USING "GIMP"

EDIT AN OBJECT IN A PHOTO

OBJECTIVE AND DESIRED RESULT:

You can use the free graphics software application called "GIMP" to edit/modify an object in a photo file.

TACTICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCEDURE:

Start the GIMP software application.

Save the photo file as an *.xcf file.

Close the GIMP software application.

Start the GIMP software application.

Open the *.xcf file.

The original photo will reside in a layer called "Background".

Create a blank new layer.

Name this new layer "Real Background".

Make the "Real Background" layer the bottom-most layer.

Create a blank new layer.

Name it "Object".

Make the "Object" layer the top-most layer.

Make the "Background" layer active.

Use the "Path Tool" to select the object that you wish to modify.

Cut the selected object.

Copy the selected object to the "Object" layer.

Make the top-most "Object" layer hidden.

Make the middle ("Background") layer active.

Use the "Clone Tool" to fill in the area where the object used to reside.

Make the top-most layer visible.

Make the "Object" layer active.

Use the "Move Tool" to move the object around.

Use the "Rotate Tool" to rotate the object.

STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE:

Step 1:

Use the right mouse button to create a new folder called "Photo Project 1" on the "Desktop":

Step 2:

Place a copy of the original photo file that you wish to edit inside the new "Photo Project 1" folder:

Step 3:

Start "GIMP":

Step 4:

Open a "Windows Explorer" window or go to the "Desktop" and drag the original photo into the main window of GIMP:

Step 5:

The original photo file will be displayed in the main window of GIMP:

Step 6:

Click on "File" in the "Menu bar" of the main window of GIMP.

Step 7:

Click on "Save As.." in the pull-down menu.

Step 8:

A "Save Image" box will be displayed:

Step 9:

Use the backspace key to delete the

jpg

in the file name in the "Name" field near the top of the "Save Image" box:

Step 10:

Do not delete the period.

Type in

xcf

Step 11:

Click on the "Save" button of the "Save Image" box:

Step 12:

Close the all of the main "GIMP" windows by clicking on the "X" button near it's upper right-hand corner. You will probably have two or more "GIMP" windows to close.

Step 13:

At this point, no "GIMP" windows should be shown on the gray windows "Task bar". If you find any down there, close them also with a right-click of your mouse:

Step 14:

Also at this point, you will have two files in your "Photo Project 1" folder:

It will contain the original photo file and an .xcf version of it:

Step 15:

Start "GIMP":

Step 16:

Open a "Windows Explorer" window or go the "Desktop" and drag the xcf file that you created in "Step 11" into the main window of GIMP:

Step 17:

From this point on, you will be editing the xcf version of the original photo file which will be displayed as follows:

Step 18:

Click on "Layer" in the "Menu bar" of the main Window of GIMP:

Step 19:

Click on "New Layer..". in the pull-down menu.

Step 20:

A "New Layer" box will be displayed:

Step 21:

Change the name of this layer from "New Layer" to "Real Background":

Step 22:

Click on the "OK" button of the "New Layer" box.

Step 23:

Using the keyboard, press

right Ctrl + L

(The L is a lower-case character.)

Step 24:

A "Layers" box will be displayed:

Step 25:

Make sure that the "Real Background" layer is highlighted.

If it is not highlighted, click on it:

Step 26:

Click once on the downward-pointing arrow button at the bottom of the "Layers" box:

Step 27:

The "Real Background" layer should now be below the "Background" layer:

Step 28:

Click on the "Background" layer to make it active:

Step 29:

Go back to the main "GIMP window":

Step 30:

Use the "Paths Tool" to select the object that you wish to modify:

Step 31:

Click on "Select" in the "Menu bar" of the main Window of GIMP.

Step 32:

Click on "From Path" in the pull-down menu.

Step 33:

Click on "Edit" in the "Menu bar" in the main Window of GIMP.

Step 34

Click on "Cut" in the pull-down menu.

Step 35:

The object that you "cut" should now show as a white area:

Step 36:

Click on "Layer" in the "Menu bar":

Step 37:

Click on 'New Layer" in the pull-down menu:

Step 38:

A "New Layer" box will be displayed:

Step 39:

Change the "Layer name" from "Real Background" to "Object" (or the give this layer a name that describes the object that you wish to modify, i.e. "Sailor kissing nurse".).

Step 40:

Click on the "OK" button of the "New Layer" box.

Step 41:

Go to the "Layers" box. (Press right Ctrl + L if you do not see it.)

Step 42:

Make sure that the Object layer is the top-most layer.

(If it is not, use the "Upward-pointing Arrow" button to raise it there.)

Step 43:

Click on the "Object" layer to highlight it:

Step 44:

Click on the "Eyeball" of the "Background" layer to make the "Eyeball" of the "Background" layer disappear:

Step 45:

Click on the "Eyeball" of the "Real Background" layer to make it disappear:

Step 46:

Go back to the main "GIMP" window:

Step 47:

Click on "Edit".

Step 48:

Click on "Paste":

Step 49:

The desired object should now be displayed on a checkered background, as follows:

Step 50:

Go to the "Layers" box. (Press right Ctrl + L if you do not see it.):

A new layer called "Floating Selection (Pasted Layer)" will now be the top-most layer:

Step 51:

Make sure that this "Floating Selection (Pasted Layer)" layer is highlighted.

If it is not highlighted, click on it to highlight it:

Step 52:

Make sure that the "Floating Selection (Pasted Layer)" layer has an "Eyeball".

If it does not have an "Eyeball", click on it's "Eyeball area" until a "Eyeball" is displayed:

Step 53:

Go back to the main GIMP window:

Step 54:

Click on "Layer" on the "Menu bar":

Step 55:

Click on "Anchor Layer" on the pull-down menu:

Step 56:

Go back to the "Layers" box. (Press right Ctrl + L if you do not see it.):

Step 57:

Note that "Floating Selection (Pasted Layer)" layer is no longer present.

It has merged into the "Object" layer.

Step 58:

Restore the "Eyeball" of the "Background" layer:

Step 59:

Make sure that the "Object" layer is highlighted.

If it is not highlighted, click on it to highlight it.

Step 60:

Go back to the main "GIMP" window:

Step 61

Use the "Move" tool move the object (Sailor kissing nurse) to the right and out of the way since you will soon need to do some editing in the white area where the object used to be.