Mastering GIMP: From Fundamentals to Professional Workflow Brief History and Evolution of GIMP GIMP as Free and Open Source Software Understanding the GNU General Public License Core Capabilities and Use Cases of GIMP Who Uses GIMP: Artists, Designers, Photographers Course Overview and Objectives Structure of the Guide and Navigation Tips How to Set Up a Productive Learning Environment Recommended Hardware and Software Setup How to Contribute to GIMP Development Installation and Initial Setup Downloading GIMP from Official Sources Verifying Installer Integrity (Checksums and Signatures) Installing GIMP on Windows Installing GIMP on Linux (APT, DNF, Flatpak, Snap) Building GIMP from Source First Launch and Initial Configuration Interface Language and Locale Settings Configuring Folders for Plug-ins, Brushes, Fonts Backing Up GIMP Settings and Preferences Installing Additional Resources (Brushes, Gradients, Plug-ins) Understanding the Default Workspace Single-Window vs Multi-Window Mode Toolbox Overview and Primary Tools Dockable Dialogs: Layers, Channels, Paths, Undo Tab and Dialog Customization Changing Themes and Icon Sets Using the Status Bar and Navigation Bar
Menu Overview: File, Edit, Select, View, Image, Layer, etc.
Setting Up and Managing Custom Workspaces Keyboard Shortcuts: Customizing and Using Efficiently Canvas and File Operations Creating a New Image: Dimensions, Resolution, Fill Choosing Color Space and Precision Using Templates and Presets Opening Files in Different Formats (JPEG, PNG, XCF, PSD, SVG, etc.) Importing Vector and RAW Images Exporting Images with Specific Settings (Web, Print, Animation) Understanding the XCF Format: Pros and Use Cases Saving for Compatibility: Flattening and Merging Layers File Metadata: Viewing and Editing Undo History and Image Recovery Navigation and Canvas Tools Zoom Tool: Zoom In, Out, Fit Image Navigation Dialog and Navigator Preview Panning and Scroll Shortcuts Rotating the Canvas for Drawing Comfort Using Rulers, Guides, and Snapping Options Customizing Grid Display and Units Enabling and Using the Pointer and Cursor Coordinates Creating and Managing Multiple Views of the Same Image Fullscreen Mode and Distraction-Free Editing Color Management and Accuracy Understanding RGB, Grayscale, Indexed Color Modes Introduction to Color Profiles (ICC) Assigning, Converting, and Managing Color Profiles Using sRGB, Adobe RGB, CMYK Workflows Viewing Gamut Warnings and Soft Proofing for Print Monitor Calibration and Why It Matters Importing and Exporting ICC Profiles Configuring Color Management Preferences Palettes, Swatches, and Color Picking Using the Color Picker Tool (Sample Size, Modes) Swatches Dialog and Color History Creating and Saving Custom Swatches Editing Colors with the Color Editor Dialog Importing Palettes from Images Exporting and Sharing Custom Palettes Converting Colors Between Modes (HEX, RGB, HSV) Selections and Masking Tools Why Selections Are Essential in GIMP Rectangle Select Tool: Properties and Use Cases Ellipse Select Tool: Feathering and Fixed Ratios Free Select (Lasso) Tool and Polygonal Mode Fuzzy Select (Magic Wand) and Threshold Adjustment Select by Color Tool: Sampling and Threshold Foreground Select Tool: Interactive Selection Process Quick Mask Mode: Creating Selections with Painting Using Paths for Precise Selections Selection Operations: Add, Subtract, Intersect, Invert Modifying Selections: Grow, Shrink, Feather, Border Saving and Restoring Selections as Channels Transforming Selections Independently Layers and Composition Techniques What Are Layers and Why They Matter Creating, Duplicating, Deleting Layers Adjusting Layer Opacity and Locking Options Layer Visibility and Alpha Channel Concepts Understanding Layer Boundaries vs Canvas Size Layer Stacking Order and Its Impact Using Layer Groups to Organize Projects Understanding and Using Blending Modes Practical Examples of Each Blend Mode Linked Layers: Moving and Transforming Together Layer Attributes: Naming, Color Tagging Transforming Layers: Move, Rotate, Scale, Flip, Shear Align and Distribute Tool Layer to Image Size and Crop to Content Merging and Flattening Layers Channels and Advanced Masking Introduction to Channels in GIMP RGB and Alpha Channels Explained Viewing and Editing Individual Channels Creating Custom Channels for Storage or Selections Converting Channels to Selections Using Channels for Precise Cut-Outs Saving Selections to Channels for Reuse Using Channels for Luminosity and Tone Masking Layer Masks and Non-Destructive Editing What is a Layer Mask and Why Use It Creating and Applying a Mask Editing Masks with Brushes and Gradients Disabling and Inverting Layer Masks Copying, Duplicating, and Moving Masks Applying vs Removing a Layer Mask Creating Masks from Selections Using Masks in Layer Groups Visualizing and Debugging Mask Issues Painting and Drawing Tools Overview of Brush-Based Tools Paintbrush, Pencil, and Ink Tools Airbrush and Smudge Tools Using the Eraser Tool with Transparency Blur and Sharpen Tool Applications Clone, Heal, and Perspective Clone Tool Using Symmetry Painting Mode Brush Settings: Size, Hardness, Angle, Spacing Dynamics: Pressure, Tilt, Velocity, Random Creating Custom Brushes from Scratch Importing ABR (Photoshop) and GPL Brushes Saving and Organizing Brushes in Folders Bucket Fill Tool: Modes, Thresholds, Options Pattern Fill and Custom Patterns Gradient Tool: Linear, Radial, Conical, Spiral Editing and Creating Gradients Using Gradients for Shading and Masking Transparent to Color and Multi-Stop Gradients Vector Paths and Precision Tools Using the Path Tool (Bézier Tool) Editing Anchor Points and Handles Stroke Path with Brush or Line Style Fill Path with Color, Gradient, or Pattern Convert Selections to Paths and Vice Versa Text Along Path Technique Saving and Organizing Paths Typography and Text Tools Changing Font, Size, Color, Style Kerning, Tracking, Line Spacing Adjustments Aligning Text: Left, Center, Right, Justify Text Along Path and Path Along Text Using Text with Masks and Paths Rasterizing Text for Manual Editing Combining Text with Effects and Filters Multilingual and Special Character Support Move Tool with Layer, Path, Selection Modes Scale Tool: Keep Aspect, Scale From Center Rotate Tool: Fixed Angle and Interactive Perspective Tool and Grid Overlay Flip Tool and Mirror Effects Unified Transform Tool Overview Handle Transform Tool for Free Deformations Cage Transform Tool for Mesh-Like Warping Image Adjustments and Corrections Brightness and Contrast Tool Levels: Histogram, Input/Output Sliders Curves: Tone and Color Control Hue, Saturation, Lightness (HSL) Color Balance for Shadows, Midtones, Highlights Threshold and Posterize for Stylized Effects Invert and Value Inversion Channel Mixer for Creative Adjustments Auto Adjustments: White Balance, Equalize, Stretch Contrast Shadows-Highlights Recovery Selective Color Correction Using Sample Points for Accuracy Retouching and Restoration Using Clone Tool for Removal and Duplication Heal Tool for Seamless Patching Dodge and Burn for Light Painting Frequency Separation for Portrait Retouching Skin Smoothing Techniques Blemish and Wrinkle Removal Teeth Whitening and Eye Enhancement Color Correction on Specific Facial Features Restoring Old Photographs Filters, Effects, and Artistic Rendering Using Filters in Destructive vs Non-Destructive Ways Blur Filters: Gaussian, Motion, Pixelize Sharpen Filters: Unsharp Mask, High Pass Light and Shadow Filters: Drop Shadow, Lens Flare Distortion Filters: Ripple, Whirl, Lens Distortion Artistic Filters: Cartoon, Oilify, Cubism Map Filters: Bump Map, Displace, Small Tiles Edge Detection and Enhancement Filters Rendering Clouds, Plasma, Noise Combining Filters with Masks and Layers Plug-ins and Extensibility Introduction to GIMP Plug-ins Installing Plug-ins on Windows, macOS, Linux G'MIC: Installation and Use Overview of G'MIC Filters and Categories Using Resynthesizer for Content-Aware Fill Healing Selection and Smart Inpainting Script-Fu vs Python-Fu: Overview Creating and Editing Script-Fu Scripts Python Plug-ins: Writing and Using Scripts Automating Tasks with Plug-ins Using Shell Commands and External Tools Animation and Time-Based Editing Creating Frame-by-Frame GIFs in Layers Using GAP (GIMP Animation Package) Setting Frame Delay in Layer Names Onion Skin Simulation Techniques Creating Animations with G'MIC Exporting GIF and APNG with Frame Optimization Timeline Considerations and Testing in Browsers Digital Art Projects and Illustration Setting Up Canvas and Reference Layers Sketching with Stabilization Coloring with Multiply and Overlay Adding Highlights and Shadows Creating Stylized Line Art Full Illustration Workflow Walkthrough Exporting for Web, Print, and Merch Design Projects and Print Layouts Designing a Logo: Shape, Text, Vector, Export Creating Social Media Banners Designing a Flyer or Poster for Print Creating an Album Cover or Book Jacket Using Guides and Print Margins Working with Bleed and Trim Exporting to PDF for Print Shops CMYK Simulation and Output Considerations Introduction to GIMP Scripting Concepts Installing Python-Fu Console Basic Python Scripting Syntax in GIMP Recording and Writing Script-Fu Scripts Running Scripts and Batch Operations Using Plug-ins for Batch File Processing Scripting Common Tasks and Filters Sharing and Installing Scripts Productivity and Workflow Optimization Setting Up Templates and Workspaces for Projects Using File Versioning for Large Projects Backup Strategies for Your GIMP Projects Using Tags and Metadata to Manage Projects Workflow Techniques for Large-Scale Compositions Creating Macros and Custom Keyboard Shortcuts Tips for Speed and Performance Optimization Identifying and Avoiding Common Pitfalls in GIMP Collaborative Workflows: Working with Others in Open Formats Time-saving Techniques for Faster Editing Using GIMP for Photography: Techniques and Tips GIMP for Web Design: Creating UI Mockups GIMP for Game Art: Pixel Art and Sprites GIMP for Illustration and Concept Art: Workflow Optimization GIMP for Print Design: Preparing for Prepress and Printing GIMP for Social Media Graphics and Content Creation GIMP for Video Thumbnails and Media Graphics Fixing Common Interface Issues Performance Problems and Solutions Compatibility Issues with Plug-ins and File Types Recovering Crashed Projects Resetting GIMP Preferences Safely
Seeking Help from the Community
Tool Icon Reference Guide Comparison of File Formats Useful GIMP Resource Websites Community and Learning Forums Example Projects and Practice Assignments GIMP vs Photoshop Quick Reference Guide Encouragement to Continue Exploring GIMP Feedback and Further Learning Resources