GIMP Tutorial: Simple Gaussian Blur Behind Text Effect

GIMP TEXT TUTORIAL FOR BEGINNERS: SIMPLE BLUR BEHIND TEXT

     This is a simple effect you can do in GIMP to make your text pop out a little more from the background. There are plenty of ways to make your text stand out more, such as adding a drop shadow or a border. But this is a more subtle method using gaussian blur - and it's very easy, too. After learning this effect, you can experiment and try things like adding a glow to your text or creating motion.

 Step 1: Open GIMP and create an image whatever size you want. I made mine at 1000 x 1000 pixels, 200 ppi for this tutorial. Fill the background with black.

Step 2: Next, select a medium-blue foreground color (mine is 00008F code). Select the Blend Tool and set the gradient to "FG to Transparent," with a "radial" shape. Put your cursor directly in the middle of the canvas, hold down your mouse button and drag and release at the edge. You should now have a round blue shape like this:

Step 3: Now go to Layer -> New Layer and add a transparent layer. Make the foreground color white and use your text tool to add your words to the design. I used Arial Bold, size 70, centered. When you have your text the way you want it, select Layer -> Merge Down so it becomes part of the transparent layer:

Step 4: Right click on your text layer in the toolbox and click "Alpha to Selection." Now go to Layer -> New Layer and make a new transparent layer. Use the Bucket Fill tool to "Fill Whole Selection" with black (code 000000). Now go to Select -> None. It should look like you have black text now. Move this new layer below the white text layer (your text should look white again).

Step 5: With the black text layer selected, go to Filters -> Blur -> Gaussian Blur. Set the blur radius (horizontal and vertical) to about 40. You now have a slight black blur behind your white text, making it pop out a little more. NOTE: Depending on your image and text size and font, you'll have to experiment with how much blur you want.

Step 6: If you want to make it pop out even more, simply right-click on the blurred layer and select "Duplicate Layer." I duplicated it a couple times:

Step 7: Now you can merge your layers together for the final image. Doing this simple effect can really make your text pop out from the background, while also being subtle. Experiment with different color variations. Do a dark text with a white Gaussian blur behind it. Try lessening the opacity of the blur for an even more subtle effect and experiment with different amounts. See what happens when you change the layer mode.
The final image:

That's it! Here are a few more examples. Red text on a red background becomes visible without having a harsh outline. Adding a subtle white blur behind text on a lighter image makes the text more legible. The dark blur behind the text on the right makes it easier to read against the camouflage pattern. 

This is a very simple technique to learn, but it makes your designs look more polished.

Have fun using GIMP!

-MK
On Zazzle
On Amazon

All images copyright MK Hess

Creepy GIMP Tutorials from Around the Web

SOME COOL, SCARY GIMP TUTORIALS FOR YOU TO DO

I've been teaching myself how to use the free graphic design program, GIMP, over the last couple of years. Every time I think I have a good grasp of its capabilities, I stumble across something new to learn - and have to refresh my memory on something I've forgotten. During that time, I've bookmarked quite a few GIMP tutorials from across the internet. The kind people who wrote all those tutorials have really helped me understand the program. I thought I'd give links to some of them here, for you to try. Here are a few of my favorite creepy ones to get you started (although, I recommend playing around with GIMP and doing basic tutorials first, so the steps are easier):

1. Ghost in the Forest. I loved following this one. I hope you have fun with it, too!

2. How to Use GIMP to Make a Girl Look Cold and Scary. This one is very fun and it teaches you a lot of neat GIMP features. Plus, when you're done, you'll have a picture of yourself or a friend that's sure to frighten everyone.

3. How to Make a Zombie Using GIMP. This is one of the first ones I did and I loved doing it, too.

4. Or, if you just want a zombie hand, try this one: Creepy Zombie Hand of Death. I followed a few of the steps - with some variation - when I made the hand on my book cover.

5. If you're looking for a good scary text effect, I recommend this rusted text tutorial.

Thanks to all the kind people who wrote these wonderful tutorials! I hope you have as much fun with them as I did.

-MK
on Zazzle
on Amazon

GIMP Tutorial Lesson 3: Patterns

HOW TO MAKE SEAMLESS PATTERNS IN 9 STEPS

      Seamless patterns are patterns that repeat indefinitely when they're tiled side by side. So, if you have a square pattern and you surround it in copies of itself, the elements will match up. Since January, I've been experimenting with GIMP to learn how to make these patterns, so I thought I'd add a tutorial to the blog. If you want more help, you can visit here, here, here and here for more information.

     I'm going to demonstrate with a very simple polka dot pattern:

HOW-TO TUESDAY: GIMP Tutorial Lesson 2: Text Color Gradients

     Last week, I showed you how to do a basic drop shadow effect using the free graphic design software, GIMP. This week, I'm going to build on that same tutorial and show how to add some color and interest to the text using the gradient tool.

HOW-TO TUESDAY: GIMP Tutorial Lesson 1: Making a Basic Text Shadow Effect

     If you're looking for great, free graphic design software, try GIMP (the GNU Image Manipulation Program). I've been using it for a couple years and love it. Any new software can be confusing at first, though. Basic tutorials will help familiarize you with the tools offered. I'm planning on doing a series of simple tutorials here, aimed at the first-time user. I'm gearing them toward writers because so many self-published writers make their own book covers now, but I hope they'll be useful for anyone. If you still need help or want to learn more advanced functions - from much more expert users - there are plenty of communities out there. Here are a couple good ones: Gimptalk / Gimpusers . And the GimpForums.

                     Lesson One: Making Basic Text and Learning to Add a Drop Shadow