How to Remove Dark Circles Under the Eyes Using GIMP

Dark circles under the eyes can be a challenge in photos, often making you look tired or unwell. Fortunately, with GIMP, a free and powerful image editing software, you can easily remove dark circles and enhance your portraits. In this tutorial, I'll show you how to effectively remove dark circles under the eyes in GIMP, step by step.

Step 1: Open Your Image in GIMP

Start by opening the image you want to edit in GIMP. For this tutorial, we'll use a sample image, and the link to download it is provided in the description box.

Step 2: Crop the Image

To focus on the face, you’ll want to crop the image. Select the Crop Tool from the toolbox. Adjust the crop area to only include the face, then press Enter to apply the crop. Next, go to Image > Crop to Content to crop the canvas to the layer.

Step 3: Duplicate the Layer

Now, duplicate the layer by clicking on the Duplicate Layer icon in the Layers panel. This will create a backup layer and allow you to make non-destructive edits.

Step 4: Desaturate the Layer

With the new layer selected, go to Colors > Desaturate to remove all colors from the layer, turning it into grayscale. Adjust the scale slider to zero, then press OK.

Step 5: Apply High Pass Filter

Go to Filters > Enhance > High Pass. In the High Pass window, press the + key on your keyboard to zoom in on the area under the eyes. Adjust the contrast until you can clearly see the texture of the skin. Once satisfied, press OK.

Step 6: Set Layer Mode to Overlay

Change the layer mode to Overlay by selecting it from the dropdown menu in the Layers panel. This step enhances the skin texture and reduces the visibility of the dark circles.

Step 7: Create a Transparent Layer

Create a new transparent layer by clicking on the New Layer icon, selecting Transparency, and then pressing OK. Place this layer between the original and the high-pass layer.

Step 8: Use the Airbrush Tool

Select the Airbrush Tool and set the hardness and force to around 10 and 11, respectively. Sample a color from the skin using Ctrl + left-click, then gently paint over the dark circles on the transparent layer. This helps to blend the dark areas with the surrounding skin.

Step 9: Fine-Tune the Painting

Continue sampling and painting until you achieve a smooth blend under the eyes. You can hide the transparent layer to compare the before and after effects. Use Ctrl + Z to undo any mistakes.

Step 10: Apply a Layer Mask

Once satisfied, right-click on the transparent layer and select Alpha to Selection. Then, right-click on the high-pass layer and choose Add Layer Mask. Ensure Selection is checked, and press Add. This will apply the layer mask, keeping the high-pass effect only on the painted areas.

Step 11: Merge and Finalize

Remove the selection by going to Select > None. Then, create a new layer from visible by right-clicking in the Layers panel and choosing New from Visible. Finally, hide or delete the other layers to reveal your final image.

Watch the Tutorial

For a more detailed walkthrough, check out our YouTube video below. This video provides a visual guide to Remove Dark Circles Under the Eyes Using GIMP.

Conclusion

With these steps, you’ve successfully removed dark circles under the eyes using GIMP, resulting in a more refreshed and vibrant look. Whether you’re touching up a professional headshot or enhancing a personal photo, these techniques are sure to come in handy. Thanks for following along, and until next time, happy editing!

 

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Feel free to ask any questions or leave a comment below. Happy designing!