November 03, 2016

Turn A Photo Into A Collage Of Polaroids In GIMP

In today's tutorial, we are going to learn how to turn a photo into a collage of Polaroids in GIMP . (See a new version and easier for this polaroids tutorial: GIMP Collage of Polaroids Using Layer Mask).

We'll be using the Rectangle Select, the Rotate, the Move Tool and Drop Shadow that comes with GIMP.

Once you have arranged it to your satisfaction, you can play around with other GIMP's tools to add your own artistic effects.

Let's get started!
Turn A Photo Into A Collage Of Polaroids In GIMP
Final result.


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1. Open Image Then Add Alpha Channel
Go to File>Open command in the top menu or else just press Ctrl+O.

The “Open Image” dialog will open.

Navigate to your file and click on its name.

Click the Open button.

Right click on the image's layer you will be working on and then click “add alpha channel”.

For this GIMP Collage tutorial, I'll use this image that I downloaded from Pixabay.
Add an alpha channel so that images can be transparent.
Add an alpha channel so that images can be transparent.

2. Create a New Layer
Use Layer> New Layer or else press keyboard keys Shift+Ctrl+N to create a new layer in an image.

The New Layer window open.

For Layer Fill Type, click Transparency and then click the OK button.
Create a new layer.
Create a new layer.

3. Draw a Rectangle Selection
Select Rectangle Selection Tool from the toolbox or use Tools> Selection Tools> Rectangle Select (R).

Click and drag your mouse to choose a portion of the document.

If you are done, just leave the mouse.

Now, the selected portion of the document has been picked in rectangular shaped.
Rectangle Select tool.
Rectangle Select tool.

Create a selection.
Create a selection.

4. Fill Selection With White Color
Make sure the background color is white by pressing keyboard key D, then go to Edit> Fill with BG color.
Fill the selection with white.
Fill the selection with white.

5. Shrink Selection
Use Select> Shrink, set your shrink value manually or through the up and down arrows and check the “Shrink from image border”.

Click OK to apply.
Create a smaller selection.
Create a smaller selection.

6. Fill Selection With Black Color
Click the background color box, then choose black color.

Go to Edit> Fill with BG color.

Remove the selection by choosing Select> None when you are done.
fill the selection with black.
Fill the selection with black.

7. Rotate Polaroid Layer
Use Tools>Transform Tools>Rotate, a Rotation Information dialog is open. 

Set the angle, center X, and center Y manually or through the up and down arrows. 

Click the Rotate button when you're done.
the Rotate tool.
The Rotate tool.

photo frame rotation.
Photo frame rotation.

8. Adjust Photo Frame Position Using Move Tool
Click the Move Tool icon or else use Tools>Transform Tool>Move and then Click and hold anywhere inside the duplicate rectangle layer and drag to the position you want.
the Move tool.
The Move tool.

click and drag to move the photo frame.
Click and drag to move the photo frame.

9. Duplicate the Polaroid Layer
Please duplicate polaroid layer as many as you want by using Layer> Duplicate Layer.

Then adjust its position using the Move tool and rotate using the Rotate tool.
Duplicate polaroid layer to form a collage.
Duplicate polaroid layer to form a collage.

10. Create Layer For Background
Choose Layer> New Layer. Move this layer to the bottom.
Create a layer for the background.
Create a layer for the background.

11. Duplicate The Image's Layer
Activate the image's layer by clicking on it and then duplicate layer by choosing Layer> Duplicate Layer.

Move the image's layer right on top of one of the duplicate polaroid layer.
Duplicate the photo layer.
Duplicate the photo layer.

12. Create a Selection on Polaroid Transparent Area
Click the Select by Color tool icon.

Click polaroid first layer and then click on an empty area / transparent.
Icon Select by Color tool.
Icon Select by Color tool.

Click on the transparent areas to make the selection. You can click the red arrow.
Click on the transparent areas to make the selection. You can click the red arrow.

13. Remove Selection Area
Click on the images's layer, then delete the selection area by choosing Edit> Clear.
remove the selection area.
Remove the selection area.

14. Create Selection Inside the Frame
Click layer Polaroid.

Click Select by Color Tool icon or by choosing Tools> Selection Tools> By Color Select, then click inside polaroid frame that is black.
Create a part in the selection frame.
Create a part in the selection frame.

15. Remove Selection Area
Choose Edit> Clear to delete the selection area.

Remove the selection by choosing Select> None.
Clear the area of ​​selection.
Clear the area of ​​selection.

16. Merge Down
Merge the photo layer with the polaroid layer.

Click polaroid layer and then choose Layer> Merge Down.
Merge Down.
Merge Down.

17. Add Drop Shadow
Make sure you already use Select>None to remove the selection.

Use Filters> Light and Shadow> Drop Shadow.

You can just leave the default value and then click the OK button.
Add Drop Shadow.
Add Drop Shadow.

Drop Shadow.
Drop Shadow.

18. Repeat Step 11 Until Step 17
Repeat step 11 through 17 for all Polaroid frame.
All Polaroid Frame.
All Polaroid Frame.

19. Add Background
Click the Background Layer and then click the Bucket Fill Tool or by selecting Tools> Paint Tools> Bucket Fill. \

Choose a background color or pattern and then select Edit> Fill with a pattern.
Add Background.
Add Background.

20. Save your document
Use File>Save command in the top menu and name your document.

Click OK when you are done.

Here is the result:
Turn A Photo Into A Collage Of Polaroids In GIMP.
Turn A Photo Into A Collage Of Polaroids In GIMP.

4 comments:

  1. Step 12. What do you mean click on an empty area/transparent?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. sorry for my english. click on outside frame, see the red arrow? click in there

      Delete
  2. Can you make step 12 into a proper sentence so I can keep following the instructions please?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. sorry for my english. click on outside frame, see the red arrow? click in there

      Delete