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GIMP Intermediate

Free GIMP Graphic Design Software

Brian Jackson, Writing, Self-publishing and Marketing an Amazon Kindle eBook and Book with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and KDP

Hi and welcome to my intermediate GIMP course.

Go Beyond the Basics

In this course, we go beyond the basics of producing a simple book cover using the GIMP as introduced in my course "GIMP for Beginners: Design Free Book Covers: Self-publishing". The intermediate course material provided here should propel your GIMP graphics to the next level.  This course represents a grab bag of tips and tricks that every GIMP user should know.  So, take your GIMP skills to the next level with this tips and techniques resources pack for flushing out your graphics toolkit.

Read more

Hi and welcome to my intermediate GIMP course.

Go Beyond the Basics

In this course, we go beyond the basics of producing a simple book cover using the GIMP as introduced in my course "GIMP for Beginners: Design Free Book Covers: Self-publishing". The intermediate course material provided here should propel your GIMP graphics to the next level.  This course represents a grab bag of tips and tricks that every GIMP user should know.  So, take your GIMP skills to the next level with this tips and techniques resources pack for flushing out your graphics toolkit.

Learn Tips and Techniques for Advanced Text Handling

Learn my favorite techniques for formatting text for presentation on the web. Whether it's a book cover, album cover, web graphic, or logo, I'll show you the techniques required to make your images shine.  And of course, there's always colored boxes to consider.

Here, in this intermediate course, I go well beyond the basics to teach you the refined art of GIMP graphics.  Please note that I recommend you possess at least the knowledge in my GIMP book cover course to get the most out of this course.

Send questions and comments to Q&A.  Have fun with the course and keep in touch.

I’ll see you in the classroom,

Brian

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Expand our knowledge of the gimp to produce superior images.
  • Take you book cover creation knowledge to the next level.
  • Learn how to use the gimp to produce a variety of web graphics.

Syllabus

Introduction
Course Overview (2018 Version)
Creating and Saving a GIMP Image for Q&A Project Submittal
How to Watch This Course
Read more
GIMP Setup
Introduction to GIMP Setup
GIMP Installation
Windows 10 Configuration
Make GIMP 2.10 Look Like GIMP 2.8
GIMP Window Layout and Theme Configuration
GIMP Window Layout Reconstruction
GIMP Setup Section Workshop
GIMP Setup Section Project
Conclusion to GIMP Setup
Text and Text Effects
Introduction to Text and Text Effects
Simple Text Configuration
Outlining and Drop Shadows to Make Text Pop
Shadowed Text, Shadowed Boxes and Ghost Writing
Text to Image Effects
Preview: Text Layer Mask Effect
Text and Text Effects Section Workshop
Text and Text Effects Section Project
Conclusion to Text and Text Effects
Layers
Introduction to Layers
Simple Layers
Layer Groups
Layer Opacity and Colorizing a Layer
Layers Section Workshop
Layers Section Project
Conclusion to Layers
Selection
Introduction to Selection
Text Selection
Simple and Color Selection
Adding and Subtracting to and from Selections
Zooming and Lassoing an Image
Selection Section Workshop
Selection Section Project
Conclusion to Selection
Image Manipulation
Introduction to Image Manipulation
Resizing Images
Clone Tool
Conclusion to Image Manipulation
Colored Boxes
Introduction to Colored Boxes
Colored Box Designs
Colored Boxes to Make Text Pop
Simple Gradients and Opacity
Drop Shadows and Outlines
Conclusion to Colored Boxes
Layer Masks
Introduction to Layer Masks
Blending Images Using Layer Masks
Layer Masks and Text
Layer Masks Section Workshop
Conclusion to Layer Masks
Paths
Introduction to Paths
Outlining Text
Circular Text
Text Along a Path
Conclusion to Paths
Intermediate GIMP

Making Your Text Pop!

A discussion of how to blend two layers together using a gradient layer mask and layer opacity.

A really cool colored box effect for making text standout while making the colored box stand out.

How to zoom in close and use the Free Select Tool to select and image.

How to add to and subtract from a color selection.

How to use the logo creator and then pull apart its components to select what we want.

Use the clone tool to remove portions of images and to duplicate others.

Applying filters to an image: your homework assignment, should you choose to accept it, ...

Isolate a colored butterfly, black and white the background, then reapply the colored butterfly in this lesson on how to create a strong visual effect.

Continuing Education

Learn a few really nice techniques for making your texts and boxes pop and for adding an eerie effect with ghost writing.

In this lecture we look at configuring the Toolbox and Layer windows and take a deep dive into the Text Tool Options Dialog.

In this lecture we examine how to write text along a circular path.

A student contacted me wanting to know how to change the color of a pillow in an image to blue, red, yellow ... This lecture shows the use of the Colorizing Tool to change the hue of a layer and how to copy & paste a portion of an image.

In this lecture we use a layer group to group two layers together. A layer group allows you to treat multiple layers as if they were merged while still being able to act on each layer individually.

Pumpkins and Jack-o-Lanterns

In this lecture we'll use layer masks and black and white color gradients to smoothly merge multiple images into one.

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in GIMP Intermediate: Free GIMP Graphic Design Software with these activities:
Review Basic GIMP Concepts
Reinforce your understanding of fundamental GIMP tools and concepts before diving into intermediate techniques. This will help you grasp the more advanced topics covered in the course.
Show steps
  • Review beginner GIMP tutorials on YouTube or the GIMP website.
  • Practice basic image editing tasks like cropping, resizing, and color correction.
  • Familiarize yourself with the GIMP interface and common tools.
Read 'GIMP for Absolute Beginners'
Solidify your understanding of GIMP fundamentals by reading a beginner-friendly book. This will ensure you have a strong base for the intermediate techniques covered in the course.
View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'GIMP for Absolute Beginners'.
  • Read the book, focusing on chapters related to layers, masks, and filters.
  • Practice the techniques described in the book using GIMP.
Text Effect Exercises
Practice creating various text effects using GIMP to master the techniques taught in the 'Text and Text Effects' section. This will improve your proficiency in text manipulation and design.
Show steps
  • Recreate the text effects demonstrated in the 'Text and Text Effects' section.
  • Experiment with different fonts, colors, and shadow styles.
  • Try creating your own unique text effects.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Design a Mock Book Cover
Apply the GIMP techniques learned in the course to design a mock book cover. This will test your ability to integrate various tools and effects to create a visually appealing design.
Show steps
  • Choose a book title and author name.
  • Find or create a suitable background image.
  • Add text elements using the techniques learned in the course.
  • Incorporate colored boxes and other design elements.
Explore 'The Book of GIMP'
Deepen your GIMP knowledge by exploring 'The Book of GIMP'. This comprehensive guide covers a wide range of topics and can serve as a valuable reference for advanced techniques.
View The Book of GIMP: A Complete Guide to Nearly... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'The Book of GIMP'.
  • Browse the book to identify topics of interest or areas where you need more information.
  • Read the relevant chapters and experiment with the techniques described.
Create a Series of Web Graphics
Apply your GIMP skills to create a series of web graphics for a specific purpose, such as social media posts or website banners. This will solidify your understanding of image manipulation and design principles.
Show steps
  • Choose a theme or topic for your web graphics series.
  • Plan the design and layout of each graphic.
  • Create the graphics using GIMP, incorporating the techniques learned in the course.
  • Optimize the graphics for web use.
Portfolio of GIMP Projects
Compile a portfolio of your GIMP projects to showcase your skills and demonstrate your mastery of the techniques learned in the course. This will be a valuable asset for future job applications or freelance work.
Show steps
  • Select your best GIMP projects from the course and your own practice.
  • Write a brief description of each project, highlighting the techniques used and the design goals.
  • Organize your projects into a visually appealing portfolio, either online or in print.
  • Get feedback on your portfolio from other designers or potential clients.

Career center

Learners who complete GIMP Intermediate: Free GIMP Graphic Design Software will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Book Cover Designer
Book cover designers create visually appealing covers that grab the attention of potential readers. This course is very useful for book cover designers, especially those who want to master GIMP. The course builds upon the basics of book cover design using GIMP, offering practical tips and techniques. The syllabus includes in-depth lessons on text handling, image manipulation, and creating visually striking effects, such as ghost writing and shadowed text, all essential for designing effective book covers.
See salaries and explore the career path for Book Cover Designer
Graphic designer
A graphic designer creates visual concepts that communicate ideas and information. This often involves designing layouts, selecting colors and fonts, and working with images. This course may be useful for graphic designers looking to refine their skills with GIMP software. The syllabus includes detailed coverage of text effects, layers management, selection techniques, and image manipulation. The lessons on colored boxes, layer masks, and paths would all be relevant to a graphic designer's work.
See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic designer
Image Editor
Image editors adjust and manipulate digital photographs and other images. This course helps image editors to use GIMP at an intermediate level. The course provides comprehensive lessons on image manipulation, selection techniques, and layer management. Image editors will be able to use GIMP to enhance, retouch, and alter images to meet their needs, with greater confidence.
See salaries and explore the career path for Image Editor
Digital Artist
Digital artists create art using digital tools and software. This course may be particularly beneficial for digital artists who use, or are considering using, GIMP in their workflow. The course explores advanced techniques in GIMP, including layer masks, paths, and image blending. The intermediate GIMP tips and tricks covered in the course are designed to enhance the skills of digital artists, allowing them to produce more sophisticated and visually appealing artwork.
See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Artist
Web Designer
A web designer plans, creates, and codes internet sites and webpages, many of which combine text with sounds, pictures, graphics and video clips. This course may greatly help web designers looking to improve their GIMP abilities. With its coverage of text formatting, colored boxes and logo design, as well as sections dedicated to image manipulation, this course can help web designers enhance their designs. The course also covers techniques for optimizing graphics for the web.
See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer
Logo Designer
Logo designers create visual symbols that represent a company, product, or service. This course may be quite helpful for logo designers seeking to improve their skills with GIMP. The course introduces techniques for advanced text handling and creating graphics for various purposes. This course contains specific lessons on creating and manipulating text, color, and shapes, all of which are vital for effective logo design and can help designers refine their GIMP skillset.
See salaries and explore the career path for Logo Designer
Illustrator
Illustrators create images for books, magazines, websites, and other media. This course can greatly benefit illustrators who want to refine their skills with GIMP, specifically. The course introduces advanced GIMP techniques, including layer masks, paths, and image blending. With its emphasis on practical tips and techniques, the course can help illustrators enhance their graphic design skills and produce more sophisticated and visually appealing illustrations.
See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator
Social Media Manager
Social media managers are responsible for creating engaging content for various social media platforms. This course may be quite valuable for social media managers who want to create visually appealing graphics using GIMP. The course will help social media managers learn how to produce web graphics, format text for presentation, and manipulate images, which are all essential skills for creating compelling social media content. They may find that this course gives them the confidence to showcase their skills to their clients, team lead, or manager.
See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Manager
Marketing Specialist
Marketing specialists often need to create visuals for campaigns and promotions. This course may be beneficial for marketing specialists who want to gain expertise in graphic design using GIMP. The course's tips and techniques for advanced text handling, colored boxes, and image manipulation can help marketing specialists create eye-catching graphics for web and print materials. A better understanding of graphic design can help improve marketing outcomes.
See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Specialist
Presentation Designer
Presentation designers create visually engaging presentations for a variety of purposes. This course may be useful for presentation designers who want to enhance their skills with GIMP. The course provides valuable insights into text effects, image manipulation, and creating visually appealing graphics. With its coverage of colored boxes, drop shadows, and outlining, this course can help presentation designers create more impactful and professional-looking slides.
See salaries and explore the career path for Presentation Designer
Digital Marketing Coordinator
Digital marketing coordinators assist in the execution of digital marketing campaigns. This course may benefit digital marketing coordinators who want to improve their graphic design skills using GIMP. The course will help improve coordinators' abilities to create visually appealing graphics, format text effectively, and manipulate images, which are essential skills for creating compelling digital marketing content. They may develop their knowledge, skills, and abilities.
See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Marketing Coordinator
Multimedia Specialist
Multimedia specialists create and manage multimedia content, including graphics, audio, and video. This course may be valuable for multimedia specialists who want to improve their graphic design skills using GIMP. The course will provide a deeper understanding of image manipulation, text effects, and creating visually appealing graphics. This can help multimedia specialists enhance their multimedia projects with improved visual elements.
See salaries and explore the career path for Multimedia Specialist
Motion Graphics Designer
Motion graphics designers create animated graphics and visual effects for various media. Although this course does not focus on animation, it may be helpful for motion graphics designers who want to enhance their skills in creating still images and graphics using GIMP. The course offers tips and techniques for advanced text handling, colored boxes, and image manipulation. These can provide a foundation for creating visually appealing elements that can be incorporated into motion graphics projects.
See salaries and explore the career path for Motion Graphics Designer
User Interface Designer
User interface designers create the layout and visual elements of software applications and websites. This course can make a user interface designer a more effective one by enhancing skills with GIMP, specifically. The course introduces advanced GIMP techniques, including layer masks, paths, and image blending. With its emphasis on practical tips and techniques, the course can help user interface designers produce more sophisticated and visually appealing interfaces.
See salaries and explore the career path for User Interface Designer
Instructional Designer
Instructional designers create learning materials. An instructional designer enhances the quality of their work with great visuals. Course lessons on text handling, colored boxes, and image manipulation can help instructional designers create eye-catching graphics for web and print materials. This course can help instructional designers create more engaging and effective educational resources. To be an instructional designer, one typically needs a master's degree.
See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in GIMP Intermediate: Free GIMP Graphic Design Software.
Cover image
The Book of GIMP
Save
Comprehensive guide to GIMP, covering a wide range of topics from basic image editing to advanced techniques. It serves as an excellent reference for GIMP users of all levels. It provides more depth and breadth to the course material, making it a valuable resource for those who want to master GIMP. It is commonly used as a textbook in academic settings.
The Book of GIMP: A Complete Guide to Nearly...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Putting Knowledge to Work
Save
Provides a comprehensive introduction to GIMP, covering the basics of image editing, layers, masks, and filters. It's a great resource for those who are new to GIMP or need a refresher on the fundamentals. While not required, it can provide a solid foundation for the intermediate techniques taught in this course. It is particularly helpful for understanding the core concepts before moving on to more advanced topics.
Putting Knowledge to Work
Paperback
Check
Putting Knowledge to Work
Kindle Edition
Check

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Effort
7 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
Brian Jackson, Writing, Self-publishing and Marketing an Amazon Kindle eBook and Book with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and KDP
Language
English
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