The 5 handy tools in the GIMP toolbox

Not only Linux users, but GIMP newbies as well as general users of GIMP will appreciate this article:

For many Linux users, The GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Project) seems to mostly be a tool of mystery and confusion. The biggest reason for this is lack of exposure. Most users that complain about The GIMP’s interface really only need to get to know the interface. I have covered The GIMP a few times here on Ghacks (Check out our GIMP content), but I have yet to break this application down to it’s handiest of tools. And that’s what this article will do…take some of those tools from the toolbox, the ones you should know the most, and help you to become familiar with them.

Some of these tools you might already know, some of them you may not already know, some of them you will be very glad you now know. So, with that said, let’s get our GIMP on!

Remember the “toolbox”

Figure 1

Before we start with the tools, let me remind you where the toolbox is. When The GIMP opens, three windows should appear:

* The Main Window
* The Dockable Dialog Window
* The Toolbox

The Toolbox (see Figure 1) is the window that allows you to pick your tool of choice. In order to select a tool, you only need to click its button. When you do select a tool, the lower pane will change according to the tool you have chosen. By default, the Paintbrush tool is selected.

Now, let’s take a look at those tools you should know the most.

Move tool

Figure 2

The move tool (see icon in Figure 2) allows you to move your selections around on your image. This is one of the most used tools in The GIMP, but often the most overlooked. Most users assume, once you have placed an element on your image, you can just move it around at will. You can, if the move tool is selected.

Technically Speaking, you will have to read more …

Tags: FAQs Help and Tutorials, GIMP, GNU, GNU Image Manipulation Project, Graphics, Image Editing, Linux, Open source