How to Add Watercolor Effects to Images in GIMP

This article examines GIMP and explains the main developments, practical implications, and context readers should understand.

How to Add Watercolor Effects to Images in GIMP

1. Launch GIMP and open the image you want to convert into watercolor mode.

2. Locate the Layer panel on the right side of the screen. Your original image will be named "Background". Select the "Duplicate Layer" icon at the bottom of this panel to create a new copy layer from your image and it will be named "Background copy".

3. Click the "Eye" icon to the left of the first layer to hide it. "Background copy" will remain in the Layer panel.

4 Select the Smudge tool, indicated by the hand icon with the index finger, from the toolbox at the top left of the screen. Click and drag this tool on clearly defined areas of the image to create a watercolor effect. Repeat this operation until you reach the desired result.

5. Click on the "Filter" tab from the menu bar at the top of the screen. Scroll to "Artistic" and select "Oilify". Set the "Mask size" slider to a value between 10 and 16 to achieve a watercolor effect. You can change this value to achieve the desired result. Finally, click "OK".

6 Select the "Blur" tool, indicated by the water drop icon, from the toolbox. Click and drag this tool around any part of the image you want to blur to increase the watercolor effect.

7. Save your work after achieving the desired effect. To preserve the original file, set the edited image to another name when you save it.

Helpful Advice

• Experiment with different settings of each tool before saving your work.
• Create canvas effects for your images by selecting "Apply Canvas" from "Filters > Artistic".

• Let your photos 'shine' with GIMP's background change feature
• How to automate GIMP by script
• GIMP or Photoshop is the right tool for you?