GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program and is free and open-source software. It carries out other specialized tasks like image manipulation, composition, and authoring. GIMP is also used for editing images and free-form drawings. Due to its manifold uses, GIMP tutorials and courses are gaining prominence and people want to learn the workings of the software.
The graphics editor allows you to transcode between various file formats. GIMP, as a photo-editing application, is incredible. Not as complicated as Photoshop, it does all the work, without costing you anything. It can be used on Windows, Linux, and macOS systems.
Why Opt For GIMP Training?
There are several reasons for GIMP to be your go-to software for editing pictures and getting the work done in no time. We’ve listed some of the top grounds to help you select the correct GIMP training.
Free: Well, every other image editing program, including Photoshop, comes with a price. Irrespective of which Adobe product you choose, it will need shelling out some money. GIMP is free and still does the same work. Therefore, whoever is looking for budget-friendly options must consider using GIMP.
Space conscious: GIMP is ideal as it does not occupy much space on your system and is 20x smaller compared to the other programs. A boon for all the photographers, right?
Fast and Stable: GIMP is made with digital photography in mind. It enables you to cut off all the tools that you do not require from the mix.
Customizable and flexible interface: GIMP works on all kinds of systems. It offers customization options by facilitating you to remove the tools you do not need and speed up your tasks. The software is flexible since you can create your own keyboard shortcuts for a smooth workflow and convenience.
11 Best GIMP Tutorials You Must Get Your Hands-On
Online learning courses are the talk of the town and rage these days. You need not be physically present at a college or university to fulfill that dream of learning something new. If you have ever wondered how to use GIMP from the comfort of your home, we’ve made the task easy for you.
Our team of experts has done the work for you by enlisting the best GIMP tutorials and courses. Each course is taken from credible online learning websites to ensure you learn the software from the top instructors.
1. GIMP 2.10 Made Easy For Beginners from Udemy
The GIMP 2.10 tutorial teaches you to use the software like a thorough professional. Instructor Chris Parker is an ace photographer, and he educates you about the basics of the program in detailed and well-explained videos. If you are a graphic designer wanting to get your hands on using the application, you have come to the right place.
You get to know everything about the GIMP interface and how to use it to its fullest potential. Users also learn how to use GIMP 2.10, which is the latest version of the software. Once you understand the art of editing images, you can apply various graphic designing tools and techniques. What more? Use the plugins and edit pictures like a pro.
Key Highlights
- Avail of handy tips and techniques that will help you in editing images
- Configure the interface well and increase productivity
- Learn about the different blending modes and setting up the history panel
- Use the existing brushes and create some of your own
- Understand the process of saving the files for print media and the web
- Add photos and create basic shapes.
- Master using all the tools available with the software
- Learn how to add light, smoke, and text to pictures
Online course duration: 24.5 hours
No. of students enrolled: 10,000+
Ratings: 4.6
Completion certificate: Yes
Best suited for – photographers and graphic designers
Check price and sign up for GIMP 2.10 Made Easy For Beginners
2. GIMP Essential Training from LinkedIn Learning
One of the best GIMP tutorials that give you valuable insights about the open-source software, from LinkedIn Learning, is unmissable. You get an excellent tour of the GIMP interface in the beginning and learn about the usage of all available tools. A great starting point for beginners, illustrators, and logo designers; the simple explanations will give you a clear understanding of GIMP.
You become aware of designing concepts like working on document templates. The GIMP tutorial is divided into various sections, where each chapter gives you in-depth details about the workings of the software. If you are an aspiring artist, pick this tutorial and improve your knowledge of image selection, layering, and masking.
The online class teaches you the installation process thoroughly and shows you how to adjust the canvas via video lessons.
Key Highlights
- Master the GIMP interface
- Learn how to create and save documents
- Configure keyboard shortcuts
- Work with selections, colors, and brushes
- Use quick masks
- Understand how to output images
- Learn the techniques involved in enhancing photos with filters
- Convert texts into paths
Online course duration: 5 hours 10 mins
No. of viewers: 7800+
Completion certificate: Yes
Best suited for: Beginners and aspiring illustrators
Price: 1-month free trial/buy the subscription for $29.99 per month
Sign up for GIMP Essential Training
3. Fundamentals of Photo Editing in GIMP from Skillshare
To master any software, it is essential to get your hands on the basics first. One of the best GIMP tutorials that teaches you the fundamentals of the program; this one from Skillshare is an excellent choice for beginners. You learn how to edit a picture professionally using all the various tools available with GIMP.
Michael Davis illustrates how to work on an image from start to finish and make it look ten times better. You get your hands on the latest version of the software and become aware of the editing process, special techniques, and tools, and filters. You also understand how to differentiate between a technical and an artistic perspective while dealing with photo editing.
Key Highlights
- Get an introduction to the software and familiarise yourself with the interface
- Scale and crop your image
- Get the colors right and adjust the shadows, highlights, and levels of your image.
- Edit pictures like thorough professional
- Learn how to use all the tools available with the software
- Add contrast, sharpen your images, and touch-up pictures
- Understand how to export an image in various formats
Online course duration: 1 hr 37 mins
No. of students enrolled: 1100+
Best suited for – Beginners and students
Price: Premium Skillshare account needed
Sign up for Fundamentals of Photo Editing in GIMP
4. 2D Game Artist: Design Pixel Art from Scratch from Udemy
If you want to design 2D art for your games, this GIMP tutorial teaches you how to do it. Right from the first video lesson to the last, the instructor shows you how to use every tool available with the software. The valuable insights and in-depth details help you in the creative processes required for designing 2D art games and packages.
The course is divided into three chapters, and the transition from one to another takes you a step closer to becoming a 2D game artist. You learn how to use the canvas to create 2D icons, export files, and work with a splash of color. You come up with your characters and understand the nitty-gritty of reflections and gradients.
It is one of the best GIMP tutorials that is ideal for both beginners and intermediate levels. Take this up and boost your confidence when it comes to animation and creating 2D designs for games. You will be ready to take up professional projects once through.
Key Highlights
- Master the software’s robust interface
- Use all the drawing tools
- Create your own characters
- Work with layers and complex pictures
- Create gradients and design pixel art assets for games
- Work with shadows and reflections
- Learn how to convey meaning through colors and shapes
- Be organized and understand the process of exporting your work professionally
Online course duration: 18.5 hours
No. of students enrolled: 10,000+
Ratings: 4.6
Completion certificate: Yes
Best suited for- 2D creators and game artists
Check price and sign up for 2D Game Artist: Design Pixel Art from Scratch
5. Getting Started With GIMP 2.10: Comprehensive Overview from Skillshare
If you are a beginner with GIMP, then you must avail of this tutorial. It gets you started by teaching you the basics from scratch. Instructor Michael Davies introduces you to the software with in-depth details about its workings.
You begin with learning how to install and go on to mastering the tools. You get a comprehensive overview of GIMP and learn the A-Z of the software. Understand the layout, know the beginner essentials, and learn the art of importing and exporting images in various formats.
The explanations are straightforward to follow, and you become supremely knowledgeable about GIMP in no time. A lot of lessons covered in a short period make it one of the best GIMP tutorials.
Are you ready to set your preferences with the program?
Key Highlights
- Know where to get GIMP from and watch the downloading process
- Understand how every tool can be used to enhance your images
- Create new compositions
- Master the fundamentals and the GIMP interface
- Avail of illustrative examples that teach you where to use which tools
- Get an overall comprehensive coverage of the software
Online course duration: 1 hr 44 mins
No. of students enrolled: 700+
Best suited for: Beginners and students
Price: Premium Skillshare account needed
Sign up for Getting Started With GIMP 2.10: Comprehensive Overview
6. GIMP 2.10 Masterclass: From Beginner to Pro Photo Editing from Udemy
Are you fascinated with photo editing? This masterclass takes you on a knowledgeable ride and teaches you how to edit pictures using various tools and techniques. GIMP is not a complicated software to master and to learn the nuances from a professional only helps in getting you on the right track.
One of the best GIMP tutorials that claim to make you an expert from a beginner, this one from Udemy is a masterclass. In the complete guide, you learn everything about photo editing and become job-ready. If you already have a fair idea about the application, you can still take up the course and get your hands on useful tips that will further enhance your skills.
You will be surprised to know what all the free software has to offer. The GIMP online class is an excellent choice for graphic designers, as well. You use freestyle techniques that make your images look better.
Key Highlights
- Know about the most important features of GIMP
- Edit a photo professionally
- Get your hands on crucial concepts regarding image editing and design.
- Use every single tool available
- Edit pictures for print media or the web
- Learn how to remove imperfections, redundant details, and backgrounds from photos
- Manipulate images and enhance the quality
- Create image compositions
- Crop and resize pictures
- Edit black and white photos
- Use in-built tools and filters to color correction and adjustment
- Repair damaged photographs
- Learn how to edit low light pictures
- Import and export photos in multiple formats
Online course duration: 30 hours
No. of students enrolled: 5600+
Ratings: 4.5
Completion certificate: Yes
Best suited for: Photographers, beginners with GIMP, graphic designers, and other design artists
Check price and sign up for GIMP 2.10 Masterclass: From Beginner to Pro Photo Editing
7. Learn GIMP from Skillshare
GIMP can be used beyond editing pictures, and this tutorial shows you exactly that. You learn how to use the software for creating exquisite designs, artwork, and beautiful illustrations. You also avail of handy tips that will help you enhance your photography using the program. The free application offers various tools, and you grasp how to make use of all of them to its fullest potential.
Instructor Brendon Schumaker excels in several art forms, is a superlative illustrator and artist. His detailed video lessons go a long way in making you a thorough professional. He speaks from his personal experiences in the field and gives you many functional tips. Do not miss out on the intricate details concerning picture editing.
Informative, very well-explained, and not a single boring moment; are you ready to enroll for one of the best GIMP tutorials?
Key Highlights
- Be introduced to GIMP
- Quickly get a tour of the download and installation process
- Learn various keyboard shortcuts
- Work with layers and opacity
- Understand how to use all the tools available
- Learn how to colorize black and white images
- Get your hands on layering, masking, and superimposing
- Master landscape enhancement
- Insert text on paths and curves
- Learn photo touch-up
Online course duration: 6 hrs 26 mins
No. of students enrolled: 1300+
Best suited for: Beginners and intermediate levels
Price: Premium Skillshare account needed
Sign up for Learn GIMP from Skillshare
8. GIMP Quick Tips from LinkedIn Learning
It is always useful to avail of quick tips that will help you master the software. This GIMP tutorial is a short online class that gives you a tour of the program and brings you a set of tips and tricks that will enhance your image editing skills.
You get expert solutions to problems you might face while working with GIMP. Since the tutorial isn’t lengthy, the videos are straightforward and concise. The course teaches you how to paint with patterns and apply artistic effects. You grasp advanced editing techniques like adjusting the exposure in images and creating vignettes.
What more? You also understand the processes that go behind improving highlights and shadows in photos. Are you ready to get answers to all your software-related questions in one of the best GIMP tutorials?
Key Highlights
- Align layers and watermark images
- Use grids and guides
- Learn how to improve and enhance highlights and shadows
- Restore erased pixels
- Understand how to fix exposure issues in pictures
- Straighten crooked images
- Add metadata and contrast to photos
- Create special effects like double exposure and embossed text
Online course duration: 19 mins 11 secs
Completion certificate: Yes
Best suited for – Graphics designers, image artists, and illustrators
Price: 1-month free trial/buy the subscription for $29.99 per month
Sign up for GIMP Quick Tips from LinkedIn Learning
9. GIMP for Beginners 4: GIMP Text: Create Stunning Text Effects from Skillshare
There are several GIMP tutorials on the web that are meant for beginners. So, how do you zero on one? It is always beneficial to take up a course that teaches exactly what you want to learn. This GIMP tutorial from Skillshare shows how to add and configure text in all sorts of images.
The online class isn’t too long and mostly focuses on making text readable. Instructor Brick Jackson gives you handy tips that will make your text and pop up and look exclusive. While looking at a page, photos are the most beautiful thing that catches our attention first, but with this course, you learn how to elevate text.
Key Highlights
- Use text in layer maps
- Know all the possibilities when it comes to text color, font, and size
- Learn how to add fonts from the internet that are available for free
- Understand outlining with text paths
- Get your hands on text toolbox effects
- Use text effects to enhance the written word
- Get to know how to use text in layer map, colored boxes, and box drop shadows.
Online course duration: 47 mins
No. of students enrolled: 400+
Best suited for – Beginners and students
Price: Premium Skillshare account needed
Sign up for GIMP for Beginners 4: GIMP Text: Create Stunning Text Effects
10. GIMP 2.8/2.10 Beginner-Advanced from Udemy
If you are a photographer or a graphic designer in the hunt for the best GIMP tutorials, you must avail of this one from Udemy. It covers the latest version of the software, GIMP 2.10, and highlights a couple of changes that make it different from the older 2.8 version. You start with no knowledge of the free application and become a professional in no time.
You learn how to draw banners for social media, book covers, and photo touch-ups. The course also covers web designing for HTML, WordPress, and creating fun memes. There are 13 sub-sections, with each one running for 30 mins. It is an excellent hands-on tutorial for aspiring bloggers, as well.
Are you ready to get the basics of the robust program, right?
Key Highlights
- Start with learning how to install and run GIMP.
- Master the art of creating 2D and 3D book covers
- Design web graphics, screenshots, and logos
- Make memes and banners for social media.
- Learn which style and graphics are suitable for which social media platform
- Use GIMP for enhancing pictures and photo touch-ups.
- Understand how to use HTML with WordPress for displaying web graphics
Online course duration: 12 hours
No. of students enrolled: 14,000+
Ratings: 4.1
Completion certificate: Yes
Best suited for – Social media enthusiast, authors who need book covers, bloggers, graphic artists, and website administrators
Check price and sign up for GIMP 2.8/2.10 Beginner-Advanced
11. Drawing with GIMP 2.10 from Skillshare
Many illustrators use GIMP to draw. One of the best GIMP tutorials that teaches you to draw using the free software, this one from Skillshare is unmissable. You get your hands on the latest version of the program and learn how to work with layers and create repeat patterns.
Instructor Gaia Marfurt brings in her experience of working as a surface pattern designer and illustrator and teaches you how beautiful drawings can be created using GIMP. You get to know the usage of all the available tools and indulge in coming up with exquisite designs, for example, drawing flowers using paintbrushes.
Garia shows you the difference between version GIMP version 2.8 and 2.10 and primarily targets the course at beginners.
Key Highlights
- Create stunning drawings using GIMP
- Explore the differences between the old and the latest versions of the software
- Use all the available tools available to its fullest potential
- Learn how to use the brushes
- Create various kinds of patterns and design layouts
- Hide tools that are not required
- Work with layers
Online course duration: 53 mins
No. of students enrolled: 200+
Best suited for: Beginners and intermediate level
Price: Premium Skillshare account needed
Sign up for Drawing with GIMP 2.10
Final Thoughts on GIMP Tutorials
If you want to try your hands at drawing, illustrating, or graphic designing and find Photoshop a cumbersome and costly option, GIMP is ideal for you. It gets the same work done, comes for free, and occupies less space on your system. GIMP, the open-source program, also gets updated constantly, so you need not worry about obsolete features. It is extensively used by photographers, graphic designers, bloggers, visual artists, and illustrators.
We have listed the top GIMP tutorials and courses. The courses that we’ve listed cover the latest version of the software and show you the installation process. You learn how to create stunning designs and do photo touch-ups like a pro. Editing images is comfortable with GIMP, and you also get to explore tons of options that enhance your pictures.
