GIMP: Chapter 3: Layers

Name:

Nicole Atterberry

Student Number:

X00105576

GIMP: Chapter 3: Layers

PART 1: READ Chapter 3, pages 67-69, and 95-102 in the GIMP book, then:

1. Answer all questions below, briefly but completely.
2. Change the color of the answer to BLUE.
3. Copy this information and paste in a new post in your DIGITAL GRAPHICS blog.

1.     What is a layer? Multiple images combined in “layers” to form a single image.

2.     Why is transparency important when using layers? It allows you to put part of one image on top of another, allowing top image to visible and still see next layer through transparency, where image is not opaque.

3.     Why would you use layers when creating images? You have more control when it comes to editing your image.

LAYERS DIALOG BOX: The following refers to informationon pages 95-102 in the book. Open GIMP and look at the LAYERS DIALOG BOX while you read these pages. NOTE: If the LAYERS box is not open, open it by WINDOWSàRECENTLY CLOSED DOCKSàLAYERS, CHANELS, PATHS. The LAYERS box is the tab with what looks like several sheets of white paper (see Figure 3-31 on page 96).

Describe the purpose of each of the following LAYERS properties in the LAYERS dialog box.

1.     Opacity: Changes the opacity, creating a wide range of effects including translucent and shadowing effects as well.

2.     Keep Transparent: Labeled as “lock,” is a reminder that an area around image that appears checkered is transparent and that you are not able to right or draw in that area unless you uncheck.

3.     Visibility Eye: Allows you to make layers either visible or invisible.

4.     Chain Link: Appears when several layers are linked together, which makes it easier to move or transform any one layer and have it work on  all layers linked to it.

5.     Layer Mask: Controls which part of the layer is visible, whether it is white and visible or black and transparent. It is another way of representing transparency.

6.     Raise and Lower Buttons: Allows you to adjust the order of the layers, moving them up or down or even drag layer in to place.

7.     Duplicate: This feature creates a new layer that is exactly like the active layer, or any layer you drag onto the button.

8.     Delete: You can delete the active layer or drag any layer to over the delete button and it will delete that layer.

Describe the purpose of each of the following LAYERS context menu (menu appears when you right-click on a layer)

1.     Layer Boundary Size: Every layer has a size, this feature allows you to adjust the size of your layer.

2.     Layer to Image Size: Usually after increasing a image’s size, you will use this feature to make the layer as large as the whole image.

3.     Add Alpha Channel (be sure to describe what ALPHA means): “Alpha”meaning transparency, allows this feature to make a layer transparent, erasing creates areas of transparency instead of white.

4.     Alpha to Selection: Alpha to selection, selects everything in current layer that is not transparent.

5.     Merge or Flatten: These are two different features for ways of combining multiple layers into one. Merging retains invisible layers and flattened merges only visible layers and deletes invisible layers; example jpeg.

PART 2: GIMP PROJECTS: Be sure to save these images in your GIMP folder before inserting them in this document.

1.     Go to the web site for this book: http://gimpbook.com 2.     Look through the menus on the left to see the supplemental information provided for you about the book. 3.     Click on the PHOTOS FROM THE BOOK link, and scroll down to see the images for Chapter 3. 4.     Click on the Goblin Valley image, then right-click and select SAVE IMAGE AS. Save the image in your GIMP folder. 5.     Click on the Mars from the Hubble image, then right-click and select SAVE IMAGE AS. Save the image in your GIMP folder. 6.     Click on the yellow airplane image (the fifth image in the image list), then right-click and select SAVE IMAGE AS. Save the image in your GIMP folder. 7.     Create a new image by following the instructions on pages 69 (from “Using Layers to Add Text”) through 95. Through this exercise, you will learn to add text to an image, change text colors, add a drop shadow to text, link layers together, and add images to other images. 8.     After you have completed the image displayed on page 94, add the yellow airplane to the image in an appropriate place. 9.     When the image is complete, save as JPG file and insert here: