GIMP tutorial

In this lesson we are going to learn some of the tools within GIMP
The tools that we will be using are: selection tools, blur, clone, erase, and using layers

1 – Open GIMP and create a new file (File -> New) and select an A7 template.

Once you have done this, in the menu at the top go “Windows -> Dockable Dialogs -> Layers” to ensure that you have the Layers window open. Double click on the “Background” layer and rename it to Obama.

Again at the top, go Windows -> Dockable Dialogs -> Tool Options. This will give allow you to edit properties later on.
Save your work

2 – Copy and paste the below picture of Barak Obama into your work area.

3 – In the menu at the top select Image -> Crop to Content. This will ensure that we only have the picture that we are interested in. Hold “ctrl” and scroll in to get closer to the image.

4 – Copying the eyes - Click on the “Free Select Tool” (looks like a lasso) in the menu on the left.

Click and hold this and draw around one of the eyes.

Copy (Ctrl + C) and paste (Ctrl + V) this eye. Once you have pasted you will notice it appears in the “Layers” window. Right click this and select “To New Layer”. Double click this new layer and call it “Right eye”

Once you have done this for the right eye, repeat for the left eye and the mouth. Important note: Ensure that you click back to the “Obama” layer, otherwise you will not be selecting what you hope to select.

Once you have done this, have a go at clicking the little eyes to the left of the layers and see what happens.
Turn off all of the little “eyes” to the left of our layers, except for the “Obama” layer, as shown.

Save your work

5 – Blank the face
Use the “Clone” tool to cover over the eyes, nose, and mouth on the Obama layer.

To use the clone tool, hold “Ctrl” and click on a piece of skin that you would like to replicate, then let go of Ctrl and click on the pieces of the picture you would like to cover up. When you click and drag the area that you clicked with Ctrl will shift along as well, so sometimes it is better to make lots of small clicks rather than clicking and dragging.

Note: you can change the size (and other properties) in the properties along the left.

Save your work

6 – Biggify the eyes and mouth
Use the “Scale tool” to make the eyes and mouth bigger. Select the layer that you want to make bigger, then click on corner of the eye/mouth itself and drag to make it bigger. Move the mouth up and move everything closer together, similar to below.

Save your work

7 – Smooth the edges on the eyes and mouth
Turn off all layers except the right eye. Using the Eraser tool, choose a soft brush, set the size to about 20, and bring the hardness right down to 0. Then go around the edge of the eye to soften it. This will help the eye to blend with the skin of the face behind. Repeat this for the other eye and the mouth.

Save your work

8 – Bring it all together.
Turn on all the layers again. Using what you learnt with the clone tool and the eraser tool, continue to carefully blend the parts together.
Pro tip: when blending it is better to make lots of small changes rather than long dragging clicks, this will let you undo (using Ctrl + Z) more easily when you make a mistake.

Save your work

Level 1 - Obama Giant Face (100 pts)
Level 1+ - High Quality (200 pts)
Bonus Round - Another Face (200 pts)

9 – Have a go with your own face or faces of family/friends (make sure they won’t mind)
here to edit.