Step 2.4 GIMP Crib Sheet v0.4

Blended Learning Essentials: Developing Digital Skills
Crib Sheet: Tools for photo manipulation
Creating content digitally often involves creating, editing and sharing photographs. Mobile phones are
often the device used to take photos but they can be edited using a range of tools. For example:
GIMP https://www.gimp.org/
GIMP is an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed program for
editing photos by retouching, image composition and image authoring. It has much of the same
functionality as Adobe Photoshop but is free to use.
The GIMP website contains a range of tutorials to help you and your learners become familiar with
the tool. https://www.gimp.org/tutorials/
These tutorials range from quite basic image editing to more advanced tasks, such as creating a
black and white image from a colour image. Some of the useful basic functions include:
 Resizing an image. For if your image is part of another asset such as a poster, infographic, or
images for a website.
 Changing the file size. File size of images can be very large, and reducing the file size can
increase the speed of emailing an image, or even make it possible to email. It can also reduce
Crib Sheet created for Blended Learning Essentials, funded by Ufi Charitable Trust, by Bronwen Swinnerton (University of Leeds). This work is licensed
under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ .
requirements for storage and processor requirements, particularly useful for mobile phones
and tablets which tend to have a smaller storage capacity than laptops and PCs.
 Cropping images. For when you don’t need the whole image: to reduce borders for example,
or for aesthetic reasons.
 Rotating or flipping an image. For when the image was created in an orientation which is
different from that which is needed.
The tutorials for these functions are very easy to follow and consist of step-by-step instructions.
YouTube has many videos relating to GIMP. Some show more advanced but creative and fun effects
that can be developed using GIMP. An example is:
Smoke effect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvGTWmkGx7Q
There are many others which you can look for on YouTube such as creating cartoons, images with
reflections, animated gifs or adding text to images or ask your learners to find interesting uses for
GIMP.
How can GIMP be used in learning and teaching?

GIMP can be used in any activity which involves images, and editing images. Its range of functionality
means it can be used by learners at a very basic level and for the more advanced. It can be used to
change the colours in an image, using ‘Curves’, adding layers to alter the image’s transparency, or
using Automate editing to use GIMP Python for a workflow, and to create many different effects for
images and text.
Within the Vocational Education and Training sector, possible uses of GIMP for image editing that
could be adapted to your own educational context are:
 Many apprentices use e-portfolios and a good way to evidence their work is through the use
of photographs. Editing these images will make the e-portfolio look more professional and be
focused on exactly what the apprentice wants to show
 Art and design students may work in the area of photography and want to use a variety of
apps to edit their images in creative ways
 Hairdressing and beauty learners might wish to take photographs of their work to place on
apps such as Instagram and Pinterest in order to advertise their skills to gain work. GIMP can
be used to enhance photos by using a wide range of different effects which this sector may
find very useful.
 Marketing students may well find GIMP useful to create images which combine photographs
and text for marketing/branding activities.
Crib Sheet created for Blended Learning Essentials, funded by Ufi Charitable Trust, by Bronwen Swinnerton (University of Leeds). This work is licensed
under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ .

Step 2.4 GIMP Crib Sheet v0.4

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Step 2.4 GIMP Crib Sheet v0.4

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Step 2.4 GIMP Crib Sheet v0.4

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Blended Learning Essentials: Developing Digital Skills

Crib Sheet: Tools for photo manipulation

How can GIMP be used in learning and teaching?

You might also like