Full Circle THEINDEPENDENTMAGAZINEFORTHEUBUNTULINUXCOMMUNITY

Special Edition

GIMP Special Edition

Full Ciircle Magaziine iis neiither affiiliiated wiith,, nor endorsed by,, Canoniical Ltd.. full circle magazine #84 1 contents ^ Full Circle Magazine Specials About Full Circle Find Us Full Circle is a free, Website: independent, magazine http://www.fullcirclemagazine.org/ dedicated to the Ubuntu family of Linux operating systems. Forums: Each month, it contains helpful http://ubuntuforums.org/ how-to articles and reader- forumdisplay.php?f=270 submitted stories. IRC: #fullcirclemagazine on Full Circle also features a Welcome to another 'single-topic special' chat.freenode.net companion podcast, the Full Editorial Team Circle Podcast which covers the Introducing the Gimp series by Ronnie Tucker, all you magazine, along with other budding artists can work through the features of this Editor: Ronnie Tucker news of interest. (aka: RonnieTucker) immensely capable graphics application in this [email protected] compilation of the Gimp series from issues #6, 12-19 & 60-63. Webmaster: Rob Keria Please note: this Special Edition (aka: admin / linuxgeekery- is provided with absolutely no Please bear in mind the original publication dates; current [email protected] warranty whatsoever; neither versions of hardware and software may difer from those Editing & Proofreading the contributors nor Full Circle illustrated, so check your hardware and software versions Mike Kennedy, David Haas, Magazine accept any before attempting to emulate the tutorials in these special Gord Campbell, Robert Orsino responsibility or liability for loss or damage resulting from editions. You may have later versions of software installed or Our thanks go to Canonical and the readers choosing to apply this available in your distributions' repositories. many translation teams around the content to theirs or others world. computers and equipment. Enjoy!

The articles contained in this magazine are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. This means you can adapt, copy, distribute and transmit the articles but only under the following conditions: You must attribute the work to the original author in some way (at least a name, email or URL) and to this magazine by name ('full circle magazine') and the URL www.fullcirclemagazine.org (but not attribute the article(s) in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work). If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you must distribute the resulting work under the same, similar or a compatible license. Full Circle Magazine is entirely independent of Canonical, the sponsor of Ubuntu projects and the views and opinions in the magazine should in no way be assumed to have Canonical endorsement. full circle magazine HHOOWW--TTOO UUSSEE PPHHOOTTOOSSHHOOPP

Written by Luca De Marini PPLLUUGGIINNSS IINN GGIIMMPP

Well we all know one of the biggest lacks of The Gimp is that is misses a good number of plugins. Photoshop is the one software everyone loves and uses when they have to apply any sort of mutation/transformation to its images, or when they have to create outstanding graphics with the help of well projected plugins. For Photoshop there are hundreds of plugins around. Is this a problem for The Gimp? Not at all.

any of you may not know Pear and for the second plugin, the from GIMP’s point of view a GIMP it, but GIMP supports a freeware one, I’ve chosen plug-in.) This warning is Mlarge number of Caravaggio from Xero Graphics. harmless (GIMP just ignores that photoshop plugins, both in the file then), but if you want to Installing PSPI and Windows and Linux versions, avoid it, move pspi.exe.so Photoshop plugins thanks to this wonderful tool somewhere else and modify the called PSPI. Now, let’s see how to pspi script to point to its new Now it is time to install PSPI on use it and what we can do with location instead. your GIMP. The following is an extract our new toy; paying nothing, of from the PSPI site: course! After starting GIMP, go to the Xtns:Photoshop Plug-in Settings Getting Started 'The Linux packages include three files: README.linux pspi, a small and enter the folder where you are going to keep the 3rd-party First we need to install WINE on shell script pspi.exe.so, the binary that wine runs' Photoshop plug-ins (.8bf files) our Linux box (In Ubuntu, look for that you want to use in GIMP. the WINE package in Synaptic), Copy pspi and pspi.exe.so to your then we’ll need GIMP and PSPI, of Preferably you should use an personal GIMP plug-ins folder, course. We also need at least one empty folder for this, and then typically ~/.gimp-2.2/plug-ins . Photoshop plugin. To get started install (copy) Photoshop plug-ins and I downloaded two plugins, When you run GIMP it will issue a there one by one, verifying that one commercial and one warning “wire_read(): error” as each works. It isn’t really useful freeware. The first one is Designer pspi.exe.so can’t be started directly. to rush and install a great deal of Sextet from the company Flaming (The pspi script can, though, and is Photoshop plug-ins at once and

8 assume they all will work under analyzing the newly installed plugin: plugins. In my case we saw that pspi. it is /home/darkmaster/.gimp- But once 2.2/psplugins. So I did what they wrote in the GIMP is instructions and also copied my loaded I get Push the OK button and a freshly downloaded PS Plugins to no error message will appear warning a folder in my home that I called message as you that the new plugins will be ~/.gimp-2.2/psplugins. expected loaded next time you restart The (The PSPI GIMP. guide suggested Testing the new PS Plugins that an error may have occurred but I didn’t see any). All works fine for now. Proceeding with the settings, I open the GIMP Menu Xtns > Photoshop Plug-in Settings and this window shows up:

Remember that this GIMP folder we are referring to is a hidden folder, therefore, you’ll have to set your file browser so that it shows hidden files. In my case, I use GNOME and Nautilus. I can To complete the operation I see hidden files by using the close and then reopen The GIMP. Nautilus menu View > Show Even now I don’t get any error hidden files. Hit the New button (In my message. I then load an image screenshot it is the white sheet of from my HDD and then click on Setting The GIMP UP paper with an orange star over it, on the Filters menu. The plugins are the upper left corner of the above at the bottom of the menu. As the guide says, I start GIMP screenshot) and choose the path and it hangs up for some seconds where you put your Photoshop

9 Let’s test them! Will they work? Rating and Credits I start with Flaming Pear > Aetherize and… wow it works! Ok, it's not a review but none Here’s a screenshot! the less I rate this PSPI extension for GIMP as a 5 out of 5, it does what it promises to do and it adds vital functionalities to The GIMP.

A big thank you goes to the WINE project, PSPI team and to GIMP creators.

Conclusions Now it’s Caravaggio’s turn and wow, it works too! Another So I tested two random Photoshop screenshot for the press: plugins from around the net and two of two worked. Guess there’s a very For more PSPI info: high compatibility thanks to Wine getting better and better with each http://url.fullcirclemagazine.org/1fa7e2 release.. What can I say now? Enjoy, and say goodbye to one of the most deprecated defects of GIMP, the lack of good and professional plugins! If This is the result of applying the you have the money, you can buy Caravaggio filter (right) and use serious plugins like those Now doesn’t that look like a real from Alien Skin in Linux with The painting? This Caravaggio plugin GIMP and PSPI now! is excellent and it’s freeware.

10 HHOOWW--TTOO UUSSIINNGG GGIIMMPP -- PPaarrtt 11 Written by Ronnie Tucker

This series of tutorials, based on GIMP 2.4.2, will not cover every square inch of GIMP, since that would fill a book (and indeed has already filled several), but, by the end, you will be proficient enough in GIMP to create anything from simple web banners to large posters suitable for professional printing.

irst, let's open GIMP, and (Paintbrush, in this case). At the top on the word have a quick look at its right are tabs for Layers, Channels 'Layers' on the Flayout. Please note that a and so on, and at the bottom right window, and first load of GIMP may look are tabs for Brushes among other drag it back to slightly different from my layout things. GIMP has a very flexible the top right (below). First I will briefly discuss layout system where you can drag (left). the GIMP layout. and drop items from place to place. For example, if I want to have my Layers You can presented on do this a separate with window, I anything can click on you like - the Layers so feel free tab (top to configure your layout to right, shown whatever makes you most right), and comfortable. If, by accident, you drag it out to close any of your windows, and my desktop. need to get it back, click on File On the top left we see the tools, > Dialogs and then the item you and on the bottom left we see the If I want to have the Layers display want shown - or hidden for that options for the chosen tool back where it was, I click and drag matter (above).

16 Let's create a new image. In the width and height are two small First, we have X and Y main menu, click File > New. boxes. Looking closely at the icons Resolution values. These specify Before we go any further, let me on the buttons should help you how detailed your image will be. explain what some of these things guess that the one on the left is for This is also known as Dots Per do. portrait (a vertical image) and the Inch (DPI), and is crucial in other for landscape (a horizontal printing. Professional print image). For the moment, I'll keep it houses will usually demand at on portrait. A brief summary of your least 200dpi, but mostly 300dpi. chosen options are to the right of Near the values you can see a these two buttons. Lets click small icon which is links in a 'Advanced Options', it reveals more chain. In my image, they are choices. linked - meaning that changing the X value will change the Y value automatically; clicking the icon will unlink them and allow different X and Y values. If your icon shows the chain links as open, then you will want to click At the top of the window it to have them as shown in the (above), where it says 'Template', image above. For just a basic we can choose from a variety of test image, change the X or Y different pre-configured sizes. value to 100. Next is 'Color Click the drop down menu and Space'. I only have two options: choose 'A4'. Below that is 'Image 'RGB Color' or 'Grayscale', so I Size'. This is now set to what am keeping it at 'RGB color'. 'Fill we've just chosen, A4, so there's With' lets you choose a starting no need to alter these values just color for your image. Finally, yet. To the right of the 'Height' 'Comment' something that will value is a measurement type. At be saved as part of your GIMP the moment, mine is set to pixels file. This could be anything from but with a click of the drop down copyright information to your menu I can change it to contact details. millimeters if I want. Below the

17 With my options set, I click OK. Why not give GIMP 2.4 a try? Available for Linux, So now I have a fresh image to work on - but how do you work on Mac & Windows

an image? We'll get to that in more detail later, but for now I will do a quick run through of some of the more important tools.

As you click on each tool (right), the 'Tool Options' (below the tools) will change. Each tool has Check your package manager its own set of options - which I for easy GIMP installation or won't go into just now, but play download GIMP from: around with these options, because that's how you'll learn www.gimp.org more! is Editor of magazine, a proud Kubuntu user, and part-time artist whose gallery of work can be seen at www.RonnieTucker.co.uk. Windows: www.gimp.org/windows Mac: www.gimp.org/macintosh

18 HHOOWW--TTOO UUSSIINNGG GGIIMMPP -- PPaarrtt 22 Written by Ronnie Tucker

This month, we will focus primarily on colors, but first let me say that GIMP (like Photoshop) has many ways of achieving the same result. So, although I may show you one way of accomplishing a task, you can be sure there are several other ways of getting that same result.

olor correction (or then we will change it manually. To adjustment in some cases) open an image file, we go to File > Cis probably more associated Open, and choose the image we with photography than anything want to manipulate. So, now that we else -- so, let's take a photograph, have our photo open in GIMP, we go and correct any color problems it to the menu and choose Colors > may have. Levels.

Satisfactory corrections are not always so easily achieved. If an item in the photo is too bright, for example, GIMP may This window think it should be white. So, (right) allows GIMP makes it white, adjusts the us to do many rest of the photo accordingly, complicated and presents an awful result. Above is the original photo. things, but now we'll just click the Yet, in most cases the Auto First, we will use GIMP to 'Auto' button. Voilà! One color- feature gives a satisfactory automatically correct the image; corrected photo (right). result. When it doesn't, then 16 manual corrections should be each layer, and you'll see what the the triangle, blending in to one applied. photo looks like without one (or another around the circle -- with more) basic colors. So, in essence, a dark to light being represented Before you make manual badly colored photo will have a by the triangle. Click a color on corrections, you need to know combination of too much (or not the 'wheel', and the triangle will how images are colored. In enough) red, green or blue. point to it. Now, click inside the painting, the three primary colors triangle to get a lighter or darker are the red, blue, and yellow Click (or display) the Dialogs > version of that color. Play with pigments. From these, any other Colors tab, then click the Triangle this for a while to become color can be created. Digital button: familiar with where the colors images, however, are made are and how to get the ones you (essentially) from light, and their want -- we will be using this later three primary colors are the red, when we need to create or pick green and blue wavelengths, a color. commonly referred to as RGB. Don't believe me? Click (or Let's look through some of the display) the Channels dialog, and color options in GIMP to see how you'll see three items -- one red, they can affect our image. Go to one green and one blue. the Colors menu, and choose Color Balance (below).

Above is the digital equivalent of These three 'channels' make up the artist's color wheel (circle with a the colors in your image. Try triangle inside) with the three clicking the little eye icon beside primary colors being at each point of 17 This window will let you fine- to tint the entire photo with a quite a bit, and slide the contrast tune the colors in your photo. It particular color. This is most often up, I can make the dull original can alter the colors in each of the used to give a photo a 'sepia tint' -- image look like it was taken on a three main levels: shadow, which makes the image look old and scorching sunny day (which it midtone and highlight. Select degraded. Rather than give you a definitely wasn't!). Shadows, Midtones or Highlights, red, green and blue slider, this and move the sliders to see how it window gives you a 'Hue' slider -- affects your photo. which goes from red, through to green, to blue, and back to red. Tinker with the sliders until you get a nice orangey-brown color, and you'll see what I mean about the sepia tint.

We've already looked at Levels, but let's look into it a bit more. Click Colors > Levels, and If you don't see the photo colors you'll see that familiar window -- change, check to make sure the yes, it's the one with the magic box beside 'Preview' is ticked. If 'Auto' button -- but this time let's you don't want to keep those focus on the sliders below the color changes, simply click graph. The black, grey and white 'Cancel', and your image will sliders can move left to right, return to normal. You can also use Colors > Brightness – Contrast will and represent the shadows, the Edit > Undo feature. let you simply brighten or darken the midtones and highlights, image. This can come in handy for respectively. They allow you to Colors > Colorize will allow you simple effects. If I brighten the image 18 manually color-correct the image. the top of the window is the use Edit > The 'Output Levels' is almost like dropdown menu, which lets you alter Undo to a brightness control, but with the image as a whole, or just alter revert back three sliders for the shadow, one of the color channels. To edit the to the midtone and highlights. At the top curves, you click on the curve (to original. of the window is a dropdown create a point), then move the point menu which says 'Value' -- you up, down, left, or right, to alter the Color > can click that and select one of colors. The most basic color Invert will your red, green or blue channels correction in the curves window is give you the to fine-tune. This is quite a the 'S-curve' -- where you make an negative of powerful window, so play around 'S' shape with the curve. Again, this the photo, in there and get familiar with it. gives pretty much the same result as just like you'd And remember: if you don't see the Color > Levels 'Auto' button. get with traditional camera film. your image updating as you move Clicking Color > Invert again will a slider, tick the 'Preview' return the image to normal. checkbox. There are many other items in the Color menu, but the ones I have mentioned are the most important ones, and probably the most used.

Color > Desaturate will remove all color from your photo, leaving you with a black and white image. You Colors > Curves is similar to the have three options before it removes is Editor of Levels window (which we just the color, each giving you slightly magazine, a proud Kubuntu different results, so it's best to try user, and part-time artist whose looked at), but uses curves, gallery of work can be seen at plotted on a graph, to give more each to see which you prefer. As www.RonnieTucker.co.uk. control over your colors. Again, at ever, try an option; if you don't like it, 19 HHOOWW--TTOO UUSSIINNGG GGIIMMPP -- PPaarrtt 33 Written by Ronnie Tucker

n the previous article, I showed will affect only the selected region. how to alter the colors of an This helpful method is, however, not Ientire image. Now, I'll describe very good for precise selections. how to alter selected parts of an image, while leaving the rest untouched. This is done using the selection tools (below).

From left to right, the first two buttons select a rectangle or an Next is the color-selection tool. oval, respectively (hold Shift for a Next is a fuzzy selection. When a It is similar to the fuzzy perfect circle). The third button dot is clicked, this selection enlarges selection, so lets move on to the opens a free-selection tool for until it encounters a different color. last (for now): the scissor outlining selected portions on an The enlargement can be fine-tuned selection tool. This is more image. Try it. Click the icon, then by editing the Threshold number in precise than the freehand tool left click your mouse, hold it, and the tool options (below the icons). discussed above, but it only draw around an item. When you By holding down Shift, more colors works well on items with definite release the mouse button, you'll can be selected to widen the outlines. The method is this: see a region selection. Once a click to start selecting, and put a selected for selection has been point on the outline; click again manipulation made, further to put another point further (right). modifications along the item's outline; the apply to it alone scissor tool then tries to Now, all (right). determine the item's perimeter modifications (above); continue clicking on the 14 image's outline; more added clicks tool to open it. Then, click around the on either side of it (below left). (and points) increase the outline of the desired selection, as selection's precision; the last click was done with the scissor tool. But should be back at the starting unlike the scissor tool, the first point point. Before committing to a can not be re-clicked as the last of selection, any of the points can be the points to close the selection -- so clicked and dragged to fine-tune just click near it. Don't worry if a the outline. point is slightly out of place. After inserting all the points, any point can To create the actual selection, Each point can have two lines be clicked and moved into place click inside the completed loop coming from it to form a curve (below). (shown below). (above right). So, click on the point, hold down Ctrl, and drag out the second line. Now you will have a curve. The initial point can still be moved, but clicking and dragging a box at the end of a line can fine tune a curve, or create a curve leading in (or out) from a point, or form a straight line on the other side -- this latter was useful in the present To remove a selection, go to the example where the steps meet menu and click Select > None. the doorway. Now, the points can be edited to But how do you make produce nice curves between them. When all the points are in a precise selection? Pen Hold down the Ctrl key, click on a place, and the curves are tool (icon shown left). point (keep the mouse button down) satisfactory, tell GIMP to select and move your mouse. A line will the area. To do this, click the The pen tool permits more then come out from that point and a Paths tab (beside your Layers precise curve creation than does curve will begin forming between the tab). If it's not there, display it the scissor tool. First, click the pen chosen point and one of the points by clicking Dialogues > Paths. 15 The just- created path Sometimes, is shown in even more miniature in precision is the Paths needed when tab. Right creating click on its selections. The name and zoom tools are select very handy for this. At the bottom of . the image window is a drop-down To hide the path to work on the menu (above) that gives quick selection, or to show it again, access to a variety of settings for Don't forget to combine tools. click the eye icon. zooming in or out of images. For instance, to select a piece of an image, zoom in first, then go The Zoom tool (left) is also for the tool of your choice. accessible from the toolbox on the left. With the Zoom tool, clicking on an image will zoom in (holding Ctrl and clicking will zoom out). In addition, holding a click permits drawing a box around just a portion of an image (below) for zooming (above right).

Combining the selection tools with the color-correction items is Editor of can be amazingly powerful, magazine, a proud Kubuntu especially if all that is needed is user, and part-time artist whose to color-correct family photos or gallery of work can be seen at holiday snaps. www.RonnieTucker.co.uk.

16 HHOOWW--TTOO UUSSIINNGG GGIIMMPP -- PPaarrtt 44 Written by Ronnie Tucker

his month, we will discuss works. The background is on one Below the list of layers, you probably the most powerful sheet, the character on another will see several icons. Think of Tfeature of GIMP: Layers. If sheet and any foreground details on these as shortcuts to menu you can grasp the concept of a third sheet. Stack them properly options. layers and work them to your and you will have the character with advantage, you can create the foreground on top of it. Same anything. with GIMP layers. First, let's make sure we have If you open an image in GIMP, and From left to right they are: our layers window showing and display the Layers tab (or window), Create New Layer, Raise Layer, ready to use. you will see that your image is Lower Layer, Duplicate Layer, displayed as a single layer with the Anchor Layer and Delete Layer. If you don't name 'Background'. Those are pretty self explanatory. have the layers tab available to Using the selection tools from you, click File > last month's article, I'm going to Dialogs > use the circle tool to select the Layers in the planet. main menu. Here's how layers work: think of each layer as a transparent sheet of plastic. The idea is that you draw all your different things on separate sheets of plastic then stack the plastic sheets in a particular order to achieve your result. Similar to how an animator

15 And from the menu choose Edit If I hide the original 'Background' to differentiate between the two > Copy, then Edit > Paste image, you can see that the planets. selected, copied and pasted planet is now on its own, completely separate, : If you have two images layer. Our first new layer! open, you can drag and drop layers between them! You can copy from one image and paste in to another image.

You can see that I now have a new layer (named 'Floating Selection'), but it needs to become permanent, so click the New Layer icon. It now has a preview icon, and is automatically renamed to 'Pasted Layer'. If you want to rename a layer, just double click on its name, and Don't worry about the two-tone, Let's create enter a new name, followed by chess-board pattern in the a new blank the Enter key. background. It's just there to signify layer. A new complete transparency. layer is created So now, with the planet selected, above the I'll click the Duplicate Layer icon to layer you are give me a second planet. To move currently on, the layers, you use the Move tool, so I'm going select the layer you want to move, to select my (hidden) then click and drag it into place. I'll Background layer and then click use some of our color altering the New Layer icon. Up pops the techniques to change the color of New Layer window (above). one planet to make it easier for you

16 From top to bottom: We give lays down the 'Space' layer, on top of Each layer can have one the layer a name (preferably that it puts the blue planet layer, 'mode' applied to it. These are something descriptive! I'll call and, finally, on top of that the orange listed in the drop-down menu mine 'Space'); Width and height planet layer. above the Opacity slider. Have a we won't bother with just now, as play with these effects. You can we want the layer to be the full get some nice looking accidents size of the image; Layer Fill Type with these modes. we will leave as transparent. You can choose white, or one of your foreground or background colors if you wish. Now, I'll make my foreground color black and fill my 'Space' layer with black color. When saving, you want to make So sure you save your image in the Above now I GIMP format (XCF). The next time is the basics of layers. No doubt, have you load the image you will still have we'll talk more about them in two all the layers intact for manipulation. future articles, but, for now, planets Saving as JPG or PNG will flatten the have a play with copying and out in image and you will lose your layer pasting, raising and lowering space. I information, so always keep an XCF layers, and moving them to don't version! To save, create a pleasant composition. need you click File > the original image any more, so I Save As from the select that layer and click the menu, and make Delete Layer icon. absolutely sure the filename So what if I wanted the orange ends in .xcf planet in front of the blue planet? (right). is Editor of I click the orange planet layer, magazine, a proud Kubuntu then click the Raise Layer icon. Many effects can be applied to user, and part-time artist whose layers to make them even more gallery of work can be seen at Think of your layers as going powerful. Try moving the Opacity www.RonnieTucker.co.uk. from bottom to top. So first, GIMP slider (above the list of layers). 17 HHOOWW--TTOO UUSSIINNGG GGIIMMPP -- PPaarrtt 55 Written by Ronnie Tucker

his month, we will focus on If you can't see the X and Y Why have these different sizes. GIMP can use several resolution section, click the measurements? If you were Ttypes of measurements for Advanced Options text below the working on a banner which was images. Create a new image by Image Size and orientation. to be used on a web site, for clicking File > New and let's example, then you would need Beside Image Size, you see width examine some of the to create your image in pixels, and height values. To the right of the measurement types. say 400 wide by 50 high. But for height value you see a drop-down print work, your image may need menu. In my case it is showing to be 8 inches wide by 12 inches 'pixels'. Put simply, pixels are the high. Switch between small dots that make up your display. measurement types as needed. So in this case the image would be 640 pixels (or 'display dots') wide. Just below the Advanced Click the drop-down menu to see the Options text is the X and Y other available options. Now, try resolution. This is, by default, set clicking on inches. at 72 pixels per inch, also known as dots per inch (DPI), and is See the sufficient for most computer values change? display and web work. Think of It is now only DPI as being detail. The more 8.889 wide. dots per inch, the more detail Why? Because you can put in the image. Be we are now in aware, however, that a high DPI inches. 8.889 can slow some PCs down and will inches wide is result in much larger file sizes. the same as 640 For print work it should be set to pixels wide. about 300, but check with whoever is printing the image 15 beforehand. If in doubt, use 300 I trust GIMP, I really do. But DPI. let's play Devil's Advocate and double check, using a different So, with our new image (below), tool, to make sure there really is let's move on to rulers. one inch between the ruler on the page and the edge of the image. For this, we need the Measurement Tool (below left). This tool is like a tape measure. You click to create a start point, and You'll see a horizontal line (or ruler) click to create an end appear on your image (above). This point (below). Between the two ruler does not damage your image in points, a red line is drawn. In the any way, it is merely a guideline and information bar (again, below can be moved by clicking and the image) you'll see some dragging on it with the movement numbers. These represent the You'll notice that, at the top and tool. Drag it back to where it came length of the line, the angle of the left side of the new image, from to remove it completely. You'll the line, the width of the line there are rulers displaying the notice in the information line below (from start point to end point) current measurement type, inches the image tells you exactly where the and the width of the line (again in my case. This allows for precise ruler is on the page (vertically in this from start to end). measuring and placement of case). Drag from the left (vertical) items within the image. If I need a ruler on to the page to get another circle to start one inch down the ruler one inch from the left (below). page and one inch from the left, Where those imagine how much trial and error two rulers it would take to get it absolutely converge is where right. It'd be almost impossible! you would start But with rulers, we can be much dragging your more precise. Click on the top circle out from (horizontal) ruler and drag down (inset). onto the image. 16 And from my measurement line box, or resized by clicking and I can see that the ruler is indeed dragging on one of the inside edges one inch out. Good job GIMP! of the box. Notice how the area Clicking any other tool will outside the box darkens to focus remove the measuring tape from your attention inside the box. Use the screen. the crop tool to remove uninteresting areas around photographs. Click One last tool to cover inside the box area to crop the image. in this section is the Help keep the crop tool (left), which comes in handy for bugs at bay. keeping a single, rectangular, piece of an image. Select the crop tool, then click Join Launchpad.net and drag a box around the area you wish to keep (below).

See how cropping the image has forced you, the viewer, to focus on the patio step. Previously, you may have been focusing on the paving stones. If something is unnecessary in a photo, crop it out.

is Editor of magazine, a proud Kubuntu user, and This area can be moved by part-time artist whose gallery of work can clicking and dragging inside the be seen at www.RonnieTucker.co.uk.

17 HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Ronnie Tucker UUSSIINNGG GGIIMMPP -- PPAARRTT 66

eyeball, causing the rectangular selection tool to the black pupil to draw a box around both her FCM #12 - #16 : USING GIMP 1 - 5 look red. eyes; then try the Red-Eye Removal filter. The easy way to fix red-eye is to go to the Filters > Enhance > Red-Eye Removal menu. This will give you a preview of the Dev Graphics Internet Multimedia System image, and a threshold slider to fine- tune the red-eye removal. Much better. Just watch that you don't overdo the threshold

CD/DVD HardDrive USB Drive Laptop Wireless slider lest you darken her reddish eyebrows.

his month, we move on to some more advanced Tfeatures of GIMP. This group of features is primarily used in photographic touch-ups (also known as air-brushing) to either repair or enhance an image. But wait, it's altering parts of the image that aren't her pupils! This is Let's do the easy photo repair because her lips are also red. Really, first - the infamous red-eye. This all that GIMP is doing is changing the occurs when the camera's flash red pixels to black. So, we need to be highlights the inside of the more selective with this image. Use 16 Another way of doing red-eye pointer with a 'no entry' symbol Before you removal is to simply create a new (circle with a diagonal line through start layer, draw a black dot for each it). This means you have no pointing pupil, and then multiply the dots reference point as yet. Hold down fingers, no, layer with the original image until CTRL, and the 'no entry' symbol will that photo is it looks good. But the Red-Eye vanish. Click somewhere near the not me! It's Removal filter is a nice, quick, blemish then release CTRL. You will my shortcut. now see a circle with a cross inside it grandfather, marking your reference point. and the photo was taken in, Our next roughly, 1930, so it's a bit tatty volunteer is and needs some touching up. a celebrity who is, in For this, we could this photo, easily use the Healing looking a tool, but, this time, we little bit will bring in the powerful Clone 'worse for Now, simply tool. It will, like the Healing tool, wear' let's draw over the nearby blemish, and, if need a reference point, but, this say. Let's the reference point is good, the time, it will just clone the help her out; blemish will vanish. Sometimes you reference point to where your she needs to will need to undo what you did with brush is - no guess work. So let's have those nasty spots removed. the Healing tool, and try again, but try it: same idea, you click the trial-and-error is no bad thing. Clone tool, hold down CTRL, click The Healing tool will let on the source (near a crack in And, just like you select a spot (no pun the photo), release CTRL, and any good spot intended!) on the image you're ready to paint out the removal cream: to act as a reference cracks. point. GIMP will then give its best apply as guess as to what should be under necessary: your brush - taking into account Now our celeb the reference spot. First, click the is ready for the Healing tool icon. You'll see two front page. crossed elastoplasts beside your

17 And, just to prove a point, try the Healing tool on some photo cracks. It'll probably work just as well, but it's always better to have a Plan B!

Think of Wine as a compatibility layer is Editor of for running Windows programs. magazine, a proud Kubuntu user, and part-time artist whose , as it is a completely free gallery of work can be seen at alternative implementation of the www.RonnieTucker.co.uk. Windows API consisting of 100% non- Microsoft code.

The Wine Application Database (AppDB) is where you can get information on application compatibility with Wine.

http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com

http://appdb.winehq.org/

18 HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Ronnie Tucker UUSSIINNGG GGIIMMPP -- PPAARRTT 77

The Xtns menu is beside the File A window will appear menu. You'll see items like Module presenting you with the available FCM #12 - #17 : USING GIMP 1 - 6 Manager and Script-Fu, but our options for this Chrome interest lies in the items called extension. Buttons, Logos, Misc, Patterns, and Web Page Themes. Another limitation of these extensions is that most, if not all, are not interactive. In other words: guess-work, trial-and-error, if you will. Dev Graphics Internet Multimedia System Click Xtns > Logos > Chrome.

CD/DVD HardDrive USB Drive Laptop Wireless

As you can see, there are not many options. You can choose a This month, we'll discuss GIMP's font style and size, a background many Filters, and touch briefly on color, and some text to apply the the Xtns (extensions) menu. Both extension to. I've picked a menu items provide quick access chunky font, and used the text to dozens of special effects. The 'Full Circle', and here's the result: main difference between the two is that Xtns items will create a new image with the specified effect. Filters can be applied to a whole image, or a selection of an image.

14 Even though I had two yellow which measurement type you colors selected, it still gave me a want the numbers to refer to black chrome effect. What if I (inches, millimeters, pixels, etc.). want to alter the text? Maybe I prefer pixels. Then there are bring the letters closer together? two types of gaussian blur, but I'm afraid not. The thing with we won't alter them for now. extensions is that they are pre- Next, I click OK to apply the made scripts. To fine tune the effect. effect, you would need to go in to your /usr/share/gimp/2.0/scripts folder, copy the script, then edit it in your favorite text editor. Not At the top of very user friendly. This is one the window is a reason why I never use them. preview, which However, I wanted to briefly can be turned introduce them, and then ignore on, or off, using them. Let's move on to the more the check box useful, and visual, Filters. below the preview. Below I'll use that you have the One blurry photo. Now let's the Blur Radius for applying how photograph use our selection skills to select much blur you want to the image. shown left just a part of the image to blur. Beside the numbers you'll see a as my I'm going to use the path tool to small three-link chain icon - this links starting just quickly make a selection to the horizontal value with the vertical point. blur. value: change one and the other will Let's jump right in and apply a change too. Unlinking the values filter to the whole image. Click gives you more of a motion blur (as Filters > Blur > Gaussian Blur. either horizontal, or vertical, will have more blur than the other), but, Just like with extensions, a for now, I'll keep them linked, and window will appear. This window the values at seven. You can specify is your preview and controls for the selected filter. 15 Now, when I apply the blur, it correct it. which can help give an image will affect only the selected area. atmosphere. Filters > Distorts > Emboss is useful for picking out detail that you can't see initially. While Ripple will let you make a selection look almost like it's Blurring only the background made of liquid. (and not the door frame) has The filters named Artistic will given it a look of depth, almost as Easily one of try to apply a painterly effect. though the camera is focused on the most used Filters > Artistic > Oilify will try the door frame. Let's play with a (and abused) to turn your photo into an oil few more filter effects. effects applied painting in the media Filters > There are too many effects to today is the Enhance is list in this short article. The key drop-shadow. where we is to experiment with them. Play Found under Filters > Light And used the Red around with them to see what Shadow > Drop Shadow, it will take a Eye Removal they will give you. Don't be selection (or text layer, anything in last- afraid to give them high or low really) and put a shadow under it. It month's article. In this set of values. Sometimes accidents can really help lift an item off the filters, I often use Sharpen. This give the best results! page, but it can look very cliché. This filter has one slider which lets you is also one of the few filters that has Next month, we will take all sharpen the image (or selection). no preview. Filters > Light And the things we've learned over This is usually one of the first Shadow also has many other the past seven months, and effects that I apply to an image to powerful effects such as Lighting, combine several photographs, to 16 end with a fantastical piece of what you want GIMP art. But before then, let me to remove. This just mention Layer Masks. is what I choose most of the Normally, when we erase part time. of a layer, it's gone for good. But with layer masks we can remove You'll notice parts of a layer - but only visually, that, beside the while the original layer is still chosen layer, a there, untouched. This is new thumbnail invaluable as, later on, you may (a white want to reinstate a part of a layer. square) has appeared. This is your This is possible with a layer mask, mask. It is pure white at the impossible with the eraser. moment, and is completely visible. Let's say I want to erase the steps from my photo. First, select You will see your layer return the layer that's to be affected, to its old self. Click Disable Layer now go to Layer > Mask > Add Mask to enable the layer mask Layer Mask. again. Here's (briefly) how masks work: Layer masks are a very white is completely solid, and visible, powerful feature, and give you a black is completely transparent, and great deal of flexibility by the shades of grey in between will be keeping your layer always semi-transparent. Make sure the available for future alterations. mask thumbnail is selected, choose Think of it as having your cake the paintbrush tool, and use the and eating it. colour black to paint with. If you've selected the mask layer, then you will be hiding parts of the layer, not is Editor of A window will appear, and erasing, hiding. To prove the point, magazine, a proud require an answer. Choosing right click on the layer mask Kubuntu user, and part-time White (Full Opacity) will keep the artist whose gallery of work can be thumbnail, and choose Disable Layer image as is, and let you paint out seen at www.RonnieTucker.co.uk. Mask. 17 HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Ronnie Tucker UUSSIINNGG GGIIMMPP -- PPAARRTT 88

Google Videos at:

FCM #12 - #17 : USING GIMP 1 - 6 http://url.fullcirclemagazine.org/c44b86 First, I grab my three source images from Flickr, being careful to choose only photographs licensed under the license - which allows editing of photographs. What I'm thinking is that I'll use the sky from Dev Graphics Internet Multimedia System one photo, a middle-distance from a my first photograph. I copy that second photo, and possibly a selection, and paste it into my foreground from a third photo, either new image. that or create some water using I then decided to use the CD/DVD HardDrive USB Drive Laptop Wireless GIMP filters. I'll post links to the mountain range from the second source images at the end of the photograph, and selected its article, should you want to follow outline using the Pen tool. Again, In this, the last part of this GIMP along. series, I'm going to create a single I copy and paste the selection image using three photographs With my three images open, I into the new image. taken from Flickr. Although the create a new image of the same size final image won't fool a as the source images. I used the photographic analyst, its creation Flickr preview images as I didn't want should help you practice what to have too many large images open you've learned in the previous while recording the screen, but you seven articles. What I've also can use the full-size photographs. In done is recorded, in real-time, my the case of a landscape, it's better to thirty-minute creation of the work from back to front with the sky image, which you can view on being farthest back, so I draw a very rough selection line around the sky of 15 From the third photo, I select the trees and grass area and copy/paste it into the new image.

Before applying a ripple to the I had a fourth image that I was water, I used a soft-edged brush going to use, but decided against it. with the eraser to soften the Instead I copied the sky layer, flipped outline of the mountain. Then I To add some depth to the it vertically, made a selection with flattened the two layers image, I created a new layer and the Pen tool, and erased parts of it. (mountain reflection and sky placed it between the mountain This will have effects applied to it reflection) into one layer and and tree layers. I airbrushed in and will become water. some white to act as a fog/mist. I applied a ripple to them. also selected the furthest away trees and applied Gaussian Blur to them.

The mountains would also be I darkened the foreground of reflected, so I did the same with the the water using the Burn tool. At mountain layer: copy it and flip it that point, I realised that I hadn't vertically. reflected the foreground tree! So 16 I did a quick selection of the foremost tree, copy/pasted it to a new layer, flipped it vertically, and applied a ripple effect to it. Thankfully, the ripple filter keeps your settings from the last time it was used, so the ripple on the tree was the same as on the water layer. video of the above image being created: http://url.fullcirclemagazine.org/c44b86 The components of the final image are now all in place. At this Source Images: point, I began playing around with http://url.fullcirclemagazine various filters to see if any would .org/2fba72 enhance the image. I tried Lens Flare and Sparkle but neither did anything effective. I tried the http://url.fullcirclemagazine Gradient Flare, on a new layer, .org/8a00d5 is Editor of and it gave the effect of a sun, so Full Circle magazine, a recent GNOME convert, and I kept that and played with the http://url.fullcirclemagazine artist whose gallery of work can be layer effects to make it blend in .org/d31f07 seen at www.RonnieTucker.co.uk. more. 17 HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Ronnie Tucker GGIIMMPP -- TThhee BBeeaannssttaallkk PPtt11

and make it A4 in size, portrait in else for now. For a foreground For ideas, I’m using Photoshop orientation, and with an X and Y color, choose a very pale greeny- tutorials that are freely available resolution of 80. The default X and yellow (RGB = 220, 229, 189). For on the web, and, while not copying Y resolution is 300. That’s for the background, choose a slightly them step for step, applying the professional printing, and, it faded greeny-yellow (RGB = 133, underlying principles of them to requires high resolution images as 151, 81). GIMP. source material, and can slow down even the hardiest of machines - so Next, left click (and hold) in the I should also state, for the we’ll go with 80 which is more than middle of the blank image and record, that I’m using GIMP 2.6. As I adequate for this tutorial. move up to the top middle of the write this, a 2.7 version is available, image. Release the mouse button but, it is not entirely compatible Select the ‘Blend tool’ and you’ll have a radial fill covering with the *buntu family, and trying icon (shown left), and, the entire canvas. to install it can give conflicts. where it says ‘Shape:’, choose ‘Radial’ from the drop down What we’ll be making is shown menu. No need to change anything left.

Sources: n the first of this new GIMP Sky - series, I’m going to try and http://www.2textured.com/index.p show you some intermediate hp/Environment/Skies/skies_0347 techniques. In other words, I YouTube Video showing Pt1 being things that people may think are possible only with Photoshop. If made: you’d like to read more about the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= absolute basics of GIMP, then I NYFTdbzjubg refer you back to FCM#12-19. While I used an older version of The Sky Gradient GIMP in those issues, the layout of GIMP has changed little in the First thing we need to do is passing years. create a new image (File > New),

full circle magazine #60 14 contents ^ HOWTO - GIMP: THE BEANSTALK Pt1 drop down menu above the layers and choose ‘Value’.

Color Curve

You’ll now have a greeny sky, but it doesn’t look very dramatic does it? With the sky layer still selected, click Colors > Curves from the menu. We’re going to create what’s known as an S-curve. The S- curve is a great way of quickly color correcting your photos too. Click two boxes across and two down in the grid, and drag your mouse up little chain link icon is linked. If the and to the left slightly, and two No, Not The Layers! icon looks like a broken chain, then boxes in and up from the bottom your sky image will resize Click File>Open, and choose disproportionately and squish. your sky image. To quickly get the Make the width of the sky about sky into our main image, we go to 300 wide, and click OK. This gives the ‘Layers’ tab and (as shown us some room to play with. above) drag it onto our main image Click the ‘Move’ icon With the sky now in our main (shown left). Now, left image, you can close the opened click and drag the sky sky image. icon to where you think it looks best. The sky image is quite high resolution, larger TIP: The gradient is one layer and than we require, so we the sky is another. If we add several need to resize it. Click the ‘Resize’ more layers, it’ll get quite tool (shown left), and click the sky. confusing. To make things easier In the resize window that pops up, you can double click on a layer Now for some layer magic. With you need to make sure that the name and rename it. the sky layer still selected, click the

full circle magazine #60 15 contents ^ HOWTO - GIMP: THE BEANSTALK Pt1 From the window that pops up, Select’ icon (shown below left). choose ‘White (full opacity)’ and Left click and draw a box around click ‘Add’. You’ll see a box appear the bottom third of the sky. next to your sky thumbnail in the list of layers.

Now click the ‘Blend Tool’ icon (that we used at the start of this tutorial), but make sure the ‘Shape:’ is Linear this time. You’ll need a foreground colour of black, left of the grid, and click and drag from the menu, choose ‘Add Layer That box is a thumbnail of the and a background colour of white. down to the right. Mask’ (shown below). layer mask. The idea is that if you With that all set, click and drag just select that layer thumbnail, and up from the bottom middle of the Which will give you an S-curve draw in black, you’ll erase parts of selected area, to just below the top (shown above) which you should the sky image. Draw over the middle of the selected area, and play around with until you get a erased area with white and the sky release the mouse button. nice dramatic sky with good darks, will reappear. This means you can but not too bright lights. show/hide parts of the sky - using the mask - without destroying the Let’s finish off this sky and original sky image. We’ll use the that’ll do us for this first part of the mask to fade the sky into the tutorial. background.

Make sure the mask Layer Mask thumbnail is selected, it should have a white Right click on the sky layer, and outline, and click the “Rectangle

full circle magazine #60 16 contents ^ HOWTO - GIMP: THE BEANSTALK Pt1

The Ubuntu Podcast covers all the latest news and issues facing Ubuntu Linux users and Free Software fans in general. The show appeals to the newest user and the oldest coder. Our discussions cover the development of Ubuntu but aren’t overly technical. We are lucky enough to have some great guests on the show, telling us first hand about the latest exciting developments they are working on, in a way that we can Your sky will now magically fade all understand! We also talk into the background. And since it’s about the Ubuntu community a layer mask, the original sky is and what it gets up to. untouched. You can right click on the layer mask and delete it and The show is presented by the sky will return to its original members of the UK’s Ubuntu state. Linux community. Because it is covered by the Ubuntu Code of Next month we’ll add a piece of Conduct it is suitable for all. landscape below the sky, and maybe, just maybe, start growing The show is broadcast live every fortnight on a Tuesday evening that beanstalk. Class dismissed! Ronnie is the founder, and editor, of Full Circle, an official Ubuntu (British time) and is available for member, and part-time artist who's download the following day. work can be seen at: http://ronnietucker.co.uk podcast.ubuntu-uk.org

full circle magazine #60 17 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Ronnie Tucker GGIIMMPP -- TThhee BBeeaannssttaallkk PPtt22

K, so, we’ve got our sky bottom of the image. loop back to where you started. recoloured and fading Press the Enter key on your into the background; We’re going to chop away some keyboard to complete the O next, we want to have excess trees that are behind the selection. a little village below the sky. village to give us a nice landscape. You can, of course, go clockwise Sources: Selections if you prefer. Village: http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml?f The selection tools are some of Press the Delete key on your =view&id=1215281 the most important tools in GIMP keyboard, and anything inside that Tree: as they allow you to be as detailed selection will be removed. http://alfoart.com/flash/beanstalk as you need to be when selecting _tutorial/625100_53361668.jpg?ht an outline. For this, our first big TIP: If you press the Delete key tp://www.2textured.com/main.php If you look at the list of layers, tutorial, we’ll go with a quick and and the selected area shows black, ?g2_itemId=281 you’ll see that the village layer is dirty selection. then you’ll have to go to the menu, sandwiched between the sky and click Edit > Undo. Right click on the YouTube: background images. We need the Click the ‘Free Select Tool’ layers thumbnail, and choose ‘Add http://www.youtube.com/watch?v village to be at the top of the list. (shown left) and draw around the Alpha Channel’. Now you can press =KTmehu8x2j4 Simply drag it up above the sky treeline keeping only Delete to remove your selection. layer. full trees. Draw out the This extra ‘Add Alpha Channel’ step The Village side of the image, and isn’t always necessary.

Bring the village photo into your scene. How? This is where I test if you’ve read part one or not. Same idea: open the village image and drag it into our main scene. You’ll probably have to resize it to about 750 pixels wide, though.

Should you see something like Click the move icon, and drag this, don’t panic the village layer down to the

full circle magazine #61 21 contents ^ HOWTO - GIMP: THE BEANSTALK Pt2

Use the rectangle select tool to The idea here (shown below select the top half of the village right) is to (on the layer mask!) (below left) and, like last time, use paint white over some of the a black and white linear gradient to foreground trees to remove them fade the top part of the village. from the fog effect in the background. Remember last time how I spoke about the OK, let’s get our whopping layer mask as being great tree inserted and we’ll finish non-destructive? Well, up part two. here’s your chance to try it out. We created a white layer which was I’ll show you another quick way completely transparent, so choose of inserting an image. Click the link a foreground colour of white and above for the tree source. In your click the ‘Paintbrush’ icon (shown browser, right click the image and left). copy the image to the clipboard. remember how to create a layer You can, if you like, go around Go to your main image in GIMP, mask, don’t you? Yep, right clicking the treeline and tweak it with the TIP: If you need to enlarge/shrink and, in the menu, click Edit > Paste on the village layer, and choosing eraser, but for now we’ll cover it up the paintbrush you can use the As > New Layer. Voila! with a layer mask. You do to add a white layer mask. square bracket keys (that’s [ and ]).

full circle magazine #61 22 contents ^ HOWTO - GIMP: THE BEANSTALK Pt2 You’ll have to resize the layer to about 600 pixels wide, and move it down to have the tree roots halfway down the grassy part of the village. Clicking resize, and then on the tree, I’m unlinking the width and height numbers as I just want to stretch the tree vertically to about 650 high.

the menu, click Select > Invert and layer to paint a shadow from the press Delete. One tree. But I think tree across the grass. I’d like it growing up to the right, so click Layer > Transform > Flip In the final part of the Horizontally. I’d also like it to have Beanstalk image we’ll add some a tint of green like the rest of the pizazz to the image. image, so click Colors > Colorize, and move the ‘Hue’ slider until you get a greenish tint to the tree. Finally, apply a layer mask to Like we did with the village, it’s the tree layer, and select the top time to trim out the excess third of the tree and use the blend background, we just want to keep tool to fade the tree into the the tree. Time to click the free clouds. Ronnie is the founder, and editor, of Full Circle, an official Ubuntu select tool and get to work. member, and part-time artist who's One last thing, your homework work can be seen at: This time we want to keep for this lesson: use the http://ronnietucker.co.uk what’s inside the selection, so, in Dodge/Burn tool on the village

full circle magazine #61 23 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Ronnie Tucker GGIIMMPP -- TThhee BBeeaannssttaallkk PPtt33

e’re almost done This time, in the dropdown hollow should be nice and dark. with the beanstalk menu above the list of layers, image, but I’d like to choose ‘Screen’; the black in the W add some random layer will vanish, and the moon will bits and bobs to give it some blend in nicely. pizzazz.

Sources: Moon: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1126941 Stars: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1005288

YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =HZcoOx94ox8 Although, a glow around it Moonshine wouldn’t go amiss. We’ll cheat with the glow and use a filter. Click Copy/paste the moon image Filters > Artistic > Softglow. Move Next month we’ll have a tutorial One last thing is that I’m going into the beanstalk scene. I’m the sliders until you get something from Thomas Standiford on to add some stars to the sky, so it’s keeping the moon layer at about pretty. I used a high brightness and making your photo look retro. time to bring in the image of the 150 wide and have flipped it glow radius. stars: place the layer below the horizontally. The good thing about doing this moon layer, and make it about 300 in a non-destructive manner is that pixels wide. This time though, you can change anything at any make the layer mode ‘Lighten only’ time without having to completely from the dropdown menu. The last Ronnie is the founder, and editor, of redo chunks of the image. I’m thing to do is give the stars a layer Full Circle, an official Ubuntu mask that will fade them out member, and part-time artist whose going to use an S-curve now on the work can be seen at: midway down the image. tree as I think it needs to have http://ronnietucker.co.uk brighter highlights on it and that

full circle magazine #62 17 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Thomas Standiford GGIIMMPP -- RReettrroo PPhhoottoo

n this GIMP how-to, we're Note: To change which channel to going to do some basic curves adjust, select the channel from the adjustments to make this channel drop-down. You can switch I photo have a cool stylized back and forth between channels. retro-type look. All of these curves adjustments should be done in ONE We'll start with the image COMMAND, not a series of four above right, and end with the commands. image shown bottom right. After making the adjustment, Get the Retro Colors your photo should look pretty cool, but we need to tone the contrast Most of the effect for this down a bit. photo is simply from adjusting the curves of each channel (the red, Next, do another curves green, blue, and alpha channels) adjustment like so: like so:

full circle magazine #63 17 contents ^ HOWTO - GIMP RETRO PHOTO Not bad, now if only those hot pink. Add a layer mask to the bubbles didn't disappear in the dramatize layer. process. Using a fairly large and soft brush, carefully brush in a few Using the blend tool, set the spaces of pink and green in each gradient mode to radial, and use a bubble, like so: gradient that goes from black to white. Create a gradient that goes from the center of the photo Now that our bubbles are a outward. Adjust the opacity of the little more visible, let's dramatize layer to something you're happy the photo a bit. with. Here is what I ended up with:

Enhance the Bubbles Final Touches Next month we'll begin a video editing series using Kdenlive. The bubbles seem to have Create a new layer, name it disappeared in this photo. We're Now that we have added the "dramatize", set the layer mode to going to use a combination of color to the proper areas of the Overlay, and fill the layer with selections, and soft brushes to put bubbles, let's change some layer black. some pop back into them. styles and adjust the opacity to make the bubbles look realistic. Create a new layer, name it "bubbles". Set the layer mode to Overlay.

Now we will select the bubbles. Duplicate the layer. Name the Using the path tool, trace around duplicated layer "bubblebrighten". the outer edge of each bubble. Set the duplicated layer mode Once all of the bubbles have to addition. been outlined, right-click on the path in the path menu (located in Adjust the opacity of both the the same window as the layers), "bubble" and "bubblebrighten" and click "path to selection." layer until you end up with something you're happy with. My Set your foreground and opacity settings are set to 23 and background to a lime green and 40 respectively, and they look like this:

full circle magazine #63 18 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO GG''MMIICC IInnPPaaiinntt Written by Ronnie Tucker

Nicholas has worked himself into a hospital bed this month, and will be back next month.

ne thing thatGIMP is well O known for is its filters. Think ofthem as Photoshop plugins. One GIMP filter that is incredibly powerful –yet not so well known, itseems –is G’MIC. Meaning ‘GREYC’s Magic for Image Computing,’ it comes with an incredible amount of filters covering deformations, GIMP plugin directory (this is menu, you should see G’MICatthe (in GIMP), you use the pencil tool degradations, details, film usually /home/.gimp2.8/plug-ins or bottom ofthe list. (not the paintbrush) to cover the emulsion, patterns, rendering, thereabouts, so you may need to parts ofthe photo you want repair, and even a section for show hidden files to find the USING Inpaint to remove. I started with filters still in testing. In this quick .gimp2.8 folder). Now, when you the photo shown above. example, I’ll talk about the Inpaint start GIMP and click the ‘filters’ When you have a photo loaded feature. This allows you to mask an area which Inpaint will fix for you.

INSTALLING

Go to: http://gmic.sourceforge.net/gimp.s html and download the appropriate file (32/64 bit). Unarchive the download to your

full circle magazine #83 24 contents ^ HOWTO-G'MICINPAINT nowisthe time to grab a tea/coffee.

And below left is the final result.

Is itperfect? No. Is itquickand easier than using the cloning tool? Definitely!

I purposely chose this photo as I thought maybe the railings would catch it out, but InPaint worked fine. There are a couple ofbits on the railings where it isn’t perfect, I decided to testInpaintby (bottom image). From the default settings I butI’llletyou see ifyou can spot seeing ifit could remove the red raised the Patch Size setting to 15 them. and white tape. I simply drew over Next, I opened G’MIC (filters > and the Lookup Size to 22. After it with the pencil tool using bright G’MIC), clicked REPAIR, then thatI clicked OKand waited. It G’MIC has literally dozens of red (pure red, no green orblue) as ‘Inpaint (Patch Based)’: does take a fairbitof greatfilters in itso have a play shown on the previous page computational power to do this, so around with them!

Ronnie is the founder and (still!) editor ofFull Circle. He's also a self- taught (part-time) artist who draws both serious and silly things. His workcan be seen at: http://ronnietucker.co.uk.

full circle magazine #83 25 contents ^