Discovering The GIMP

Installation

Getting started

Colour selection

Perspective correction

Cloning an image

Step by step: editing an image

Colour selection

The GIMP selection tools are similar to those in most graphics software. Use the Select hand-drawn regions tool to select around an irregular shape and the Select by regions by colour tool to select based on colour under the cursor. This tool includes a tolerance setting to specify how much colour is selected - the higher the tolerance the more image is selected. It also works a little differently than you might expect as it selects all areas displaying that colour in the image not just those which are adjacent to the selected area.

Like most other graphics software you can add to a selection by pressing the Shift key as you select another area or remove an area from a selection by holding the Control key as you select the area to remove. You can combine selection tools and make a hand drawn selection then add a regular rectangle to it, for example. The crop tool looks different to those you're probably familiar with but it's simple to understand and use.