Question

Retouching with GIMP - this is how it works

Answer 1

First steps
Remove red eyes
1st step:
2nd step:
3rd step:
4th step:
5th step:
Correct individual blemishes

1st step:
2nd step:
3rd step:
Improve complexion
1st step:
2nd step:
3rd step:
4th step:
Quick guide: remove red eyes
Brief instructions: Correcting individual blemishes
Quick guide: improve skin

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Retouching portraits in the GIMP image editing software is easy and can significantly improve your image. Find out more here..

Have you taken a photo that is still missing a certain finishing touch? You can retouch your pictures with the free image editing program GIMP. Here you can learn more about photo editing and the most useful tools in the program.

• First steps
• Remove red eyes
• Correct individual blemishes
• Improve complexion

First steps

Open the picture in GIMP. Before doing anything else, it's a good idea to duplicate the original image. To do this, right-click in the Layers window and select " Duplicate Layer ." This ensures that you have a copy of the original image to refer to in case something goes wrong with editing (that's the principle of non-destructive editing). Give the layer a meaningful name, then click the eye icon to make it invisible.

Remove red eyes

One of the most common problems encountered in portrait photos is red-eye. Red eyes can make an otherwise beautiful photo look a little choppy, but they're very easy to fix. While it is possible to make this correction manually, the GIMP software includes a convenient filter for this purpose. Follow our step-by-step instructions or take a look at the brief instructions ..

1st step:

Choose the Elliptical Selection tool from the Tool Box. Alternatively, you can use the [E] key to select it directly.

2nd step:

Use the tool to select the area of ​​the iris .

3rd step:

When that's done, open " Filters " at the top , then select " Enhance " and " Remove Red Eye " one after the other .

4th step:

Check the preview to make sure that the filter removes the redness. You can use the threshold to increase or decrease the effect. Then click OK .

5th step:

You should now see that the red eyes have been removed.

Correct individual blemishes

Do you want to remove an annoying pimple from your photo? With GIMP you can remove small flaws very quickly. Follow our step-by-step instructions or take a look at the brief instructions .

1st step:

Select the tool " cloning ". You can also use the [C] key for this.

2nd step:

First you need to hold down the [Ctrl] key and click an area of ​​the image to select your source . Then you can paint elsewhere and replicate that area. This way, you can cover small blemishes with a little clearer skin.

3rd step:

The clone tool is really good at dealing with these kinds of small issues. However, there are a few things to keep in mind if you are to get the best results possible. As you tackle multiple flaws, be sure to keep picking up a new source that matches the tone and lighting of the area you are working with. It is also worth trying different brushes depending on your task , which you can choose on the left.

Improve complexion

If you want to edit more of the image, such as an area of ​​skin, the Heal tool is your best bet. Follow our step-by-step instructions or take a look at the brief instructions ..

1st step:

Select the " Heal " tool from the toolbar . You can also select this with the [H] key .

2nd step:

As with the clone tool, use [Ctrl] and click to set a source .

3rd step:

Now choose a fairly large brush . The more diffuse options are a good choice here as they offer a more nuanced effect. Then start swiping over the area you want to adjust.

4th step:

Experiment a little with the Heal Tool to get a feel for what it does. Although it uses your source as a guide, it is a very different effect from the clone tool in that it does not directly replicate this sample. Of course, it's still a good idea to change the source as you work on new areas to accommodate differences in skin tone and light.

Quick guide: remove red eyes

1. Select the Elliptical Selection tool on the left .
2. Then use the tool to select the area of ​​the iris .
3. Then open the " Filter " category at the top .
4. Then select " Enhance " and " Remove red-eye " one after the other from the menu .
5. By changing the threshold , you can weaken or intensify the effect.
6. Then click OK .

Brief instructions: Correcting individual blemishes

1. Left, select the tool " cloning ".
2. Then hold down [Ctrl] and click an area of ​​the image to select your source that matches the hue and lighting of the area you are working with.
3. Then click the place you want to touch up to them to the source mask .
4. If you want to edit several flaws, be sure to always specify a new source that fits the area to be edited.

Quick guide: improve skin

1. Select the Heal tool on the left .
2. Press [Ctrl] and click an area in the image while holding down the key to specify a source . This source should match the color and exposure you want over the area to be processed.

1. Now select a brush on the left that is a bit scattered . This will give you the best effect.
2. Now click on the areas that you want to improve.
3. Again, it's a good idea to change the source as you work on new areas to accommodate differences in skin tone and light.

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