Changing the background and using textures with GIMP 2.6

[tingeliM]

I've noticed that there aren't that many tutorials or Before/Afters here for GIMP users, so I thought I might contribute with the little I know about it.

Ok, something a bit more complicated this time, let's hope I'll do clear enough job in explaining everything.
This might be a little over the top but it's a good way to learn changing background and using textures.

BEFORE



First I used the scissors tool and cut the dog out of the photo.

When using the scissors you crop the wanted part of the image by marking its outlines with the dots.

First you can outline the wanted part just roughly and when you're done, you can start putting the lines into more detailed places.
That's done by dragging the little dots where you want them. You can add more dots by clicking the place on the outline where you want it.

From the tool settings you should check all the boxes and set the edge smoothing somewhere around 15 (the edge won't be so sharp).
That was a good number for me, you should experiment with it to see the alternatives.

When I was done outlining the dog, I cut it out of the image.

I opened a texture that I wanted as a background and I pasted the dog on it and scaled it to a proper size.

• When scaling the picture, I tend to use just my mouse and drag the pic from the corners. Sometimes it ends up being mostly out of the screen, so I use the moving tool (the 12th tool from the top, little cross looking thing) to move the pic back on the screen and then scale more if needed.Then I pressed the little button with an anchor on it from the bottom of the layer tab to make the floating dog a part of the texture layer.

Then I started adding the textures:

• First I created a new layer (transparent).

• Then I opened the texture I wanted (I have bunch of textures saved on my computer from Flickr).

• I selected the texture layer and copied it (ctrl+C).

• Then I went back to the dog window and selected the new layer and then added the texture (ctrl+V).

• I scaled it to the same size as the rest of the image.

• Then pressed the anchor button - The texture is a part of the new layer now.

• Then I set the layer mode (be sure you've selected the new layer where the texture is) - This is a thing you should experiment to see which one's perfect for you. And even if some mode makes the layer cover the image, remember that there's the opacity 'handle' that can really make a difference.

• Then I just adjusted the texture to my liking.

I added two textures with snow in them, so I repeated this two times.

When I was done with that, I used two brushes that I'd found from deviantArt.com (just put 'gimp brushes' into the search box and you'll find all kinds of cool brushes there), the text and the birds to add little details into the image.

And this is where I ended up:

AFTER


Please feel free to ask help if you try this and have some problems. I'll be more than happy to help! ^^

[skm.sa100]

Hi Milla, good to see a fellow gimper.
This is an interesting post and I'll try to use the scissors tool. I was put off with it reading the "Grokking the Gimp" book.
I think this could be a useful technique. However, the end result looks like an obvious cut and paste. IMHO, a well done post processing should be subtle and not seem so obvious that it's been PP'd.
And cutting out this dog from the picture is a task for the very brave. Given his outline, it's a pretty challenging task.I haven't contributed much yet, but am offering criticism.
Hope you don't mind.

Regards,
Sasi

[Palladius]

a well done post processing should be subtle and not seem so obvious that it's been PP'd

While that's certainly generally true, I wouldn't go so far as to state it as a rule. I think it depends what the point of the photo is, and sometimes I think post-processing can be an end in its own right, rather than simply a means to achieve your end.

For instance, this is isn't even nearly subtle, but I think in this case it's the PP that delivers what effect there is, rather than the photo itself.

[tingeliM]

Originally Posted by skm.sa100

Hi Milla, good to see a fellow gimper.
This is an interesting post and I'll try to use the scissors tool. I was put off with it reading the "Grokking the Gimp" book.
I think this could be a useful technique. However, the end result looks like an obvious cut and paste. IMHO, a well done post processing should be subtle and not seem so obvious that it's been PP'd.
And cutting out this dog from the picture is a task for the very brave. Given his outline, it's a pretty challenging task.I haven't contributed much yet, but am offering criticism.
Hope you don't mind.

Regards,
Sasi

I don't mind criticism at all. ^^ You are entitled to your opinion.
However, I do know my result image is a little over the top in its obviosity but I'm still with Palladius in this one. If you take a look at my previous work, you can soon see that I'm one of those people who don't necessarily even want to go for a realistic look with their PP. I just use what I got to its fullest potential and like the fact that I can go beyond my camera functions in creating beautiful images (that obviously divide the opinions a little more).

Thank you for your input and maybe you could also write new GIMP-tutorials or Before/Afters sometime. I have noticed that there are lots of people who are starting with this program and can't find much help from this forum. ^^

[skm.sa100]

That's the *other* use of PP that I should've mentioned. There's a post by babans about City Night Life which is terrific. The PP is hardly subtle but it creates a dramatic result. I agree about this.
Yes, as I improve my gimp skills, I hope to come up with a few of my own trick which others might like. My interest in The Gimp is specifically regarding photo retouching and I've found precious few tutorials about that online, unfortunately.
Sashi