PDF download Download Article
A step-by-step guide to creating more layers in GIMP
PDF download Download Article

The GNU Image Manipulation Program (commonly referred to as "GIMP") is a free and open source image editing application. The software is full-featured, allowing both basic and intricate changes to be made to digital images. Like the popular image editing application Adobe Photoshop, GIMP allows the user to construct images in multiple layers. Each layer consists of 3 color channels and an alpha channel that governs transparency. In this way, images can be composed of "stacked" layers that each contain a small piece of the overall image, such as a line of text. Learning how to add layers in GIMP is essential to being able to use the program to its full potential.

  1. Do this by navigating to GIMP's icon in the Windows Start menu or clicking on its desktop shortcut. On Mac OS X, double-click on GIMP's icon in the "Applications" folder.
  2. To do this, click on the "File" menu on the application's task bar, and then click "New." A dialog box will appear that will ask you to specify the dimensions of the new image. Specify them as desired, and then click "OK" to create the image.
    Advertisement
  3. To manage the layers of the image you are working with, you must use the Layers dock. By default, this dock is open and located on the far right side of the application's window. If it is not open, click on "Windows" on the main task bar and select "Dockable Dialogs." Select "Layers" from the menu that appears.
    • By default, new images are created with a single layer called "Background." You should see this layer listed in the Layers dock.
  4. This can either be done by clicking the small "New Layer" icon in the Layers dock, or by selecting "New Layer" from the "Layer" menu on the task bar. Either option will generate a dialog box asking you to specify the layer's name, size and color. Note that all of these characteristics can be changed later. Click "OK" to add the layer.
  5. By placing each bit of your image's content on a separate layer, you can move or edit these bits of content independently of one another; this is why layers are so useful. To do this, select the desired layer first by clicking on its name in the Layers dock. Then, add the content (text, gradient, et cetera) to the main workspace. The content will then be associated with that layer.
  6. The order of your layers is important. For example, if a completely opaque layer is covering another layer, the lower layer will not be visible at all. To reorder your image's layers, click on their names in the Layers dock and drag them to a different spot in the list. Layers at the top of the list will appear in the foreground of your image, while layers at the bottom make up the background.
  7. Advertisement


Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How can I copy and paste layers in Gimp?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    While you have the layer selected, press ctr+c to copy and ctr+v to paste. Alternately, from the menubar, select Edit > Copy. There is also a "duplicate" function accessible under the layer menu or by right clicking on the layers dialog.
  • Question
    Where can I find the creation hub?
    KHIZAR KHURSHEED
    KHIZAR KHURSHEED
    Community Answer
    The term "creation hub" can refer to different platforms or tools depending on the context in which you are looking for it. The Creation Hub on Instagram can be found within the app itself, often as part of the "Create" section where users can make and edit posts, stories, reels, and IGTV videos. YouTube's Creation Hub can be accessed via the YouTube Studio (studio.youtube.com), which provides tools for video editing, analytics, and channel management.
  • Question
    How do you set an image as the background to a layer?
    KHIZAR KHURSHEED
    KHIZAR KHURSHEED
    Community Answer
    It can be done using various software tools, depending on whether you are working with graphic design, web design or something else.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement

Tips

  • GIMP will run on Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. On Mac OS X, it will have to run inside of another application called X11 (which is packaged with the GIMP installation file).
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement

Warnings

  • Note that layers will not be preserved when saving your file in an image format. To be able to work with your layers in the future, you must save your file in the GIMP ".xcf " format.
Advertisement

Things You'll Need

  • Computer
  • GIMP software

You Might Also Like

Advertisement

About This Article

Tested by:
wikiHow Technology Team
wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 9 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 190,589 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 9
Updated: May 30, 2022
Views: 190,589
Categories: GIMP
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 190,589 times.

Is this article up to date?

Advertisement