GIMP 2.10 Masterclass: From Beginner to Pro Photo Editing

In this lecture, I define layers as well as show you how to create your first layer in a composition in GIMP. This lecture is partially a review for those of you who watched the GIMP Layout lectures at the beginning of this course.

In this lecture I cover the concept of Layer Transparency, including how to add an alpha channel to a layer and how alpha channels help you stack multiple images on top of one another.

The next concept I'll cover for layers is the layer stacking order. I show you how to change the layer stacking order, and how transparency plays a roll in displaying contents on a layer.

In this lecture I cover layer and canvas boundaries, including how to change the size of your layers and canvas. I also show you how to display pixels outside you canvas.

Next up I take an in-depth look at all the features found inside the Layers panel.

Alas, it is time to cover the very important topic of Layer Masks! This lecture, which introduces you to the popular feature, shows you how to add a layer mask to your layers.

Now that you have a basic understanding of layer masks, I'll show you how they can be used to create effects in your compositions - especially when using multiple layers.

The next step in developing your layer mask knowledge is understanding how gradient masks can be used on layer masks to create dynamic areas of transparency and opacity. I show you how to combine the Gradient tool with the layer mask concepts you've learned up to this point.

The Layer Context Menu contains many additional options for Layer Masks in GIMP. Understanding this menu can help give you more control over your layer masks, making them easy to edit, to temporarily show/hide, or to delete or edit your masks. Mast the Layer Context Menu for Layer Masks with this lecture.

In this lecture, I explain all 7 of the layer mask types found in the Add Layer Mask dialogue when creating new layer masks. You'll finally understand what all of those layer mask options are for!

In this lecture, I cover the concept of layer groups - including how to add layer masks to layer groups, and how to create nested layer groups.

In this lecture, I provide an introduction to creating a new layer in GIMP using the Create New Image and Create New Layer dialogues.

In this lecture, which is "Part 2" in my explanation of the Create New Layer dialogue, I go over the concept of Composite Modes. These modes include "Union," "Clip to Layer," "Clip to Backdrop," and "Intersection."

In this lecture, which is "Part 3" in my explanation of the Create New Layer dialogue, I explain the Opacity slider for making your new layer transparent or opaque, as well as the Size options for changing your layer width and height.

In this lecture, which is "Part 4" in my explanation of the Create New Layer Dialogue, I explain how to offset your new layer from the origin of your composition (the top left corner) using the Offset options.

Take an in-depth look at the first tool in GIMP's toolbox - and the tool you'll most commonly use when working in GIMP.

Learn how to align and distribute layers using GIMP's alignment tool!

Before diving into the various selection tools in GIMP, it's helpful to understand how selections work. I cover the basics of selection areas in this lecture.

Take a deeper dive into selection areas with this advanced tutorial! I cover the more technical side of selection areas to help you better understand them.

In this lecture, I show you how to draw rectangles and squares in GIMP using the Rectangle Select Tool. I also cover the Tool Options for this tool - including some review material discussed in the previous "Advanced Selection Areas" lecture (though with some additional information).

This lecture takes an in-depth look at the Ellipse Select tool found in GIMP. I also explain how key modifiers work with this and other selection tools.

Learn the ins and outs of the Free Select tool for freehand drawing selection areas. I cover the tool options for this tool, as well as shortcuts and key modifiers to enhance the tool's features and speed up your workflow.

The Scissors Select tool allow you to "intelligently" select edge details, objects or subjects in an image. I show you how this tool works in GIMP!

Learn how to use GIMP's most powerful smart selection tool, the Foreground Select Tool! This tool allows you to quickly circle and paint a foreground subject or object and use an algorithm to create an accurate selection around that subject. This tool is great for erasing backgrounds or singling out a subject to edit.

Select "contiguous" regions of color in your images using the Fuzzy Select tool - which I cover in-depth, along with its various tool options, in this lecture. This is originally for my GIMP Masterclass and is ad- and self-promotion free.

This tool is similar to the Fuzzy Select tool with some minor differences. Learn about the Select by Color tool and its tool options!

In this Paths Tool lecture, I cover the all-important Paths Tool in-depth for beginners. If you aren't super familiar with this tool, which is sometimes referred to as the Curves Tool or Pen Tool, you'll enjoy this deep dive geared to help you learn every aspect of the tool.

In this Part 2 of my premium Paths tool introduction, I cover various details about the Paths tab, the icons at the bottom of the dialogue, and how to work with multiple paths on your composition.

In this lecture I show you how to fill and stroke paths using both the Tool Options and Paths tab. You can use solid colors or patterns to paint along your paths, as well as solid or dashes lines. There are tons of design options with this Paths tool feature!

Time to get into some more advanced concepts for the Paths tool! In this lecture, I show you how to outline a subject in a photo using the Paths tool. You can then erase the background around your subject, or add styling to the photo by adding a stroke or editing the area outside the subject.

In this lecture, I go over how to crop your image into a circle shape using the ellipse select tool. I also show you how to align your image using the align tool.

Though there are many different Transform Tools found in GIMP, these tools have many features in common. To start off this section, I'll take a look at the Transform Modes and Directions found in the Tool Options for the Transform Tools in the first Transform Tool Group.

Though there are many different Transform Tools found in GIMP, these tools have many features in common. In this next lecture, I'll take a look at the Interpolation and Clipping found in the Tool Options for the Transform Tools in the first Transform Tool Group.

Though there are many different Transform Tools found in GIMP, these tools have many features in common. In this next lecture, I'll take a look at the Image Preview and Guides options found in the Tool Options for the Transform Tools.

In this first lecture of my 4 part series on the Scale tool, I introduce you to all the various features and functions of this tool and show you around the Tool Options.

In this lecture, I show you practical examples for using the scale tool while working in a multi-layer composition in GIMP.

In this lecture I provide a comparison between the Scale Tool and Crop Tool when it comes to changing the aspect ratio of your image.

In the 4th and final installment of the Scale Tool lecture series, I show you how the Scale Tool can be used to scale your entire composition - or simply scale an image.

Learn the Shear Tool for transforming elements in GIMP by shifting the sides of the element in opposite directions. Learn how to use this tool, plus decode its Tool Options and settings.

In this lecture, I take an in-depth look at the Flip Tool from GIMP's Transform Tools.

In this lecture, I take an in-depth look at GIMP's Perspective transform tool. This tool allows you to place 2D items along a 3D plane.

Take an in-depth look at the popular and powerful 3D Transform Tool for creating 3-dimensional transformations with objects and text!

In this lecture I take an in-depth look at the VERY unique Handle Transform tool. This tool allows you to place up to 4 handles on your image or layer, and perform various transformations depending on how many handles are active.

In this lecture I discuss the versatile Unified Transform Tool, which contains multiple GIMP transform tools in a single tool.

The Cage Transform Tool can be a powerful tool for those who properly know how to use it. This tool allows you to separate an area of an image with line segments and nodes, which will then transform those areas of the image as you move the nodes to new locations. This is a great way to make transformations to objects or people within the image.

This lecture covers another powerful tool that was introduced with GIMP 2.10. That is the Warp Transform tool, which allows you to warp pixels of your image in a variety of ways (i.e. enlarge, shift, shrink, etc.). This tool is definitely worth experimenting with!

Learn how to transform multiple layers simultaneously using GIMP's "Transform Lock" feature in this tutorial!

In this lecture, I provide a brief introduction to the Text Tool, which I will cover in more depth in future lectures. This is a great starting point for beginners who want to get acquainted with this commonly used GIMP 2.10 tool.

This lecture provides an introduction to the text box, as well as the two different styles of text box (dynamic vs. fixed) where you will be typing and editing your text.

Text layers are an important concept when it comes to creating text as they differentiate from regular layers in GIMP. In this lecture, I help you understand what makes text layers different and how not to get confused when trying edit or work with them.

There are a wide variety of things you can do to edit your text using the Tool Options, and I go through each of those things in this lecture line by line. It's time you finally knew what all of those fancy settings were for!

The text tool box is similar to the Tool Options, though there are some slight differences between the two that are good to know (to save you hours of frustration). I cover editing your text using the floating tool box in this lecture.

Right clicking on your text box brings up the Text Context Menu, which opens up a whole new world of possible text settings and effects. I explain each of the menu options in this lecture and demonstrate what they do to your text.

There are plenty of cool effects you can add to your text - including the very useful drop shadow. I show you how to add effects to your text in this lecture, while also covering any other features I have found to be important to know about the text tool that weren't already covered in this section.

This lecture puts a spotlight on the Bucket Fill tool - a crucial paint tool found in GIMP that allows you to fill in selection areas or entire layers. Aside from solid colors, you can also fill areas with patterns or apply effects before filling in an area.

The gradient tool (formally known as the blend tool) allows you to use two or more colors to create a blending of colors using a variety of blend modes. GIMP 2.10 comes standard with the Live Gradient feature, which allows you to make adjustments to your gradient on the canvas prior to applying the changes. Take a look at this tool in this lecture.

The pencil tool, which is the first of the brush tools, can be used to draw pixels that do not need or should not have any fuzzy edges or anti-aliasing. This is the perfect tool for pixel art!

The paintbrush tool is one of the most important features in GIMP, and certainly one of the most commonly used. In this lecture, I provide an introduction to this versatile tool - showing off some of its powerful and practical features.

The next brush tool is one that removes pixels from your image moreso than draws them. I am talking, of course, about the eraser tool. There is also a hidden feature - the unerase feature - that allows you to bring pixels back once you've erased them. Get more familiar with this tool in this GIMP 2.10 lecture.

This lecture covers the airbrush tool - a widely used brush tool made famous (and in some cases infamous) by high-fashion photo editors and magazines. From a technical standpoint, this tool is used to paint soft areas of color, including skin complexions of your subjects.

The ink tool allows you to emulate drawing with an ink pen to create a "signature" look. Learn how to use the ink tool in this lecture.

The MyPaint Brush Tool is a set of artistic brushes that were added to GIMP 2.10 to give artists more choices when it comes to brush types. I provide an introduction into this feature with this lecture, showing you how to access the many brushes it comes with and how to adjust its settings.

This lecture covers the Clone Tool, which is used to clone pixel areas in your image and paint them to a new destination area. Learn the ins and outs of this tool to clone out objects in your image for photo manipulation.

Like the Clone Tool, the Heal Tool allows you to clone pixel areas from a source area and paint them on a destination area. However, this tool is a bit more sophisticated and advanced in that it uses an algorithm to use surrounding pixels from the destination area to create a better, more blended result. See this tool in action in this GIMP 2.10 lecture.

The Perspective Clone Tool works in the same way as the Clone Tool, though it also has the built-in capability of allowing you to change the perspective of the destination area where you are painting in order to match the source area's perspective to the destination area. This is great for cloning photos or areas with different perspectives.

This lecture covers the Blur/Sharpen Tool, which allows you to blur or sharpen a pixel area using any of the brush heads found in GIMP. This is perfect for when you want to blur or sharpen a particular area without creating the effect over the entire image.

This lecture covers two separate tools - the Smudge Tool, which allows you to blend neighboring pixels together as you paint to create a "smudged" effect, and the Dodge/Burn Tool. The Dodge/Burn Tool allows you to lighten or darken the pixel areas you paint with a brush head, allowing you to perform tasks such as contouring a model's complexion or adding highlights and shadows.

In this lecture, I go over three tools found in the GIMP Toolbox - including the Eyedropper tool (i.e. Color Picker), Zoom Tool, and Measure Tool. I also show you how to use the new "straighten" feature within the Measure Tool that was released as a new feature in GIMP 2.10.