How To Create Fisheye Effect in GIMP

In this tutorial, we are going to learn how to create a Fisheye effect using Ellipse Select Tool and Lens Distortion filter that comes with GIMP.

A Fisheye lens is a wide-angle lens with a convex shape capable of capturing images with an angle of 180 degrees so that it can produce images with a distorted circular shape. This type of lens was developed by Nikon in 1935. 

Final result.

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For this GIMP tutorial, I'll use this image, 384566.

Step 1: Draw Circle Selection

After opening your base image in GIMP, grab the Ellipse Select Tool from the toolbox or use Tools> Selection Tools> Ellipse Select (E). 

In the tools options tab, check “Fixed aspect ratio” to keep the circle selection doesn't distort. You can enter value 30 for Feather edges Radius to get a smooth selection.

Click and drag your mouse to choose a portion of the document. Just leave the mouse when you are done. You should see a dotted line or marching ants outline the selection. Now, the selected portion of the document, in a circle, has been picked or selected. If you want to move the selection, click anywhere inside the selection and then drag to the position you want.

Step 2: Invert Selection

Use Select>Invert to inverts the circle selection in the current layer. 

Now all of the layer contents which were previously outside of the circle selection are now inside it.

Step 3: Fill Selection With Black

Use Tools>Default colors or press D to reset the foreground/background color to default. 

Now fill the selection with black by going to Edit>Fill with FG color. 

Now black color fills the active layer selection.

Step 4: Invert Selection Again

Use Select> Invert to invert the selection. Now the circle portion of the document selected.

Step 5: Apply Spherize Filter

Use Filters> Distorts> Spherize. Check “Preview”, set the settings until you’re happy with the result. Click OK when you’re done. 

The Spherize filter applied.

Use Select>None to remove the selection.

Step 6: Crop Image

Use Image>Crop to Content. The image gets cropped now.

There you have it! How To Create Fisheye Effect in GIMP

Step 7: Save it

Use File>Save (or Ctrl+S) to save your project file. Navigate to the folder where you want to store your project file. Type a name in the Name text box and leave the default GIMP (*.XCF) format. XCF is GIMP's native format and is useful because it stores everything about your image and will allow you to later edit your image in GIMP, in case you notice a problem. Click Save to store the project file.

Step 8: Export Image to JPG

Once you have finished, you will probably also want to export the image in a more widely used format, such as JPEG, PNG, TIFF, etc. Use File>Export As... Type a name and its extension like .jpg then click Export.

More on GIMP Tutorials:

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• Sharpen an Image in GIMP (High Pass Filter)
• Create  Blueprint Effect in GIMP
• Selective coloring in GIMP