Gimp Tips

These are some neat techniques I've worked out while using the graphics program known as Gimp. Gimp is a very nice graphics editor. It does a lot of the sort of stuff that Photoshop does, but Gimp is free. I like free.

These techniques are all shown using Gimp 2.4. If you have an earlier version (or if my page has gotten so out of date that there is now a Gimp 3) it shouldn't be too hard to follow along. This is not a tutorial on Gimp. I am assuming that you have a working knowledge of things in Gimp like layers, channels and particularly the curves tool.

Turn a photo into a Journal-style hedcut.

Create a spray painted stencil look.

Turn a picture into a pseudo-comic book panel.

Make a charcoal drawing from a picture.

Create a fiery effect for an image background.

Add water damage to a poster or photo.

A really quick way to make a simplified glass effect.

Wear your images out and make them look old.

Put your own personal stamp on things.

Make some old writing on parchment.

Add a bloom effect to an image.

Create a glassy looking image.

Transform a photograph into something like a woodcut.

Make a photo look like it is a still frame from an 8mm film.

Make a photo look like it was taken back in the forties or fifties.