Mastering Layers & Masks in GIMP

17 minute demonstration of using Layers & Masking in GIMP and explaining the concepts.
We look at how masking works and using multiple layers to edit details in specific areas of photographs in order to get a more 'artistic' final image.
Complimentary Techniques include; Saturation, Blurring, Softening, Contrast, etc.
THIS IS A ONE-OFF, please don't sub my channel in the hopes of getting more Gimp tutorials, I publish quite rarely these days, (since I had a stroke) - and publish mostly for my own amusement, so my random topics will be unrelated.
This one is very old now and I have no plans to amend or update it, (though I think it could be improved) but the feedback continues to be good, so I left it up.
My website HappySnappyChappy.com is gone now, but I am on facebook as HappySnappyChappy where I publish my recent photos intermittently.
These are usually mostly scenery & flora.
To be honest I haven't got the patience to edit photos thoroughly like this, though I know guys who will spend a couple of days editing photos for sale or competition.
I tend to shove them through my standard workflow using an old copy of Picasa in a rough attempt to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
Nothing I do is ever 'subtle', as I believe if a thing's worth doing it is worth over-doing. So my images are usually super-saturated to bring out bright colours, because - well, that's the way I like it.
I've taken photos professionally in the past, but I am an amateur photographer so I shoot what I like how I like purely for my own amusement. If people like them, then that's a bonus.

Пікірлер: 98

  • @crowolf65
    @crowolf653 жыл бұрын

    Thank you. Seven years on and you're still helping. It was the mask demo that helped. I now have a whole new avenue of exploration. Thank you.

  • @gauge6513
    @gauge65135 жыл бұрын

    Can't thank you enough. I'm a visual learner. Your explanation at the start with the projector, masks and transparency's was brilliant and helped me finally lose some of my frustration with the process.. It had to take a lot of time to put the video together so I just wanted to say cheers and thanks from the other side of the pond.

  • @juanjosegarcialucas7418
    @juanjosegarcialucas7418 Жыл бұрын

    Hands down, tNice tutorials is THE best beginner video I've watched. Others want to brag about all the sample, loops, etc they have. You keep

  • @onlyonutube
    @onlyonutube7 жыл бұрын

    Excellent tutorial. I appreciate the amount of time and effort you invested to pull this together too.

  • @thesharpenedquill
    @thesharpenedquill6 жыл бұрын

    Dear Ian, Thank you very much for this high-quality tutorial. I'm learning how to use gimp, and the layer masks are finally making sense! I know it took a great deal of effort to produce this and I am so grateful!

  • @Fleurdalee
    @Fleurdalee7 жыл бұрын

    ...this is the FIRST GIMP tutorial on layers and masks that i have actually understood...!!! i was pulling out my hair with frustration, but now i can understand how layers and masks work... thank you so much, my friend... ...also, i never understood how to set-up the GIMP work area before... i just used your example here, and finally set-up my workspace for the first time in a year....before that i was simply muddling-around in the dark...now i can finally make some creative progress...!!! woo hoo..!!! ...Rita Maye

  • @borlani

    @borlani

    7 жыл бұрын

    I am genuinely delighted to help. I put this together after watching an expert working with layers in photoshop and decided to try to work out how to do it in Gimp (because it is free). It is not a feature I used much, so I often come back to my own tutorial to remind myself what to do!

  • @thomaspinches9518
    @thomaspinches95185 жыл бұрын

    Other people have explained how to use masks for specific purposes but here you have explained what masks are an how they work. I loved 'looking under the bonnet'. Great video - thanks.

  • @Milisavify
    @Milisavify7 жыл бұрын

    This is the way it should be explained. Anyone who starts using gimp (photoshop) should first see this. Excellent video. I appreciate it. It helped me a lot. Thanks!

  • @dococapocalypse7580
    @dococapocalypse75807 жыл бұрын

    Bruh I kno this video is forever old but THANK YOU! You did what nobody else does and that's explain the PRINCIPLE behind the process. Showing the old way of doing it and the purpose behind it is fantastic and helped me understand WHY I'm doing what I'm doing. You're the greatest. ✊

  • @maximmortal3170
    @maximmortal31703 жыл бұрын

    It's been a while but I'm glad to have discovered your video. It's great. Thanks!

  • @whynot-vq2ly
    @whynot-vq2ly5 жыл бұрын

    still useful after 6 years, illustrated and very well explained, thanks a lot

  • @geoffreyphillips1987
    @geoffreyphillips19877 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for sharing your 'beginner's' insights. Such clarity is priceless amidst all manner of convoluted explanations.

  • @jeremyn6726
    @jeremyn67266 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for a concise and clear visual of how layers/masks work. Everyone flies thru this stuff without explaining it. Separating out the layers and comparing to classic photography technique was a genius way to illustrate the effects

  • @borlani

    @borlani

    6 жыл бұрын

    Thank you Jeremy that's most kind. I am pleased this was of help to you.

  • @raldors7499
    @raldors74997 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for the clear and organized tutorial. I'm a beginner, and it's nice that you actually took the time to explain the theory and the "why". It was much more helpful than the typical KZread tutorial where people just blow through the steps and tell you the keystrokes to use.

  • @sillyrednewby
    @sillyrednewby6 жыл бұрын

    Oh my goodness! This is SO HELPFUL!!! Thank you! So many tutorials don't actually explain WHAT is happening with Layer Masks which I need to understand before I can do them myself, so THANK YOU!

  • @drakedorosh9332
    @drakedorosh93324 жыл бұрын

    Thank you very much. Seven years later you have still got the best video on GIMP for beginners that I have seen. These tools look like something one ought to be able to figure out intuitively. It turns out that the program is really difficult to use without a proper understanding. It is so difficult I hoped to fork the project on GitHub and redesign it in an understandable way. You have definitely impressed me that there is a way. One idea might be to have radiant sources as part of the graphical user interface. So that layer selection window may be the target of some heuristic device that looks like a light box with filters in it. Programs have such good graphics today it would be cool if the layers were presented in perspective and having light shining through them. That kind of graphics in the user interface might communicate what you very carefully explained. I hope it is time soon for a more intuitive GIMP. Take a look at the Wikipedia page on "Alpha Composition" which I guess is supposed to explain Alpha Channels and this layer stuff. No one should feel embarrassed that they don't understand this stuff. Experts are coming to pilfer the public domain.

  • @borlani

    @borlani

    4 жыл бұрын

    That is very kind of you Drake. I've had to use my own tutorial to re-learn this several times and I would love to redo it, because I think I handled the operations very clumsily. The GIMP is a great free package, but it does have its funny quirks. I never found it 'intuitive'. I'm sure there must be a better way to present layers, but, I suppose, as soon as we get more than one layer we're technically into 3D and that is always difficult to represent on a 2D screen. Maybe even if each layer was given a little numbered tabbie that highlighted when you had that one selected.

  • @subgeniusd
    @subgeniusd10 жыл бұрын

    What a clear, well constructed exploration of masks and layering. Loved the darkroom-photo lab connection, makes sense of this odd terminology. Hopefully you'll continue posting these. Suggestion - enhancing lo-rez, misfocused, blurred, distorted etc images.

  • @david_uk
    @david_uk3 жыл бұрын

    Excellent! Thank you. Really clarifies the use of masks. Still relevant in today's version of GIMP.

  • @surinfarmwest6645
    @surinfarmwest66456 жыл бұрын

    Ian, you have just hit a hole in one on a par 5. I have been using GIMP for about 6 weeks, making icons for the sheer hell of it, understood the layers concept but not the masks. Now the use of the black brush becomes clear, masking tape! Thank you so much. Farm West

  • @sfikssfiks
    @sfikssfiks6 жыл бұрын

    Love the tempo of your video, the content, and RTFM advice. Thank you!

  • @bluebow07
    @bluebow076 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! You cleared my confusion. Your tutorial is the best and most helpful for beginners like me!

  • @hermannvalsson4237
    @hermannvalsson42373 жыл бұрын

    Great ideo, good educating, very slowly easy to understand for beginner.

  • @markus8282
    @markus82826 жыл бұрын

    You explain these things that simple, that I had no problems following you! And that means a lot... Of course I subscribed!

  • @decaf4me2
    @decaf4me27 жыл бұрын

    Terrific explanation and instruction on using masks. Really helped me (and I see others) understand more about how masks work and how to use them. Thx for creating and posting!

  • @borlani

    @borlani

    7 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for your kind comments.

  • @sharonyoung3465
    @sharonyoung34657 жыл бұрын

    most excellent tutorial for us beginners, glad i finally found it after 2 hours of searching for a comprehensive video for us novice gimpers!

  • @borlani

    @borlani

    7 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Sharon, that is most kind. Glad I was able to help you. Gimp is a great tool, though it took me a while to really understand its power.

  • @lamaisondecath4180
    @lamaisondecath41805 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much! This is so clear! I am just amazed!

  • @rextransformation7418
    @rextransformation74187 жыл бұрын

    Thank you very very much for your patience and time for your excellent tutorial. :D

  • @MrTwocaps
    @MrTwocaps7 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this. It really helps to go back to basics!

  • @way2slk
    @way2slk6 жыл бұрын

    Fantastic. Excellent method. Thank you

  • @tahiranwar7812
    @tahiranwar78126 жыл бұрын

    Thanks, you made all this so simple to understand.

  • @AprilClayton
    @AprilClayton2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you. This helped me I am having a difficult time understanding GIMP.

  • @markloken2465
    @markloken24655 жыл бұрын

    Excellent explanation and tutorial! Thank you!!!

  • @davewettlaufer7885
    @davewettlaufer78855 жыл бұрын

    you have explained it very well, thank you

  • @polur102
    @polur1027 жыл бұрын

    You are a master teacher. Salutations.

  • @SmokyMountainStarlight
    @SmokyMountainStarlight7 жыл бұрын

    As an American girl, love love love your wording and accent. very charming and easy to listen to. and very helpful as well!

  • @borlani

    @borlani

    7 жыл бұрын

    Aw, thanks Starlight, that is very kind of you. Glad you liked the tutorial. I am sure it could be improved if only I had the time.

  • @gasifsial8259
    @gasifsial8259 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much Sensei! You are a blessing!

  • @killerqueendopamine
    @killerqueendopamine4 жыл бұрын

    Love your voice! Awesome tutorial. Layers and masks have confused me so much and has kept me from pursuing GIMP. This helps illuminate things a bit.

  • @borlani

    @borlani

    4 жыл бұрын

    oh that is very kind of you Jessica. I've actually learned more about layers for taking macro photography and 'stacking' layers, but I doubt I will record it now. Sadly, I had a stroke a couple of years ago and I don't find it so easy to narrate so fluently now. (I've not lost my speech, but I sometimes find it a struggle to find words and I don't like how I am not as fluid as I used to be).

  • @borlani

    @borlani

    4 жыл бұрын

    you might like this tutorial too - I think it is where I am going next with layers for taking macros and night sky shots kzread.info/dash/bejne/gmecsNVmqLC9mZM.html

  • @killerqueendopamine

    @killerqueendopamine

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@borlani I am very sorry to hear that you had a stroke, but I'm glad you didn't completely lose your speech. Stay well and thank you for the link!

  • @worawtiragnseehiranrat5727
    @worawtiragnseehiranrat57274 жыл бұрын

    Superb explanation ,thanks a million

  • @alxndrdg8
    @alxndrdg86 жыл бұрын

    the moment i saw you explain - the back to basics segment - i liked the video. as a beginner, i am still not comfortable using layers and masks - but atleast you have made the concept clear to me. Thank you!

  • @borlani

    @borlani

    6 жыл бұрын

    Thanks! ... like any new skill it improves with practice .. you can see me tripping over myself in the demo, but I did get the hang of it...... if I've not worked with layers constantly for a while I still need to go back and watch my own tutorial to re-learn the principles again.

  • @aaditsaluja7868
    @aaditsaluja78687 жыл бұрын

    awesome video...really well explained

  • @tomshum4999
    @tomshum4999 Жыл бұрын

    good work and thank you so much, Greetings from Egypt

  • @Tunisian-Gost
    @Tunisian-Gost Жыл бұрын

    Amazing tutorial. I just ca from lmms (a free daw software) and i decided to switch since it didn’t offer enough convenience. It was

  • @aerostaticmind893
    @aerostaticmind893 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you, I really needed to hear tNice tutorials!!

  • @kentoowin
    @kentoowin Жыл бұрын

    you remind me of Bob Ross the painter. Very good class.👍

  • @aliotako1647
    @aliotako16472 жыл бұрын

    Clear and useful

  • @rajneeshsingh2323
    @rajneeshsingh2323 Жыл бұрын

    there! Thanks a lot for the help, I'm going to subscribe to your channel and keep up with all the videos!

  • @johalphotography7560
    @johalphotography7560 Жыл бұрын

    Very helpful, thank you

  • @MikeHoltMusician
    @MikeHoltMusician5 жыл бұрын

    Use keyboard shortcuts: CTRL-Z = undo, CTRL+C = copy CTRL+V = paste

  • @KuroKitsune15
    @KuroKitsune15 Жыл бұрын

    My GMS soft really electric and notNice tutorialng like a app. Any tips how to fix?

  • @minicreativeseka
    @minicreativeseka Жыл бұрын

    100% I make the sickest soft in my head all day long then the mont I open a DAW...

  • @IhateCCP
    @IhateCCP3 жыл бұрын

    Why use masks instead of selecting certain areas to edit? Or is that different? When I need to change exposure of just the sky (eg,) I would select out just the sky. Should I be using masks instead?

  • @javiermunoz1388
    @javiermunoz1388 Жыл бұрын

    The basics for anyone. Definitely putting tNice tutorials in my notes.

  • @abhishektomar1403
    @abhishektomar1403 Жыл бұрын

    I downloaded the program but everytNice tutorialng still says trial version on it??

  • @hugobrardhb
    @hugobrardhb Жыл бұрын

    All of my computers got the softwares here. I first install them on virtual environnt to make sure they're not malware. So I can assure

  • @masternarco9469
    @masternarco9469 Жыл бұрын

    True

  • @kichigan1
    @kichigan17 жыл бұрын

    What program you used for the 3-d 360 rotating objects?

  • @borlani

    @borlani

    7 жыл бұрын

    I created the first part of the video in Second Life as 3D objects. I quite often use it as a "studio" to create sets for tutorials and demonstrations.

  • @kichigan1

    @kichigan1

    7 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Ian

  • @erenelbasan7431
    @erenelbasan7431 Жыл бұрын

    producer's version? I just want to make sure I get the right one for .

  • @jamesmchaffie5438
    @jamesmchaffie54384 жыл бұрын

    this is without the most confusing video i have seen on the subject

  • @borlani

    @borlani

    4 жыл бұрын

    It is a video I did a very long time ago now, but it seemed to be well received, judging by the comments, so I just leave it online.

  • @an7557
    @an7557 Жыл бұрын

    more complicated one. your lody needs to soft nice. 808(app) should also fit with the lody and the rythm. snare and percussion

  • @Alexandraargame
    @Alexandraargame Жыл бұрын

    how to stop hearing yourself in headphones when recording softs?

  • @brunomenezes9011
    @brunomenezes90117 жыл бұрын

    That's the first GIMP tutorial I see recorded by Batman

  • @borlani

    @borlani

    7 жыл бұрын

    I don't know what you mean by "recorded by Batman",... but I hope it is a positive thing. (made me chuckle anyway) :)

  • @brunomenezes9011

    @brunomenezes9011

    7 жыл бұрын

    Hehe I was referring to the voice! For me it was like Christian Bale's Batman.

  • @hxds299
    @hxds299 Жыл бұрын

    The channel rack tNice tutorialngy isnt on my screen?

  • @shaun2647
    @shaun26477 жыл бұрын

    after watching trainspotting recently I was half expecting to hear "i'll fookin chib ya" lol with that accent.

  • @borlani

    @borlani

    7 жыл бұрын

    I am sorry that your expectations have been set by watching a movie about the seamier side of my country. I am pleased to say some people like my accent. I actually get paid to do voice-overs too!

  • @shaun2647

    @shaun2647

    7 жыл бұрын

    I love the scottish accent.I was just having a bit of fun with you.

  • @shaun2647

    @shaun2647

    7 жыл бұрын

    haha, nice one!

  • @k3nnyb012
    @k3nnyb012 Жыл бұрын

    dont even soft like anytNice tutorialng, was that a problem for more experienced people here as well?

  • @Subzero_901
    @Subzero_901 Жыл бұрын

    aight imma head out

  • @AP3X_YAY
    @AP3X_YAY Жыл бұрын

    Tell us how it been!!

  • @borlani
    @borlani3 жыл бұрын

    Here is another gimp tutorial that demonstrates a good example technique using layers that will let you see how people use these in a practical way. kzread.info/dash/bejne/ZKJoz9eulMqxobw.html

  • @Frodeuse276
    @Frodeuse276 Жыл бұрын

    Is it just or does he soft a little bit like Sansa Stark from ga of thrones?

  • @aji4690
    @aji4690 Жыл бұрын

    Fell asleep twice

  • @kelvinkersey5058
    @kelvinkersey50586 жыл бұрын

    Did it really help to trawl through prehistory?

  • @borlani

    @borlani

    6 жыл бұрын

    well...judging by the comments, I believe it did. I think it is helpful to just take a couple of minutes to get back to first principles sometimes, especially when it isn't live - so I can't verify if people understand already. (or viewers who don't need that can skip ahead) Adults learn best if they can relate the learning to something they already understand.

  • @davidgriffiths7215

    @davidgriffiths7215

    5 жыл бұрын

    What a patronising and ignorant comment. Ian has responded far more politely than you deserve. GIMP is great but not intuitive. Relating it to a process which I used for about 30 years is immensely helpful and it's your problem if you are too stupid to understand that.

  • @jrtech143
    @jrtech143 Жыл бұрын

    etc.

  • @yukecomunicacao2937
    @yukecomunicacao2937 Жыл бұрын

    I give up on learning at tNice tutorials point.

  • @borlani
    @borlani4 жыл бұрын

    I like this tutorial on stacking layers in Gimp - it might be a good one to follow on from mine. kzread.info/dash/bejne/gmecsNVmqLC9mZM.html

  • @karthikms4432
    @karthikms4432 Жыл бұрын

    please help

  • @fatsumo
    @fatsumo4 жыл бұрын

    a s m r

  • @borlani

    @borlani

    4 жыл бұрын

    I think I'll take that as a compliment :o)

  • @elionfz5169
    @elionfz5169 Жыл бұрын

    youre not gonna learn anytNice tutorialng with that ntallity, if you want to learn sotNice tutorialng stick with it, if youre not willing to do that maybe its not

  • @borlani

    @borlani

    Жыл бұрын

    I'm afraid I have no idea what you're trying to say here.