GIMP Layers and Layer Masks Explained | In-Depth GIMP Basics Tutorial

In this GIMP basics tutorial, I provide an in-depth look at layers. This important concept forms the base of pretty much everything you'll be doing in GIMP - from editing images to creating graphic design projects. I discuss everything from how to create a new composition and new layer, layer transparency, the layers panel, the layer stacking order, layer groups, to layer masks. Everything you've ever wanted or needed to know about layers in GIMP is in this tutorial!
This is an update of a tutorial I did a few years ago on the same subject. I created this tutorial for beginners because a lot has changed about GIMP since my last video on the subject.
0:00 - Intro
1:06 - Layers Definition
2:31 - Creating Your First Layer
5:28 - Layer Transparency
13:10 - Layer Stacking Order
19:20 - Layer and Canvas Sizes
23:48 - Layers Panel
35:55 - Layer Masks
Visit our website for more text and video tutorials:
www.daviesmediadesign.com/tut...
Enroll in Our GIMP Photo Editing Masterclass:
www.udemy.com/course/gimp-pho...
Get My New E-book - The GIMP Book of Layers:
daviesmediadesign.com/gimp-bo...
Want to make your GIMP theme look like mine? Check out this GIMP tutorial article:
www.daviesmediadesign.com/cus...
See how you can help out the GIMP Team:
www.gimp.org/develop/
Download the latest version of GIMP 2.10:
www.gimp.org/downloads/
Download the Photo Used in This Tutorial:
pixabay.com/photos/extreme-mo...
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#Layers #LayerMasks #GIMPBasics

Пікірлер: 99

  • @DaviesMediaDesign
    @DaviesMediaDesign7 ай бұрын

    Get the GIMP Book of Layers eBook on Amazon: www.amazon.com/GIMP-Book-Layers-Everything-Important-ebook/dp/B07YLC1W4V

  • @S.D.S08
    @S.D.S084 ай бұрын

    I've been using GIMP for super basic needs (screenshots need a transparent background or drop shadow, etc.) for years. I just recently started experimenting with it for more in-depth custom designs for marketing and your videos have been so helpful. It's easy to feel a little lost in all of the options. Not only do you really break down a certain concept, but you include little tidbits of other tips too. I've picked up so many helpful tips outside of what I came to each video for.

  • @halfmanhalfcat1058
    @halfmanhalfcat10583 жыл бұрын

    came here for one thing, learnt loads of things. Feel like Gimp is easily as powerful as photoshop. Glad i moved.

  • @supersaiyaman11589

    @supersaiyaman11589

    3 жыл бұрын

    gimp is free and photoshop is basicly renting the software witch I'm not a fan of

  • @jeevankg1
    @jeevankg14 жыл бұрын

    your way of explaining in simple and with all clarity to a new person is excellent . Thank you

  • @surinfarmwest6645
    @surinfarmwest66454 жыл бұрын

    Just when you thought you knew it all there are a few nuggets of gold that get delivered. Always a pleasure and never a chore to watch your tutorials. Thank you for sharing your knowledge in the usual high quality, professional manner.

  • @ffatheranderson
    @ffatheranderson3 жыл бұрын

    The best tutorial about gimp I saw so far. Quick and straight to the point with good examples. Thank you.

  • @rscottm57
    @rscottm573 жыл бұрын

    I found and have been watching your tutorials for a couple months now and I finally decided, and just did, join your Master Class.

  • @BruceElliott
    @BruceElliott2 жыл бұрын

    I'm so glad I came across this channel! I've been a casual user of GIMP for a while, but lately I've wanted to improve my skills with it. All of the other tutorial videos I've seen so far have been recipe based, that is, they simply give you a set of steps to follow to achieve one specific goal, but they don't explain why you'd choose those particular steps or what they're really doing. This video from Michael Davies is so much better. I feel like I'm really understanding what GIMP is doing and not simply following a fixed set of instructions. I"ll be subscribing and checking out all the other tutorials as soon as I can!

  • @ShivamSharma-rs2cj
    @ShivamSharma-rs2cj3 жыл бұрын

    I never thought there's so much to learn about layers. Great explaination.

  • @fasifaiz1362
    @fasifaiz13623 жыл бұрын

    As a beginner, this video certainly helped me to the core. Keep up the good work mate! Hopefully I'll make contributions to the channel.

  • @heatherhaigh
    @heatherhaigh4 жыл бұрын

    Just what I need. Thank you very much for doing this.

  • @carlellis9647
    @carlellis96474 ай бұрын

    I've watched several of Mike's video, and his is the best one I've seen so far. He does a terrific job explaining everything.

  • @Denbrr
    @Denbrr3 жыл бұрын

    Immediate thumbs up for “The Dude Talking.”

  • @whatdoyoudo1482
    @whatdoyoudo14823 жыл бұрын

    I have found this channel recently and this is why you stand out. You are thorough and the pace is realistic, There is useful content in other videos but they break 75 steps into ten minutes and It is so frustrating to have to pause over and over. If the information is new it won't be understood as quickly and I was watching a video a couple of days ago and it drove me insane. Good content and good delivery.

  • @SaturninePlaces
    @SaturninePlaces3 жыл бұрын

    Holy crap, Gimp is pretty cool!

  • @gcemmerling4622
    @gcemmerling46223 жыл бұрын

    Love the layers mask! Thanks!

  • @dukenukem445
    @dukenukem4453 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for all the tutorials dude. I think I'm gonna learn well. 😀

  • @kovra1305
    @kovra13052 жыл бұрын

    Thanks exactly what I needed man, great tutorial.

  • @noahphense
    @noahphense2 жыл бұрын

    "I do have an entire tutorial on how to learn Gimp from Davies if you want to check that out." Great video. Always enjoy your content.

  • @tristanlandry7861
    @tristanlandry78612 жыл бұрын

    Great teaching! Crystal clear!

  • @ahmedelmorsy8429
    @ahmedelmorsy84293 жыл бұрын

    Perfect teacher, thanks for the efforts.

  • @mush2220
    @mush22203 жыл бұрын

    Excellent tutorial. Many thanks!

  • @puppylinuxer
    @puppylinuxer2 жыл бұрын

    Great content, thank you for your wonderful work

  • @randomselect9926
    @randomselect99265 ай бұрын

    Thanks for sharing, this was useful!

  • @akinbobolaayodeji8883
    @akinbobolaayodeji8883 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much!!! It did work and took less than 5 minutes!

  • @io2012
    @io2012 Жыл бұрын

    Excellent tutorial. Thanks

  • @climax7260
    @climax72603 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for the video. It is very helpful

  • @TheMarkEH
    @TheMarkEH3 жыл бұрын

    Excellent tutorial. Thank you

  • @edcoronel9671
    @edcoronel96713 жыл бұрын

    Hi Davies Media Design, your channel is a great equalizer. You are doing a great service. More power to your channel. 👏👏👏

  • @jebac06
    @jebac063 жыл бұрын

    You explain it very good, its easy to learn even for a noob like me. Thank you!

  • @piyushgautam2802
    @piyushgautam28022 жыл бұрын

    Really helpful video

  • @kalspiman
    @kalspiman5 ай бұрын

    great teaching. Thank you

  • @ferdipoolman1817
    @ferdipoolman18174 жыл бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @jeanlucvassort6411
    @jeanlucvassort64113 жыл бұрын

    excellent .... Thanks helps a lot

  • @edgbaston149
    @edgbaston1492 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much

  • @henryvenn2077
    @henryvenn2077 Жыл бұрын

    great video mate i usually gotta click on a few prior to finding a good teacher but you got the thing there bro u r only 2nd up on the list

  • @starwatcher
    @starwatcher3 жыл бұрын

    Wow, just incredible. Thank you ^10. Just signed up for course. Nice sale price currently.

  • @thilinaalagiyawanna3680
    @thilinaalagiyawanna36803 жыл бұрын

    Thank you very much

  • @jetblack7044
    @jetblack70449 ай бұрын

    Thanks a lot

  • @daveaway
    @daveaway2 жыл бұрын

    Great Vid

  • @papaykthedog
    @papaykthedog Жыл бұрын

    Thank you again for your tutorials!! Im searching for one tutorial, how to make half background back and white, and the other half in colors, or some part of the background in b&w and the rest in color !! I remember i sew some tutorial about that but cant remember where

  • @61jc61
    @61jc613 жыл бұрын

    Hi David try learn some about gimp, thank you for your tutorials however can't see the labels of the channels and paths by side the layers in my gimp.

  • @fadinabil8696
    @fadinabil86963 жыл бұрын

    How to cut large outdoor banner to tiles and leave overlap for printing and welding

  • @gamerhawk5466
    @gamerhawk54664 жыл бұрын

    Hey Dude You Take My Comment Serious Oh You Are Are My Best Friend My Favorite KZreadr

  • @gerobokdapur8165

    @gerobokdapur8165

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yup... Me too 😊✌️

  • @TheCocoaDaddy
    @TheCocoaDaddy4 жыл бұрын

    Excellent tutorial! Question: Does your "GIMP Book of Layers" cover layers (and presumably layer masks) in any more detail than your Master Class? Thanks for posting!

  • @DaviesMediaDesign

    @DaviesMediaDesign

    4 жыл бұрын

    They are pretty much the same - you won’t really get more out of the book than the masterclass. Main difference is Masterclass is video form - some people prefer the video others prefer the text.

  • @revanslacey
    @revanslacey Жыл бұрын

    Very helpful video. My GIMP doesn't have the small thumbnails of active documents across the top. How do I show those please?

  • @malolangovindarajan5858
    @malolangovindarajan58583 жыл бұрын

    Bro your are good awesome

  • @lucy7b
    @lucy7b3 жыл бұрын

    Brilliant, do you have any training as a teacher? Your pace is very good. I’m completely new to gimp today and I’m going to superimpose a patterned image of fabric over an image of a manuscript

  • @imyasharya
    @imyasharya4 жыл бұрын

    Hey Mike, you once said that GIMP is going to change its UI in GIMP version 3 with some new toolset. However, while using Blender, there's just a zip file I need to download and click the exe file inside to enjoy the latest features and experimental features of Blender. I was wondering is there a way to download and check the latest GIMP just to enjoy and to test early features. I couldn't find any tutorials regarding that on KZread. Can you make a video on that?

  • @rajanirajani5920
    @rajanirajani59204 жыл бұрын

    Fire text effect tutorial

  • @lanslater
    @lanslater Жыл бұрын

    Hey quick question Michael plz; If I have 40 or more layers can I use that linking tool to transform pixels (like a colour inversion) on any or all linked layers at once ??

  • @SimonMordue
    @SimonMordue2 жыл бұрын

    I need some help. I just started using GIMP. I'm creating images for a pitch deck. I have about 11 layers going on, as I'm creating a mock film poster. I started to notice, yellow-ish lines, appearing in the project. They are clearly from where I have taken a photo, dropped it into Gimp (a layer) and created a path around an object (like an actress), shrunk them down to place them in the image to create the look I am after. It looks as though the initial outline (prior to shrinking the image) still remains, in faded form in the project. WHAT AM I DOING WRONG? CAN ANYONE HELP ME FIGURE OUT HOW TO REMOVE THEM? As they are clearly ruining the overall image I am building. Thank you! Simon

  • @timothymalahy7880
    @timothymalahy78802 жыл бұрын

    A few questions. 1. Why when I used the eraser tool at around 6:20 did it put red everywhere instead of black? I had the fg/bg settings matching, but wasn't sure where it came from? 2. At 12:50 I dragged from white foreground to the layer and it did not fill it. Other than that confusion. Thanks for the great tutorial!

  • @Motofreebird
    @Motofreebird3 жыл бұрын

    Hi, we have a product bag template as the base layer and no matter how much we lock it our non-destructive cropping of upper image layers keeps cutting/cropping the base template layer - how on earth can we TRULY LOCK the bottom base layer?

  • @catmar1944
    @catmar19442 жыл бұрын

    I have Linux Mint 19.3 installed. Is it correct to say that Gimp 2.9 and 2.10 will not run on that distro? i tried to update the repository and install 2.10 but it said i had the latest version - This is a great tutorial thanks.

  • @subatoistormborn5499
    @subatoistormborn54993 жыл бұрын

    Are there quick keys for moving layers in stacking order?

  • @2020rts
    @2020rts2 жыл бұрын

    Curious. I have the same version of Gimp, but my screen doesn't look like yours. For example, my tool icons are much smaller and are in black and white whereas yours are in color. There are other differences as well. What would be the reason for this?

  • @aayush_adhikari
    @aayush_adhikari3 жыл бұрын

    I have an issue where when using white mask and use black brush .. instead of revealing the layer below it show a pattern similar to the alpha channel even though I have no alpha channel ... Any help?!

  • @OddHeky
    @OddHeky2 жыл бұрын

    i got questions guys if i turn on quick mask i just cant paint at all why is that ? i got selectet right fg and bg colors but my gimp just wont paint over my picture..thx for help

  • @inkuban
    @inkuban Жыл бұрын

    Can you set locks for layers within groups that act independently? Meaning layers that are locked together in a group can be move independently of the locks applied in other groups?

  • @garandsho723
    @garandsho7236 ай бұрын

    How would I shift a selected area to a different area to only change whats behind it?

  • @krista96
    @krista963 жыл бұрын

    My GIMP doesn't look the same being mostly black and white icons in the dialog boxes . . version 2.10.22. I like yours much better.

  • @willsthiek1953
    @willsthiek19533 жыл бұрын

    The most important thing to remember for tutor is to always let the tutees know the movement of the cursor apart from explanation. Otherwise one step lost means 10/20 minutes struggle to bridge the gap.

  • @DaviesMediaDesign

    @DaviesMediaDesign

    3 жыл бұрын

    Tutees... that's a funny word.

  • @CL_0804

    @CL_0804

    3 жыл бұрын

    Wills Thiek You can just pause the video or play it on 0.75x speed. You're watching this for free and still you don't make any effort from your side

  • @willsthiek1953

    @willsthiek1953

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@CL_0804 its not about the speed. Visibility of the cursor is the issue for beginner like me..

  • @paulgoddard3897
    @paulgoddard3897 Жыл бұрын

    Wha theme are you using all my icons are black and white?

  • @jtrinlee
    @jtrinlee3 жыл бұрын

    Excellent video. was following everything perfectly till we got to "delete cropped pixels." Couldn't find it anywhere. Things also look very diffrent on the Mac download. Thanks for this and any ideas about the missing tool setting"deleting cropped pixels."

  • @DaviesMediaDesign

    @DaviesMediaDesign

    3 жыл бұрын

    Hey Joseph - thanks for the comment. The "Delete Cropped Pixels" feature was made available in GIMP 2.10.20 - and since GIMP for MAC is stuck on GIMP 2.10.14 this feature isn't available on MAC versions yet. I hear GIMP may be coming out with the MAC installer for GIMP 2.10.22 soon so keep an eye out for that. That feature will be available with that version.

  • @priyanshupatel3280
    @priyanshupatel32803 жыл бұрын

    since i activated alpha to my background i am unable to reveal alpha pixels, why?

  • @valarieart
    @valarieart3 жыл бұрын

    I will watch all of your videos because I think you might actually be able to teach me to use Gimp. Now where to start?

  • @StudioAvante
    @StudioAvante3 жыл бұрын

    Hey! You forgot to mention somethingf important. Which file formats can I use that will preserve all the layer features you demonstrated?

  • @DaviesMediaDesign

    @DaviesMediaDesign

    3 жыл бұрын

    .XCF

  • @lucy7b
    @lucy7b3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you

  • @Braveheart0484
    @Braveheart04843 жыл бұрын

    Having an issue. I'm working on a project where everything needs to be in printable 8.5 by 11 inch sheets. Each finished sheet is unique with many layers, but I'm using many of the same layers multi times from sheet to sheet. I want to keep all of the layers in the inches I set it at and I want to keep the full sheet in the 8.5 by 11 inch format. But when I'm coping and pasting these layers or importing finished sheet into a brand new sheet it doesn't always work. Gimp is making size decisions for me I don't want it to make and I don't know how to tell it to NOT make those decisions. I've stopped working on this project because of this issue. The project is an old school roleplaying/board game where I need multi-layers for each sheet; there are between 10 to 30 layers per completed sheet. When I complete the sheet I export it into a PDF file. Each layer is simple art so it's easy to read the sheets. I was able to sort of fix this issue in Gimp 10.8 but since the update nothing seems consistent. Repeating myself, but I really want to keep everything in the 8.5 by 11 format, and each layer in the inches I've set it as. I've listed a few examples of what I'm trying to accomplish but what is happening instead. As an example: if a layer is 2.5 inches by .5 inches. When I copy this layer and paste it into the new document it doubles or shrinks; even though the canvas is set at 8.5 by 11.. Want to keep the layer at 2.5 by .5 inches. Another example: I have gimp set, so every new sheet is at 8.5 by 11 Inches. 1) I click file 2) Click New- little screen pops up with my preset 11 by 8.5 I click okay, another screen pops up I hit okay. 3) a full sheet (canvas) shows up it's in an 8.5 by 11 inches format. 4) I click file, click open as layers button, I click onto the document--sometimes all of the layers fit into the canvas as they were saved but other times they end up really big or really small. It's very annoying to have the layers turn out to be a different size than the ones I saved them as. Another example: I open up a PDF, I highlight a section, then make it into it's own layer, but when I try to paste it into the new sheet it shrinks. I dislike this because when I expand it to the size I want the layer gets pixels. I'm repeating myself again, I just want it all to stay consistent. Can anyone help?

  • @victorreyes2196
    @victorreyes21963 жыл бұрын

    Is not working 😣I'm so dome trying to put two images together both of them rotate at the same time

  • @kezza10mail
    @kezza10mail2 жыл бұрын

    whats the shortcut for zoom in out

  • @DaviesMediaDesign

    @DaviesMediaDesign

    2 жыл бұрын

    ctrl+mouse wheel or hit the z key to grab the zoom tool

  • @davescorneroftheworld1147
    @davescorneroftheworld11473 жыл бұрын

    I have a quick question. OFF SUBJECT! How do I put GIMP on my TASKBAR in windows 10? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

  • @raypearse3214

    @raypearse3214

    3 жыл бұрын

    Find gimp on drop down menu on start, right click, click pin to start then drag that Gimp icon to the task bar. It will stay there on every startup

  • @sherifelgazar4089
    @sherifelgazar40893 жыл бұрын

    It need a separate tutorial only for Layer Mask!!!

  • @shikhindahikar8488
    @shikhindahikar84883 жыл бұрын

    Did not know Christian Bale did side hustle by teaching GIMP

  • @evanseleven
    @evanseleven2 жыл бұрын

    Is that a poison ivy plant on your desk, behind your laptop??!!

  • @nephiilim
    @nephiilim Жыл бұрын

    i wouldn't call it a lock icon. its a chain link. i'd call it a link icon, especially since that's what it does. it links them together

  • @godzillalouise
    @godzillalouise3 жыл бұрын

    Dang it... while this would be, for my current situation, helpful if I was more of a beginner... it still doesn't cover what I'm trying to do in Gimp right now... Given this is practically the only guy on KZread I know of who I could imagine having a tutorial on this... I'm at a loss. Sure, someone might say "try searching it up", but I've tried doing that and did not find anything...

  • @throwerplump9297
    @throwerplump92973 жыл бұрын

    33.00

  • @skyyouknow
    @skyyouknow Жыл бұрын

    I saw this tutorial...first thing I thought was "Shaved face Michael Davies is...cursed"

  • @krista96
    @krista963 жыл бұрын

    Oh . . fixed . . .found Icon preferences . . .

  • @geoffos42
    @geoffos424 жыл бұрын

    Perhaps it would make more sense if you referred to the "Transform Lock" as a "Transform Link", after all, the icon is a chain link?

  • @charlesd.6704
    @charlesd.67043 жыл бұрын

    pfff I'm on Mac and nothing works like you say...

  • @SaVaGeGmYbEaR
    @SaVaGeGmYbEaR2 ай бұрын

    Not me, spending this entire video post Shape addition, seeing the Japanese flag behind that dirt bike photo....

  • @FlauntitNatural
    @FlauntitNatural4 жыл бұрын

    Awesome content! Keep up the good work. If you have a second go have a browse of my account and follow if you enjoy it 💜💖

  • @billpowell5931
    @billpowell59312 жыл бұрын

    I enjoy the videos you present, but I would make one suggestion. Stop the uptalk. It is quite annoying. Content is great and the presentation is logical and flows well. But the uptalk, oh my.

  • @MusicByRyder
    @MusicByRyder3 жыл бұрын

    Why the hell did you not go over, if you wanted more from the picture? You just took a very small part of the image.... Downvote

  • @Visogoth03
    @Visogoth033 жыл бұрын

    Thank you!