tutorials

Here I offer simple, step-by-step tutorials complete with images to show you how I make graphics in GIMP.

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making an icon

This tutorial teaches you how I make my icons. Credit is greatly appreciated, but not required. Enjoy!

Program: GIMP

Difficulty: Fairly easy

Final product:

1★

	Step 1 This is the image I'm going to use. I found it on deviantART, then resized it with the resizing tool.
	Step 2 See how the image is a bit blurry after resizing? Duplicate the image layer. Then go up to Filters » Enhance » Sharpen to sharpen the image.
	Step 3 A window should pop up. Increase the sharpness until you feel that the image is sharp and crisp enough, then click OK.
	Step 4 Now, duplicate that image layer a few times, and set them to different modes like overlay and screen. I've labeled my layers for reference. Mess around with the opacities until you like how it looks. This is what I ended up with.
	Step 5 Lastly, add some textures! I usually use textures of Swimchick or Nienke. The Lunch Box has a great texture mini-guide. Your textures should enhance your image, but don't add too many or distort the image.
	Optional: Step 6 For many icons, they look better without text. Text for an icon is optional. If you do want to add text, however, make sure it's not very bold or eye-catching. The icon should capture the moment and beauty of the image, and text is just there as a small accompaniment. I usually make icon text small and simple. For this one, I used Times New Roman, set the mode to Overlay, and duplicated the layer for readability.

text effects - part 1

This tutorial teaches you how to add simple text effects: a border and drop shadow. Credit is greatly appreciated, but not required. Enjoy!

Program: GIMP

Difficulty: Easy

Final product:

0★

	Step 1 Open up a blank canvas. It doesn't matter what size you make it, since you can always crop it at the end.
	Step 2 Using the Text tool, choose a font, color, and size, then type the text you want. When you're finished with that, make a new layer and move it under the text layer.
	Step 4 Right click on the text layer and click Alpha to Selection. There should now be lines running around your text.
	Step 4 Go up to Select » Grow. A window should pop up. Input how many pixels you want your text border to be, then click Ok.
	Step 5 On the layer under the text layer, fill your selection with the paint bucket tool with white (or any color you want). I've made the white background invisible in the screenshot so you can see the border.
	Step 6 In this step it's time to add a drop shadow. Go up to Filters » Light and Shadow » Drop Shadow, and a window should pop up. I like to have the offsets at 0, but it's your choice. Don't make the blur radius to big, or it will make your sign look ugly and low-quality.
	Step 7 Lastly, adjust the opacity of the drop shadow. Too big or too dark shadows makes the sign unprofessional and low-quality. I usually set the opacity between 20 and 30. Congrats, you've just learned how to do basic text effects!