The Gimp

About the class

Oso Says "Take the Gimp Class!

April, 2005 was the first time MNR offers a class on the Gimp at Free Geek, but it's far from the first time he's taught the subject. The Gimp is the image editing software distributed on FreekBoxes - and used by all kinds of people to make cool pictures. This is an introductory-level class, and should be accessable to anyone who has mastered the material taught in the FreekBox Adoption Class.

Related Links

From the project's web site, gimp.org:

• Main page
• screenshots
• documentation

Class 1: Starting and Selections

right-click to download today's suggested image

• Finding and starting the Gimp
• Navigating the Gimp
• Opening files, Saving Files
• Freegeeks - Use Offline storage! Classroom machines are wiped clean every evening.
• Help! Using context sensitive help
• Palettes: Tools & Layers, (but not Channels or Paths)
• Making selections
• Dealing with Floating Selections
• Something fun - change the color of the background.

1. use the elliptical select tool to select the earth in today's suggested image
2. float the selection
3. convert the selection to a new layer
4. change the foreground color (click on the black box in the tool palette)
5. add a new layer with a colored background (shift - new layer)
6. move the layers so the colored layer is underneath the earth

Class 2: Color select and Magic wand

Right-click to download today's suggested image

• Brief review
• Resizing images, resizing selections
• Color Select Tool vs select by color
• Magic Wand

Class 3: Edges, tools, fills, paths

Today's suggested image

• Edge Select
• Move, Rotate, shear, perspective & flip
• Fill, Gradient, pattern paint
• Quick mask & save to path
• path to selection
• Manipulating Selections
• Filters

Class 4: animations

An example of GIMP animations

Today's image (warning, 4 megabytes) contains XCF files for use with GIMP

• Animations

Tutorial on Gimp Animation