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Simple GIMP and Inkscape tutorial.odt (view source)
Revision as of 11:30, 20 October 2013
, 11:30, 20 October 2013Created page with " ''Manual for basic tools in GIMP and Inkscape'' This document can be used to get a brief overview of the tools available in Inkscape and GIMP. == GIMP == GIMP..."
''Manual for basic tools in GIMP and Inkscape''
This document can be used to get a brief overview of the tools
available in Inkscape and GIMP.
== GIMP ==
GIMP is a powerful and complex open
source image editing programme. The GIMPs tools are displayed as
icons on the toolbox. A
user can identify a tool by hovering over it. The name of the tool
will appear below. Clicking on the icon will select that
corresponding tool.
A beginner can utilise the following
tools in GIMP:
=== Crop ===
Select the area that you would like to retain. The
area can be extended or reduced by selecting one of the sides. Once
your desired area is selected (the remaining area will turn grey or
darker), then double click inside the desired area. The photo will be
cropped to that size.
The tool is used:
* to reduce the size of large images.
* to remove unnecessary areas in a photo.
=== Scale ===
Open the image that you want to work on in GIMP.
Select the scale tool and click on the image. The image would then
have tiny boxes on every side. Another box will pop up. You can
insert the measurements that you want in this box. Or you could
manually drag with the help of clicking one of the sides and reduce
to the size you want.
The tool is used:
* to reduce the size of heavy images. It makes uploading on websites more easy.
=== Move ===
After scaling an image, if you want to add another
image to the frame, you would have to move the first image to the
side. This can be done using the move tool. Select the move tool.
Select the image. Click and drag to a suitable location.
The tool is used:
* when there is more than one element in the window you are working on.
=== Add text ===
Select the Text tool (a capital A). Now, drag the
tool to were you want to insert text. A tiny box pops up. Type your
text in the box. The size, colour, style of the text can be changed
in the settings below the tool box. The length of the text box can be
adjusted after you finishing typing your text by selecting the
corners and dragging.
The tool is used:
* to add a title or caption explaining the text is useful.
=== Grayscale ===
Select the image. Go to the menu bar on top and
click on the 'Image' option. Then click on 'Mode' and finally click
on 'Grayscale'. This would make the image grey.
The tool is used:
* to make a photo black and white. It is preferrable for printing purposes.
=== Scale image size ===
Select the image. Go to the menu bar on top and
click on the 'Image' option. Then click on 'Scale image...'. This
would show you options of 'width and height' along with 'X
resolution' and 'Y resolution'. Enter in 72 pixels in both X and Y
spaces. This would help reduce the file to a small size.
The tool is used:
* to reduce resolution which helps in file size.
* to make photos for uploading on websites (should not be used for printing).
<br>
=== Transparent background ===
Open the image you want to work on. Once the image
is open, go to File → Save as → and save it as a .png file. Once
this is done, go to Layer → Transparency → and see if the option
'Color to Alpha' is active. If yes, then click on it and say yes.
This will make your background transparent. If no, this tool cannot
be applied to this image.
This tool is used:
* to make white backgrounds transparent.
* to remove backgrounds from logos.
=== Sepia photos ===
Import the image into GIMP. There is more than one
way to do this.
'''One: '''Go
to Color → Colorize. A dialogue box will pop up. Adjust the bars to
your desired levels. Else let the values be around Hue: between red
and yellow – 25 to 35. Saturation: Between 50 – 60. Lightness:
Between 4 – 10.
'''Two: '''Go
to Filters → Decor → Old photo.
'''Three: '''Another
method requires you to first desaturate the image. For this, go to
Color → Desaturate. Then repeat the processes in method '''One'''.
=== Layers ===
The
importance of working on layers in a canvas is to meddle with more
than one photo. In case your layers box is not visible, go to Windows
→ Recently closed docks → Layers, Channels, Filters. You can
slide the layers one above the other. But the user must keep in mind
that actions such as desaturate/ sepia will be done on the '''active
layer'''. The action will have to be repeated on every other layer.
<br>
<br>
== INKSCAPE ==
Inkscape is a free and open source vector graphic
editor. The tools are displayed as icons on the toolbox. A
user can identify a tool by hovering over it. The name of the tool
will appear below. Clicking on the icon will select that
corresponding tool.
=== Adding captions with transparent backgrounds ===
In case you want to add a caption to a photo, you
will need to import the photo into Inkscape first. Then draw a
rectangle (in a colour of your choice) where you would like the
caption. The opacity of the rectangle needs to be changed at the
bottom of the Inkscape window. Once this is done, the title tool can
be clicked and text can be entered. The colour of the text can be
modified based on the background colour. The photo then has to be
saved: File → Save as → Cairo PNG (.png).
=== Importing pictures ===
There is a simple way to import an image into
Inkscape. You can merely drag and drop the image into the Inkscape
window. This will prompt the application to ask you if you wish to
'Embed' or 'Link'. Embedding results in the .svg file being heavy but
it is the better option of the two.
Note: While adjusting the size of the imported,
kindly press Shift + Ctrl in order to not distort the image.
=== Adding filters ===
Adding a Drop Shadow/ Glow to text or images can
make the output more creative. done by selecting the text or image
and going to the Filters option and choosing from options available.
=== Gradient to background ===
There is a simple way to create a graident with
two colours in Inkscape. First you need to draw the rectangle and
then by double clicking on the 'Fill' option. A new dialogue box will
pop up. Here you will see two types of gradients: One linear and the
other circular gradient. Pick and apply one of the gradients. When
this is done, you will notice a blue line on the rectangle box, with
one end as a circle and the other as a square. Click on the circle
end and pick a colour.
=== Text typing (justify) ===
A note for text:
In order for the Justify option to be active, the
user must first draw a text box and then type inside it. This will
allow one to use all options for text alignment.
