August 19, 2015

Using GIMP To Put An Image Inside Text

Learn how to create stunning text effects by placing images inside text using GIMP. This tutorial will guide you step by step using the Text Tool, Move Tool, and Scale Tool within GIMP to achieve this eye-catching effect. Enhance your design skills and make your text stand out with this easy-to-follow tutorial.

Let's get started!
Using GIMP To Put An Image Inside Text
Final result.




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Step 1: Open Image in GIMP
Use File>Open... command in the top menu or else just press Ctrl+O to open your image. The Open Image dialog appears, allowing you to navigate to the file and click on its name. Navigate through your folders in the Places panel and the Name panel until your images' name appears in the Name panel. Click the image you want to open. When an image file is selected, we can view the preview of the image file at the right-hand side of the box, although it's not easy to find an image based on a thumbnail. Click the Open button.

For this GIMP tutorial, I'll use this image, 1869774, downloaded from Pixabay.
Image used in this tutorial.

Step 2: Create a New Layer
Use Layer> New Layer or press Shift+Ctrl+N to create a new layer. The New Layer window open. Type a name in the Layer Name text box and choose White in the Fill with drop-down menu. Click OK. 
A new, empty layer, added to the layer stack of the image, just above the active layer.

A new, empty layer, added to the layer stack of the image, just above the active layer.
The New Layer dialog box.

Step 3: Select the Text Tool
To places text into an image we need to use the Text tool. Select the Text Tool from the toolbox by clicking the tool icon or else use Tools>Text
Select the Text Tool.

In the Text Tool Options dialog, you can choose the Font type, the font color, and the Font size.
Choose the Font type, the font color, and the Font size.

Step 4: Type the Text On Document
Click on any portion in the image, where you would like to create the text. 
Click on any portion in the image, where you would like to create the text.

Then enter the text on the canvas. Your text will appears on the canvas in a rectangular frame. If you need to move the text on canvas, you have to select the Move tool and click on a character to drag the frame and its text.
Type the text on the canvas. Your text will appears on the canvas in a rectangular frame.

Step 5: Resize The Text
We'll use the Scale Tool to adjust the size of the text. Select the Scale Tool from the toolbox by clicking the tool icon or else use Tools>Transform Tools>Scale
The Scale Tool.

Click on the Text. The Scale dialog box appears. Here, you can set Width and Height you want to give to the text or you can just drag handles in the text. Click the Scale button when you're done.
Click on the Text . The Scale dialog box appears.

Step 6: Add Alpha Channel
In case you want an image inside text with transparent background, select the image’s layer then add transparency by going to Layer>Transparency>Add Alpha Channel. An alpha channel represents the transparency of the image. This way, we can make the background transparent.
Add Alpha Channel to the image’s layer.

Step 7: Load Text Selection then Invert
Select the Text layer then load selection by choosing Layer>Transparency>Alpha to Selection. You'll see marching ants around your text. GIMP loads selection outlines that correspond to the shape of your text. 

Now you have the selection on the text. Use Select>Invert (Ctrl+I) to invert the selection. All of the layer contents which were previously outside of the selection are now inside it.
Load text selection then Invert Selection.

Step 8: Delete everything in the current selection
Select the image’s layer by clicking on it in the Layers dialog. 
Select the image’s layer by clicking on it in the Layers dialog.

Use Edit>Clear or else just press the Delete key to delete everything in the current selection. 
Delete everything in the current selection.

Use Select>None to remove the selection.
Use Select>None to remove the selection.

Step 9: Adjust Text On Canvas
Select the image’s layer on the Layers dialog. 
Select the image’s layer on the Layers dialog.

Select the Move Tool from the toolbox by clicking the tool icon or else use Tools>Transform Tools>Move
The Move Tool.

Just click and drag on any portion of the text. The image gets moved as you move the cursor.
Just click and drag on any portion of the image.

Step 10: Duplicate the Image’s Layer for Reflection
Make sure the image’s layer is selected by clicking on it in the Layers dialog. Duplicate layer by going to Layer>Duplicate Layer (Shift+Ctrl+D). Rename the duplicate layer like “reflection”.
Duplicate layer by going to Layer>Duplicate Layer (Shift+Ctrl+D).

Step 11: Add Canvas Size If you need to
To add the Canvas size, use Image>Canvas Size. Enter a new value for the height then click Resize.
Add Canvas Size.

Step 12: Flip Vertical the Reflection’s Layer
Grab the Flip Tool from the Tools dialog or use Tools>Tranform Tools>Flip
The Flip Tool.

Click the Tool Options tab then choose vertical.
Click the Tool Options tab then choose vertical.

Make sure the reflection layer is selected. 
Make sure the reflection layer is selected.

Flip the image by clicking on it.
Flip the image by clicking on it.

Step 13: Move the reflection layer below the original image
Using the Move tool, click and drag to move the reflection layer below the original image.
Move the reflection layer below the original image.

Step 14: Add a Layer Mask to the Reflection Layer
Now add Layer Mask to the Reflection Layer. Click on the reflection layer to make sure it's selected then click the Add layer mask button at the bottom of the Layers dialog or else you can choose Layer>Mask>Add Layer Mask. Choose White (Full Opacity). 
Choose Layer>Mask>Add Layer Mask.

A white layer mask thumbnail appears on the reflection layer, revealing everything on that layer.
A white layer mask thumbnail appears on the reflection layer.

Step 15: Apply Gradient on the Reflection layer
Select the Gradient Tool from the Tools dialog, or else just press G
The Gradient Tool.

Choose FG to BG in the Tool options dialog. Make sure the layer mask thumbnail is selected by clicking on it. Reset Foreground/background color to default by pressing D
Choose FG to BG in the Tool options dialog.

Drag the mouse in the document window to create a reflection effect.
Drag the mouse in the document window to create a reflection effect.

Step 16: Add Gaussian Blur
Use Filters>Blur>Gaussian Blur to add blur to the reflection layer. The Gaussian Blur dialog appears. Enter a value for the SizeX and SizeY through the up and down arrows. 

If you're not happy with the result, you can quickly undo a step at any time by going to Edit>Undo or else just pressing Ctrl+Z

Experiment with different values and discover values that work best for your image. Once you are satisfied with the result, click "OK" to apply it to the image.
Add Gaussian Blur.

Step 17: Apply Shear Transformation
Grab the Shear Tool from the Toolbox then click on the image. 
The Shear Tool.

Drag the mouse on the image horizontally or vertically to distort the image. Click the Shear Button.
Drag the mouse on the image horizontally or vertically to distort the image.

Move it using the Move Tool.
Move it using the Move Tool.

Here is the result:
Using GIMP To Put An Image Inside Text

Step 18: Save Your Document
At last, use File>Save command in the top menu or else just press Ctrl+S to save your project file. The Save Image dialog box appears. 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 19: Export Result 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.

15 comments:

  1. step 5 to 6 dont make sense there is no choose layer. you need to explain it more

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Make sure the Text layer is selected by clicking on it.

      Delete
  2. Great help to me . I was literally spending my entire life trying to do this . Thank you so much for this blog.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you so so much

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hey there. Thanks so much for this. Would you now know how to give that text a transparent background without losing the image inside the text?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. See step 2. Create a new transparent layer instead of white layer. Fill With "Transparency"

      Delete
  5. The part where I select the white color layer and press delete did NOT work for me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Select the white layer on the layers dialog.

      Delete
    2. Hi, I messed up that part also. If you Delete or use trash can on Layers dock, it will delete whole layer. You want to use the menu bar Edit> Clear. That just takes off the ants letter area without removing entire layer. Cool

      Delete