Gimp is a free open source software that you can download and install on Windows, Macintosh or Linux. We are learning how to use the software for editing and improving photos.

This class contains 4 sessions, one session per week.

Session 1 (1/4/2010)

In this session we will learn how to retouch photos. We will cleanup a blemish on a photo using the clone tool and the healing tool. On another photo we will remove a traffic sign from a photo with the same tools.

Session 2 (1/11/2010)

In this session you will learn how to create a seamless image from a photo. We will use tow different photos, one will be easy to make a seamless image, the other is more complicated. We will use layer offset and the clone tool edit the first photo. We will then using the rectangle selection tool along with copy/paste and the image-transformation menu to build the seamless image.

Session 3 (1/18/2010)

In this session you will learn how to isolate an object from the background using the path tool. We will also use the select tool to feather and invert a selection. We will also add transparency (alpha channel) to the image to isolate the object on a transparent background.

Session 4 (1/25/2010)

In this session we will work with layers in Gimp. Layers are very useful to make changes to an image that we may need to adapt or remove later without destroying the original image. In this workshop we will create a fancy button from scratch with a nice glow-effect and a text label.

We will learn about layers, using gradients, using the text tool and applying a drop shadow on the text.

Prerequisites:
You need to have Gimp (at least Version 2.6) installed on your computer and you must be able to run it along with the live classroom so that you can follow the class while you are working on your image.

To download Gimp, visit the website http://www.gimp.org/downloads/