Gimp 2.8 Tutorial – Change colour of an object

In this tutorial, we will explore how to change the colour of an object using GIMP 2.8. We will specifically demonstrate this process by changing the colour of a red car to a different hue. Follow along with the steps outlined below to master this technique.

Getting Started with GIMP 2.8

To begin, ensure you have GIMP 2.8 installed on your computer. Once you have the software open, follow these steps:

1. Load the Image: Drag and drop the picture of the red car into GIMP.
2. Set Up Your Workspace: Make sure that the “Windows” dockable dialogues and “Layers” options are selected. This will allow you to see the layers section on your screen.
3. Access the Tool Options: Ensure that the tool options are visible, as we will need them for the next steps.

Creating a New Layer

1. Select the Car Layer: Click on the layer that contains the car image.
2. Create a New Layer: Right-click on the car layer and select “New Layer.” Make sure to choose the option for transparency and click OK. You should now have two layers: the original car layer and the new transparent layer on top.

Changing the Colour of the Car

1. Select the Top Layer: Ensure that the new transparent layer is selected.
2. Change Layer Mode: Click on the mode dropdown (which defaults to “Normal”) and select “Saturation”. This will allow us to change the colour effectively.
3. Choose the Paintbrush Tool: Select the paintbrush tool from the toolbox.
4. Pick a New Color: Click on the colour box to choose a new colour for the car. For this tutorial, we will change the car to a blue-purple colour. Select your desired colour and click OK.
5. Adjust Brush Settings: In the brush options, select a hard brush. A good choice is the brush that is the second row down and the third one across. Set the brush size to around 200 pixels.
6. Paint Over the Car: Carefully paint over the car, avoiding the headlights and windshield. Take your time to ensure you cover the entire car without going over the areas you want to keep unchanged.

Refining the Colour Change

1. Zoom In for Detail: If necessary, zoom in to touch up any areas where the red colour may still be visible. You can clean up the edges and ensure a smooth transition.
2. Adjust Headlights: You can also go into the headlights and change any red highlights if desired.

Duplicating Layers for More Colour Options

1. Duplicate the Layer: To explore more colour options, duplicate the layer you just painted. Hide the original layer to keep your workspace organized.
2. Use the Paint Bucket Tool: Select the paint bucket tool and choose a new colour, such as dark green. Fill the duplicated layer with this new colour.
3. Toggle Layer Visibility: You can now hide the green layer and unhide the original red layer to compare the different colours.

Alternative Method: Colour Rotation

In addition to the paintbrush method, GIMP offers another technique for changing colours:

1. Select the Bottom Layer: Hide the top layers and select the bottom layer with the original car image.
2. Duplicate the Layer: Create a duplicate of this layer.
3. Use the Colour Rotate Tool: Access the “Rotate Colour” tool. Here, you can select all red elements in the image.
4. Change the Colour: Adjust the selected reds to a new colour, such as blue, using the colour rotation options.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we have covered how to change the colour of an object in GIMP 2.8 using both the paintbrush and colour rotation methods. By creating layers and utilizing the various tools available in GIMP, you can effectively manipulate images to achieve your desired results. We hope you find this tutorial useful and encourage you to experiment with different colours and techniques in your future projects.