As we learned earlier, the GIMP allows us to work with layers. We can take one image, duplicate it and add varying details to each layer. We're going to do that now. The first thing we do is start the GIMP. Next, we go to File, choose Open, and locate the open source daffodil image we downloaded earlier. After the image is open, we want to look at our Layers, Channels, and Paths window. When it's open we see our image.



Next, we click on the Duplicate layer button a couple of times so that we have three layers. We won't be working with the original layer. We'll leave that layer alone in case we run into problems!



Bingo! We now have three layers. We can work with two of them as we create our masterpiece.



We'll want to rename the two new layers. It's an easy thing to do. We simply right-mouse click on our chosen layer and choose Edit Layer Attributes.



When the Edit Layers Attributes window opens, all we have to do is delete the current name (for example, Background Copy) and type in the name we'd like to use instead.



Let's name our layers as follows: We'll call the top most layer Selection as this is where we'll be cutting a hole into the image so that'll allow us to peek into a layer below. We'll name the second, middle layer, Blue. The second layer is the layer in which the entire image is digitally dyed blue. We'll it when we create a "hole" in our top layer.


Now, it's time to use the Create Path Tool!


This selection tool is going to allow us to make a path of points along a portion of an image so we can remove that portion from the entire picture. Suppose we have our image of the daffodils and wish to remove one of the flowers from the picture.


We can use the Create Path tool to trace out a selection area along the edges of the flower we want to remove. First, we zoom in on the region of the image we want to remove. Next, we use the Create Path tool to carefully construct a polygonal path around the flower. It'll look something like this when we've finished:

Next, we click on the Create selection from path button.

Next, we go to Edit and choose Clear.

With the selected portion cleared, we have a picture with a "hole" in it.

Now we can turn off the selection path we've created.



We select the layer we want to colorize as blue.

Next, we go to Filter, choose Color, and Colorify

When the Colorify window opens, we click on the color we want, in this case, blue. From the preview image we can see that teh entire picture has been digitally dyed blue.

When we make the layers active and place them in the correct order, we can see that blue layer is visible through the "hole" we made.

Now we need to soften the border between the two layers. We do this by selecting the magic wand tool and selecting the empty hole on the top layer. After creating a selection field, we can increase the size of the selected are.



We decide to grow the selection region by one pixel.

Add a little Gaussian blur


Adjust brightness and contrast within the layer