How to Fill Shapes with Images in GIMP

 

In this tutorial, we'll walk you through the process of filling shapes with images using GIMP, a popular open-source image editing software. Whether you're a beginner or have some experience with GIMP, this guide will help you create visually appealing designs by filling shapes with images.

Step 1: Create a New Image

1. Open GIMP on your computer.
2. Navigate to the File menu and select New to create a new image.
3. Set the image dimensions to a width of 1920 pixels and a height of 1080 pixels.
4. Press OK to create the new image.
5. To get a better view, press the minus key (-) on your keyboard to zoom out.

Step 2: Add an Alpha Channel

1. In the Layers panel, right-click on the existing layer and choose Add Alpha Channel. This will allow you to work with transparency in your image.

Step 3: Import an SVG File

1. Now, you’ll need to import an image file. If you have an SVG file, simply drag it into your GIMP workspace.
2. The SVG file will be added as a new layer. You can resize the image by clicking on the width field, typing "/2" to halve its size, and pressing Enter.

Step 4: Prepare the Background

1. Right-click on the SVG layer and select Alpha to Selection to create a selection around the shape.
2. Hide the SVG image layer by clicking the eye icon next to it in the Layers panel.
3. Select the background layer and press the Delete key on your keyboard. This will remove the selected area from the background layer, making it transparent.
4. Go to Select > None to remove the selection.

Step 5: Import Additional Images

1. Now, you'll need to import additional images that will fill the shape.
2. Open the folder containing your images and drag them into the GIMP workspace.
3. For each image, resize it to 100 pixels in width and height by entering 100 in the respective fields and pressing Enter.
4. Repeat this process for all the images you want to use.

Step 6: Arrange the Images

1. Use the Move Tool to arrange the imported images on the canvas.
2. Make sure the images are positioned over the transparent areas of the background layer.

Step 7: Apply the G'MIC Filter

1. With the background layer selected, go to Filters > G'MIC-Qt.
2. Scroll down to the Patterns section and select Back Sprites.
3. Adjust the number of scales to 10 and keep the angle setting as is.
4. Reduce the spacing to -7.
5. Ensure that the mask is set to the bottom layer, the input layers option is set to All, and the output mode is set to New Layer.
6. Press OK to apply the filter. This might take a few moments to process.

Step 8: Adjust the Background Color

1. Hide all the layers except for the background layer.
2. To change the background color, right-click on the background layer and select Alpha to Selection.
3. Choose a new color, such as pink, from the color picker, and press OK.
4. Go to Select > None to remove the selection.
5. Press the plus key (+) to zoom in and check for any transparency issues. If there are any, press the minus key (-) to zoom out.

Step 9: Add a New Layer

1. Create a new layer by clicking on the New Layer icon and set it to Transparency.
2. Place this layer beneath the pink background layer.
3. Change the color of this new layer to orange by selecting it from the color picker and filling the layer with it.

Step 10: Finalize the Design

1. Right-click on the topmost layer and select New from Visible. This will create a final composite layer.
2. Your shape filled with images is now complete!

Watch the Tutorial

For a more detailed walkthrough, check out our YouTube video below. This video provides a visual guide to Convert Images to Outlines in GIMP.

Conclusion

That's it! You've successfully filled a shape with images in GIMP using the G'MIC filter. This technique is great for creating unique and eye-catching designs. Experiment with different images and shapes to see what creative results you can achieve. Thanks for following along, and until next time, happy editing!

Image Link 1: Click Me

Image Link 2: Click Me 

Image Link 3: Click Me 

Image Link 4: Click Me 

Image Link 5: Click Me 

Image Link 6: Click Me 

Image Link 7: Click Me

Download GIMP: Click Me

Download G'MIC: Click Me