Gimp: Remove The Background And Make It Transparent

gimp workshop
17 Jan 201906:43

TLDRIn this tutorial, viewers are guided through the process of removing the background of an image and making it transparent using GIMP. The steps include opening an image, adding an alpha channel for transparency, selecting the subject with the free select tool, refining the selection, and inverting it to remove the background. Special attention is given to handling tricky areas like hair. The selection is feathered for a natural look, and the image is exported with a PNG extension to preserve transparency. The tutorial concludes with a call to action for viewers to engage with the content.

Takeaways

  • 🖼️ Open the image in GIMP by going to File > Open and select the image.
  • 🔍 If the image doesn't fit in the window, use View > Zoom > Fit Image in Window.
  • 🎨 Add an alpha channel to the layer by going to Layer > Transparency > Add Alpha Channel to allow for transparency.
  • ✂️ Use the Free Select Tool to select the subject of the image by clicking and dragging or clicking node by node.
  • 🔄 Press and hold the mouse wheel to temporarily switch to the Move Tool to reposition the image.
  • 👉 Stay slightly inside the boundaries of the subject when making a selection for a cleaner cut.
  • 💇 Selecting hair can be challenging, but the tutorial will show how to improve the appearance of hair in the image.
  • 🔲 Use the 'subtract from current selection' mode to remove internal areas of the selection.
  • 🌐 Feather the selection by 5 pixels for a softer edge using Select > Feather.
  • ➡️ Invert the selection to target the background instead of the subject by going to Select > Invert.
  • 🗑️ Remove the selected background by going to Edit > Clear to reveal the transparency checkerboard pattern.
  • 🖌️ Use the Smudge Tool with a suitable brush size to smooth the edges of the hair for a more natural look.
  • 🔄 Export the image with transparency as a PNG file by going to File > Export As and selecting PNG as the file type.

Q & A

  • What is the first step to open an image in GIMP?

    -The first step is to go to File in the menu bar, then select Open, and search for the image you want to use.

  • How can you adjust the view of an image that does not fit in the GIMP window?

    -You can adjust the view by going to View, Zoom, and then selecting 'Fit Image in Window'.

  • What does adding an alpha channel to a layer in GIMP do?

    -Adding an alpha channel to a layer allows the layer to have transparency.

  • Which tool is recommended for beginners to select the subject in an image?

    -The Free Select Tool is recommended for beginners to select the subject in an image.

  • How can you deselect the current selection in GIMP?

    -You can deselect the current selection by going to Select and clicking on 'None'.

  • What is the purpose of feathering the selection line in GIMP?

    -Feathering the selection line softens the edges of the selection, making it look more natural.

  • How do you invert the selection in GIMP to target the background instead of the subject?

    -You can invert the selection by going to Select and clicking on 'Invert'.

  • What is the checkerboard pattern in GIMP that indicates transparency?

    -The checkerboard pattern is a visual representation of transparency in GIMP.

  • How do you export an image with transparency from GIMP?

    -To export an image with transparency, you should go to File, then Export As, and ensure the file type is set to PNG to maintain the transparency.

  • Why is the 'Export As' option used instead of 'Save' or 'Save As' when exporting an image with transparency?

    -The 'Export As' option is used because it allows you to choose the file format, which is crucial for maintaining transparency (PNG), whereas 'Save' or 'Save As' may not preserve the alpha channel.

  • What tool in GIMP can be used to improve the natural look of hair edges after removing the background?

    -The Smudge Tool can be used to smudge the edge of the hair and make it look more natural.

  • How do you zoom in on an image in GIMP using the mouse?

    -You can zoom in by holding the Ctrl key and rolling the mouse wheel forward.

Outlines

00:00

🖼️ Background Removal in GIMP

This paragraph outlines the process of removing the background from an image and making it transparent using GIMP. It begins with opening an image in GIMP and adding an alpha channel for transparency. The selection of the subject is done using the free select tool, with tips on selecting intricate details like hair. The selection is refined by subtracting areas that should be removed. Feathering the selection softens the edges for a more natural look. The background is removed by inverting the selection and clearing it, revealing the checkerboard pattern of transparency. The smudge tool is used to improve the appearance of the hair edges. Finally, the image is prepared for viewing by fitting it in the window.

05:10

📤 Exporting a Transparent Image in GIMP

The second paragraph explains the steps to export an image with transparency from GIMP. It emphasizes the need to use 'Export As' instead of 'Save As' to maintain the transparent background. The user is guided to navigate to the destination folder, name the file, and ensure it has a PNG extension, which is crucial for preserving transparency. The process concludes with exporting the image and confirming the operation in the dialog box that appears. The tutorial ends with a prompt for viewers to like and comment, and a thank you note for watching.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Gimp

Gimp is a free and open-source raster graphics editor used for image manipulation and editing, similar to Adobe Photoshop. In the video, Gimp is the primary software tool used to demonstrate how to remove an image's background and make it transparent.

💡Background Removal

Background removal is the process of eliminating the backdrop of an image to isolate the subject. In the context of the video, background removal is the main task, which is achieved by using Gimp's selection tools to make the image's background transparent.

💡Transparency

Transparency in digital imaging refers to the property of an image that allows parts of the underlying layers or background to be visible. The video's goal is to make the removed background area transparent, which is signified by a checkerboard pattern in Gimp.

💡Free Select Tool

The Free Select Tool in Gimp is used to create selections by clicking and dragging the mouse to outline the subject. It is one of the primary tools used in the video to select the image's subject for background removal.

💡Alpha Channel

An Alpha Channel is an additional color channel in an image that specifically holds the transparency information. In the video, adding an Alpha Channel is a crucial step that allows the layer to support transparency.

💡Zoom and Fit Image

Zooming and fitting the image in the window are actions used to adjust the view of the image for better precision during editing. The video instructs viewers to zoom and fit the image to ensure accurate selection and editing.

💡Move Tool

The Move Tool in Gimp is used to reposition the image within the workspace. In the video, the Move Tool is temporarily accessed by holding down the mouse wheel to navigate the image while making selections.

💡Selection Feathering

Selection feathering is the process of softening the edges of a selection to create a more natural transition between the selected area and the rest of the image. The video demonstrates feathering a selection with 5 pixels for a smoother edge.

💡Invert Selection

Inverting a selection means to switch the selected area with the unselected area. In the context of the video, inverting the selection allows the user to target the background for removal instead of the subject.

💡Smudge Tool

The Smudge Tool in Gimp is used to blend or smear the pixels in an image, which is particularly useful for creating a more natural look around the edges of objects like hair. The video shows how to use the Smudge Tool to refine the hair selection.

💡Exporting

Exporting in Gimp refers to the process of saving the edited image in a specific file format. The video emphasizes exporting the image as a PNG to retain the transparency, which is a critical step in the finalization of the image editing process.

Highlights

Tutorial teaches how to remove the background from an image and make it transparent using Gimp.

Open Gimp and navigate to File > Open to select and open the image.

Use the 'fit image in window' view option for better visibility if the image is too large.

Add an alpha channel to the layer to enable transparency.

Select the subject of the image using the free select tool for precision.

Hold Ctrl and zoom in for a closer look while making selections.

Use the backspace key to undo nodes and refine the selection.

Switch between the free select tool and the move tool by pressing and holding the mouse wheel.

Stay inside the boundaries of the subject when making a selection for a clean cut.

Selecting hair can be challenging, but the tutorial will show how to improve the result.

Connect the last node to the first to complete the selection and press enter or double-click.

Subtract from the current selection to remove internal areas that should be transparent.

Feather the selection by 5 pixels for a softer, more natural edge.

Invert the selection to target the background for removal.

Clear the selected background to reveal the checkerboard pattern of transparency.

Deselect the selection to prepare for further editing.

Use the smudge tool with an appropriate brush size to smooth out the hair edges.

Export the image with a PNG extension to maintain transparency.

Navigate to File > Export As to save the image with the desired format and name.

Ensure to select PNG as the file type to preserve the transparency of the image.