The free Photoshop alternative Gimp (GNU Image Manipulation Program) has become under Windows a serious photography program for the refinement of recordings of all kinds. Above all, the improvements in the operation and a plus in terms of speed is due to the fact that the open-source image processing on the Windows PC is now absolutely recommended for optimizing and retouching photos, for color corrections and for image processing for the web – and we Give the best tips to Gimp.
Tip 1: Getting Started
Gimp does not need to hide behind the big role models, although the focus is mainly on the semiprofessional image processing: automatic corrections, control possibilities for all relevant image and exposure parameters, good selection and masking tools, layers, color channels, filters and a wide range Command rejection.
Tip 2: Load image for editing
Download now: Gimp - Download
Tip 3: Straightening straightening the image
Gimp does not follow the usual Windows conventions and works with a program interface distributed over several windows. The acclimatization succeeds however easily. Unlike previous Gimp versions, there is a real main window as well as various tool and palette windows. This makes the software clear. Toolbar and pallets are not docked to the main window, but designed as separate windows, which can be moved as desired.
Tip 4: Optimize Exposure
As a clever comfort function, you can access all menu commands not only from the menu bar at the top of the image processing window, but also from the context menu by right-clicking on the work area. The fly-out menus provide additional convenience: By right-clicking, all submenu items in the context menu can be opened with a left-click on the dashed line as a freely-scrollable window.
Use the File / Open command to load an arbitrary image - alternatively create an empty document using File / New or use the File / Create / Clipboard to insert a photo from the clipboard. Gimp creates a desktop snapshot using File / Get / Capture, and File / Create / Scanner / Camera imports a creative.
The tool window is called Gimp Toolbox and contains icons for all tools and menu commands for file access and configuration. At the bottom of the window you will see the settings for the currently active tool. When the icons are crossed with the mouse, information about the respective tool is displayed, as well as the hotkey with which the respective function can be activated via the keyboard. Below the individual tools you see two rectangles for foreground and background color selection.
Photoshop vs. Gimp in the big duel
An important function is the inconspicuous small triangle, which is displayed approximately in the center at the right edge of the tool window. This allows you to customize the window according to your needs, change the display style, dock items, or reset the tools.
Image processing in Gimp is particularly important because it allows you to customize the view. Use either the magnifying glass tool, or set a specific magnification factor under View / Zoom. The quickest way to zoom is using the mouse wheel while holding down the Ctrl key.
Especially with snapshots, it can happen that the camera has not held straight. This causes the image to be skewed. To straighten an oblique image, select Tools / Transformations / Rotate. Hold down the left mouse button and move the photo to the right position by moving the mouse.
The embedded grid helps. Alternatively, you can set the correction angle in the Rotate window using the slider. You can accept the change by clicking on Rotate.
Using the Perspective function from the Transformation menu, you can remove a picture that is often caused by falling lines, especially in the case of architecture photos. They are caused by the angle of view of the camera pointing upwards. Gimp again displays a grid, with the corners of which you can crop the motif. You can use the tools / transformations / trimming to remove any image margins that may be visible through the corrections. Drag a frame around the creative and click the image. The trimming function also makes good use of the selection of a new motif.
Tip 5: Remove color stitch
Some recordings are too dark, too light, or have too little contrast. The exposure of such images is subsequently optimized rapidly in Gimp. For the best results, you can use a tonal value correction using the Tools / Color / Values command. Gimp displays a new window with numerous operating elements. The histogram is important: it shows you which brightness levels the photo file will use at all. From the diagram, you can see the distribution of the different tonal values of all colors. They are displayed on the left, starting with the darkest areas (black) in the picture right up to the bright areas (white) on the far right of the histogram. An optimally recorded photo includes the widest possible range of tonal values.
If your photo does not use the possible tonal range, the histogram will show only a small or no ridge at the left or at the far right. That is, corresponding dark or bright image areas do not appear in the picture at all. To change this, adjust the distribution of tonal values using the three arrows below the histogram.
Start with the dark areas: Move the left arrowhead a little, and watch the effects in the preview. Depending on the position of the arrow, the dark spots in the photo are darkened or brightened. Then, move the right arrow tip slightly to the left for the bright tones in the image, which increases the contrast. With the middle arrow, you influence the brightness distribution of the shot as a whole - the main work is, however, with the other two arrows. You accept the changes with OK.
Depending on the light situation during recording, some cameras emphasize certain colors. Thereby the photos have a color stitch, which can easily be corrected in Gimp. For this purpose, a series of color adjustment functions are available in the Colors menu. The best results are provided by the color balance: Depending on the motif, the slide mixers vary the color mixing. Either you handle the entire photo or only a certain brightness range. For area, specify whether Gimp should change the colors in the dark (shadow), middle (middle), or bright (bright) areas. Move the sliders underneath until you are satisfied with the result. Then go to.
No comments:
Post a Comment