November 24, 2011

Tutorial (GIMP): Making Titles Stand Out

Here is how to emphasize text with an outline and a drop shadow.


1. Select the Text Tool
2. Choose the font you want
3. Use the text tool to type your text on the image

4. Right click on the text layer in the Layers dialog
5. click "Text to Path." This saves the outline of the text as a path for later use.

6. Duplicate the text layer. Name the new layer "Text"
7. Right click on the copy of the text layer and click "Discard Text Information"

8. Create a new layer. Name the new layer "Outline." Move this layer below the layer called "Text"

9. Hide both the layer of text and the layer called "Text"
10. Select layer "Outline"
11. In the Paths dialog, click the first button so an eye appears, showing the path in the shape of your text

12. Make your foreground color white or whatever color you want your outline to be
13. In the paths dialog, click the stroke path button.
14. In the Stroke Path dialog, select stroke line, with the line width of your choice (I recommend 2-3 pixels)

15. Create a new layer called "Shadow." Move this layer below the layer "Outline"
16. In the Paths dialog, duplicate the text path. Call this new path "Drop Shadow"

17. Hide the original path of the text
18. Select the Move Tool. Under Tool Options, click the move path button

19. Drag the path a few pixels down and to the right.

20. In the Paths dialog, click the path to selection button

21. Change your foreground color to black.
22. Select the bucket fill tool. fill the selection with black

23. Press Ctrl + A to select the whole layer
24. Click Filters > Blur > Gaussian Blur
25. In the Gaussian Blur dialog, set both horizontal and vertical blur to around 8 pixels

26. Hide the path "Drop Shadow"

27. Show layer "Text"
28. Delete both text paths
29. Merge layers "Text," "Outline," and "Shadow."
30. Delete the original text layer.

32. Continue editing the image as normal, or save a copy of your finished image.

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