How to Create a Simple Artwork Using GIMP 2: For Beginners - Essay Example

The tutorial itself does not require any artistic skills. Installation of GIMP onto one’s computer may require certain prerequisites. Once installation is complete, there is no further need for any previous knowledge. However, familiarization with the following terms may prove to be helpful:
Vignette: A portrait whose colors fade around the corners until the borders lose its sharpness.
HTML Notation: A combination of letters and numbers used for expressing a particular color in the form of a code.
Gradient: A tool in GIMP similar to a blending tool that makes harmonious transitions between colors or blends a single color from light to dark and vice versa.
In order to create a digital artwork, you will first need to download GIMP. Once you have downloaded and installed the software on your computer, load the program. The user interface will have an environment as shown below, with the Toolbox and Layers window open.

1. Creating a New Image
To create a new document, go to the File menu and then click New. Alternatively, you can hold Ctrl and N. A dialog box will open, asking you to enter the dimensions of the new image file. For the purpose of this tutorial, we will use an image with the dimensions 500 pixels x 500 pixels (width x height in pixels). Click OK.

2. Creating a Vignette
A vignette in the visual sense is a portrait with essentially faded borders as though the color varies in its shading from the center to the corners of the image. The first step is to choose a color for the vignette. You may choose any color you like but for this tutorial, I will be choosing a shade of red with the HTML notation, db1515. In order to pick a color, that is, change the foreground color, click on the black palette as shown in the image and this will open a dialog box where you will select your desired color or just paste the HTML notation, db1515, in the textbox. Click OK.

Now, fill the image by clicking on the bucket in the Toolbox and clicking on the image. This will color the image red. You will now have to duplicate the layer. To do so, go to the Layers window, and right-click the layer named Background, and choose Duplicate Layer.

Now add a layer mask on the duplicate layer called Background Copy by right-clicking and choosing Add Layer Mask. A dialog box will open. Select Initialize Layer Mask to White (Full Opacity) on the top and hit Add.

Now, change the layer mode of the Background Copy. Do this by first selecting the Background Copy layer. Go to Layer Mode and then choose Multiply. This will slightly darken the color. The next step is to change the foreground color to black again. To do this, click on the black and white boxes below the palette in the Toolbox window. This will change the red and white colors to black and white foreground and background colors respectively.

Now, select the Blend tool in the Toolbox window. In the tools options below, select Radial as Shape and keep the Offset to 60.0. For reference, see the below image.

Now, pull the gradient line vertically from the center to the top in the direction shown in the image below.

And here you go – radial vignette.

3. Adding Text
Adding text is very simple. Select the Text tool shown by an A in the Toolbox window. This will create a text layer. Choose any typeface, font color, and size you want and write your text, say ‘Assignment 5’.
This is the final output.