamics
Predefined Brushes
Predefined Tool Presets
16. Transformation Tools
16.1 Global Transformations
Transforming an Image
Resizing an Image
Cropping an Image
Transforming a Layer
16.2 Local Transformations
Shared Properties
The Move Tool
The Align Tool
The Crop Tool
The Rotate Tool
The Scale Tool
The Shear Tool
The Perspective Tool
The Flip Tool
The Cage Transform Tool
17. Filters
17.1 Common Properties
17.2 The Blur Filters
Blur
Gaussian Blur
Motion Blur
Pixelize
Selective Gaussian Blur
Tileable Blur
17.3 The Enhance Filters
Antialias
Deinterlace
Despeckle
Destripe
NL Filter
Red Eye Removal
Sharpen
Unsharp Mask
17.4 The Distorts Filters
Apply Lens
Curve Bend
Emboss
Engrave
IWarp
Lens Distortion
Mosaic
Newsprint
Pagecurl
Polar Coordinates
Ripple
Shift
Value Propagate
Waves
Whirl and Pinch
Wind
17.5 The Light and Shadow Filters
Gradient Flare
Lens Flare
Lighting Effects
Sparkle
Supernova
Drop Shadow
Perspective
17.6 The Noise Filters
HSV Noise
Hurl
Pick
RGB Noise
Slur
Spread
17.7 The Edge-Detect Filters
Difference of Gaussians
Edge
Laplace
Neon
Sobel
17.8 The Generic Filters
Convolution Matrix
Dilate
Erode
17.9 The Combine Filters
Depth Merge
17.10 The Artistic Filters
Apply Canvas
Cartoon
Clothify
Cubism
GIMPressionist
Glass Tile
Oilify
Photocopy
Softglow
Van Gogh
Weave
17.11 The Decor Filters
Add Bevel
Add Border
Coffee Stain
Fuzzy Border
Old Photo
Round Corners
17.12 The Map Filters
Bump Map
Displace
Fractal Trace
Illusion
Make Seamless
Map Object
Paper Tile
Small Tiles
Tile
Warp
17.13 The Render Filters
Clouds Filters
Difference Clouds
Plasma
Solid Noise
Nature Filters
Flame
IFS Fractal
Pattern Filters
Checkerboard
CML Explorer
Diffraction Patterns
Grid
Jigsaw
Maze
Qbist
Sinus
Circuit
Fractal Explorer
Gfig
Lava
Line Nova
Sphere Designer
Spyrogimp
18. Animation Tools
18.1 Principles of Animation
Frame Frequency and Vision
Frames and Layers
Output Formats
Optimizing Animations
18.2 Tools for Building Multilayer Animations
Animating by Hand
The IWarp Tool
The Morph Tool
Morphing Text
The Morph Tool Dialog
Filtering All Layers
18.3 The Animation Menu
Blend
Burn-In
Rippling
Selection to Animimage
Spinning Globe
Waves
Optimizing and Playing an Animation
18.4 The Move Path Tool
Choosing the Source Layers
Choosing the Destination Frames
Applying Transformations
Control Points
Key Frames
The Preview Window
Testing the Move Path Tool
Advanced Settings
18.5 The Video Menu
Manipulating Frames
Converting Between File Formats
Modifying Frames
Altering Layers
Converting Between Multilayer and Multiframe
Encoding
Playback and Navigator
Split Video into Frames
Bluebox
Onionskin
Storyboard
19. Obtaining and Printing Images
19.1 Capturing Screenshots
19.2 Scanning
Scanners and Drivers
XSane and GIMP
Selecting an Area to Scan
Setting the Scanning Parameters
Scan Modes
Scanning Resolutions
Color Handling
19.3 Digital Cameras
Importing Photographs into GIMP
Choosing a Format
Handling Raw Photographs
19.4 Printing
The Principles of Printing
Printing with the GTK Interface
Printing with Gutenprint
19.5 Scanning and Printing with Windows
20. Image Formats
20.1 An Overview of File Formats
Raster and Vector Formats
Lossless and Lossy Compression
Layout Engines and Browsers
20.2 JPEG, GIF, and PNG
JPEG
Exporting to JPEG
GIF
Exporting to GIF
PNG
Exporting to PNG
20.3 GIMP’s Native Formats
XCF
Other Native Formats
20.4 Other Useful Formats
PostScript and PDF
TIFF
Netpbm Formats
SVG
Additional Formats Supported by GIMP
21. Scripts and Plug-ins
21.1 About Scripts and Plug-ins
Scheme, Python, and C
Installed Plug-ins
Finding New Plug-ins
21.2 Noteworthy Plug-ins
Photo Effects
G’MIC
Liquid Rescale
Elsamuko Scripts
21.3 Writing Plug-ins
Scheme
Python
C
22. Customizing GIMP
22.1 The Preferences Dialog
Environment
User Interface
Theme
Help System
Tool Options
Toolbox
Default New Image
Default Image Grid
Image Windows
Display
Color Management
Input Devices
Window Management
Folders
22.2 Additional Preferences in the Edit Menu
Keyboard Shortcuts
Modules
Units
22.3 Customizing Image Views
Display Filters
Hiding or Revealing Parts of the Image Window
Padding Colors and Snapping
22.4 Building New Brushes
Defining an Ordinary Brush
Defining a Color Brush
Defining an Animated Brush
Defining a Parametric Brush
22.5 Building New Patterns
22.6 Building New Gradients
The Gradient Editor
The Gradient Editor Menu
Building a Gradient
22.7 Building New Palettes
The Palette Editor
Importing Palettes
Exporting and Duplicating Palettes
Palette to Gradient and Sort Palette
Indexed Palettes
III. Appendices
A. Vision and Image Representation
A.1 The Physiology of Vision
How the Human Eye Works
Color Perception
Color Blindness
Optical Illusions
A.2 Image Representation
Discretization
Digitalization
Compression
A.3 Color Representation
How Colors Are Produced
The Additive Model
The Subtractive Model
The HSV Model
A.4 Exercises
B. Tips and Hints for Selected Exercises
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Appendix A
C. Resources
C.1 Official GIMP Pages
C.2 Related Official Sites
C.3 Tutorials
C.4 Communities and Blogs
C.5 Brushes and Plug-ins
Brush Sets
Plug-in Sets
C.6 Mailing Lists and IRC Channels
C.7 Other Graphics Applications
C.8 Related Graphics Software Projects
C.9 Other Graphics Sites
D. Frequently Asked Questions
D.1 What Does the Future Hold?
D.2 How...?
How can I draw a straight line?
How can I draw a circle?
How can I create an outline around text?
How do I save a selection within an image to a file?
How do I merge an image from another file with the current image?
How do I get small fonts to look as nice as large fonts?
How do I set keyboard shortcuts?
How do I set up GIMP so a layer becomes active when I click an element in that layer?
How do I fill a layer or selection with transparency?
How do I draw in a different color?
How do I add a blur to my image?
How can I paint along the outline of a rectangle?
How do I move existing guides?
How do I get rid of a floating selection?
How do I paint in a transparent area?
How can I see the marching ants and know whether my selection has been made?
How can I add color to a black and white image?
How do I resize my photo to a precise size, say 5 × 7 cm?
How do I set the foreground color to a color in my image?
How can I keep text sharp when scaling it down?
How do I copy a layer mask to another layer mask?
How can I search for a specific font, brush, or pattern?
How do I erase with a tool other than the Eraser?
How can I use the Scale tool to enlarge an image?
How can I find a dialog I closed by accident?
How can I invert grayscale values without changing the colors?
How do I crop with a defined aspect ratio?
D.3 Why...?
Why are some of the filter names grayed out?
Why is nothing happening?
Why doesn’t anything happen when I try to cut, paste, or apply a filter to a selection?
Why can’t I modify the channel I built by saving a selection?
Why can’t I change my image after I saved a selection to a channel?
Why do my paint strokes appear on the image when I try painting on a layer mask?
Why did the size of my file increase when I exported it to JPEG with 100% quality?
Why can’t I draw in the color I chose?
E. Installing GIMP
E.1 GNU/Linux and Unix
Debian
Ubuntu
Mint
Fedora
OpenSUSE
Mandriva
Other Unix-like Operating Systems
E.2 Windows
E.3 Mac OS X
F. Batch Processing
F.1 GIMP Batch Mode
F.2 David’s Batch Processor
F.3 ImageMagick
Calling ImageMagick
Building Thumbnails
Labels and Transformations
Index
About the Authors
Copyright
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