GIMP Computer Graphics For Kids and Beginners of any Age

Name: GIMP Computer Graphics For Kids and Beginners of any Age
Rating: 4.6 (143 reviews)

Have fun while you master GIMP. Many of Photoshop's capabilities - without the steep price tag!

Highest Rated

Created byVicki Watson

Last updated 8/2021

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Use all the GIMP tools to create a variety of fun and useful graphics projects
The skills acquired will make learning any other graphics software easier.

Course content

16 sections • 77 lectures • 9h 42m total length

Introduction3:55
Explore GIMP for kids and beginners with layers, text tool, and seven selection tools. Create cut-and-paste composites, layer masks, and animated gifs in a self-paced course.
How to Install GIMP on a Windows PC5:30
Course session checklist. Print this pdf to track your progress in the course.
How to Install GIMP on a Mac3:56
Course session checklist. Print this pdf to track your progress in the course.
GIMP Software Overview and Layout10:02
The Begimper level badge and a zip file of sample images for use as needed. On a Mac, double click to extract the images from the zip file. On Windows, right click the file and select Extract All. Specific images will be provided for some lessons within that Lecture topic.
* Check Lecture 70 for toolbar changes in version 2.10.18 if you've updated to that version.

Using the Paintbrush and Saving Files8:02
Create a new blank image and set size to 800x600 or 1024x768, then pick foreground and background colors. Use the paintbrush to draw and save in the FCF format.
Painting an Outlined Image Using Layers12:21
Learn to color an outlined image in GIMP using multiple layers, painting on separate layers with the paintbrush, adjusting layer order, and saving your work to prevent data loss.
Layers, Tigers, and Bears – Oh My!10:34
* Check lecture 72 for the new merge options for layers (version 2.10.18)
Also, it seems in newer versions, The Color/Colorify menu item has been removed. Colors/Colorize will do basically the same thing. Click the color block in the Colorize dialog to tone your image to that color.
Fill a Layer With a Solid Color, Pattern, and Gradient8:20
Fill Rectangular and Circular Shapes With a Solid Color, Pattern, and Gradient8:38
Apply shapes in GIMP using the rectangle select tool, ellipse tool, and lasso tool, then fill with solid color, pattern, or gradient on separate layers for independent edits.

Transform Tools – Flip, Rotate, Scale, Crop9:47
At around the 8:45 mark, I show an option from the Image menu/Autocrop Image. In the most recent versions of GIMP, that has been changed to Crop to Content, also found in the Image menu.
Create a Photo Montage of Multiple Cropped and Scaled Images8:11
Crop to a fixed 800 by 600 ratio to frame subjects, then scale to 800 by 600; start a new 1024 by 768 canvas and arrange cropped images as layers.
How to Export in the JPG, GIF, and PNG Image Formats & When to Use Each11:38

Styling Text - Fonts, Size, Color, Text Modes11:00
Text/Image Project - Text Message Overlaying an Image9:18
Create text over images in GIMP by using separate text layers, choosing colors with the eyedropper, and adjusting opacity or adding tinted rectangles for legibility.
Filling and Outlining Text13:15
All about Fonts10:03
Convert Text to Image and Color It8:34
Text Cutout to Reveal Images Project pt. 18:33
Learn to reveal a collage of kitten photos inside bold text by cutting out letter shapes with alpha selections in GIMP, using layers and image scaling.
Text Cutout to Reveal Images Project pt. 27:30
Master text cutouts by adding alpha channels, moving and layering images, erasing overlaps with a hard brush, adding shadows, cropping, and optionally desaturating to black and white for multiple versions.

Using the Rectangle and Ellipse Select Tools15:53
Using the Lasso Tool, Saving Selections to Channels7:32
Using the Fuzzy and Color Select Tools5:21
Using the Intelligent Scissors Select Tool4:50
Using the Foreground Select Tool4:44
Learn how the foreground select tool in GIMP uses a lasso to rough-select a subject, paint over it to capture shades, then remove the blue background and paste the result.
Scintillating Selections Project7:28

Using the Iwarp Filter7:22
This filter was removed in recent versions of GIMP. It was replaced with the warp transform tool.

From Gimp's release notes:
The new Warp Transform tool allows doing localized transforms like growing or shifting pixels with a soft brush and undo support. Such tools are commonly used in fashion photography for retouching.
As such, the new tool retires the old iWarp filter that was innovative at the time of its inception (and pre-dated Photoshop’s Liquify filter), but was ultimately cumbersome to use. The Warp Transform tool also features an Eraser mode to selectively remove changes, previously unavailable in the iWarp filter.
Creating Animated GIFs6:59

Using Curves and Levels to Correct Over and Under Exposed Photos9:39
Using the Blur and Sharpen Filters10:34
Learn how to sharpen with unsharp mask and adjust radius, threshold, and amount, and apply blur creatively, background blur, motion blur, and drop shadows in GIMP.
Correcting Colors and Using Layer Blending Modes7:50
Adjusting Photos With the Healing Tool, Red Eye, Dodge, Burn, etc.11:48
Using GIMP Filters and File-Create-Patterns14:57
A Closer Look at the Color Selector Dialog15:57

Requirements

You should be able to operate a computer at a basic level, things like running programs and saving files.
GIMP graphics software is required, but free. Video instructions are provided for download and installation.
Sample graphics files are provided, however you may use your own images as well.

Description

Creating computer graphics is fun! It's also a useful skill in today's world. This course uses GIMP, the most powerful and popular FREE graphics software. The tools and concepts covered are common to virtually all graphics programs.

GIMP has many of the same features as Photoshop, but without the price tag! GIMP runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems.

The course is very hands-on. When a skill is demonstrated in the video, students are encouraged to pause the lesson and practice until they can perform the same operation.

The suggested age range is 12 and up, however younger students with good computer skills, or who have the help of someone older, may enjoy the course as well. And certainly, many adults will appreciate the gradual progression and detailed instructions, as well.

** Revised 1/2/21 to include information about new features up to GIMP 2.10.22

Who this course is for:

Students 12 to 13 and up who desire to create computer graphics using the FREE software, GIMP
Beginner adults who might be intimidated by a more rigorous approach to graphics software

GIMP Computer Graphics For Kids and Beginners of any Age

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Getting Started4 lectures • 23min

Layers - the Key to Graphics Success, Painting and Filling5 lectures • 48min

Flipping, Scaling, Rotating, Cropping - Otherwise Known as Image Transformations3 lectures • 30min

Terrific Text7 lectures • 1hr 8min

Super Selection Skills (If using 2.10, view Lecture 57 for slight tool changes)6 lectures • 46min

Iwarp and Animated GIFs2 lectures • 14min

Up to Speed With Quick Masking1 lecture • 6min

Fabulous Photos6 lectures • 1hr 11min

The Mysterious GIMP Layer Mask3 lectures • 29min

GIMPShopping With the Clone Tool1 lecture • 11min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: