|
09 February 2012
If you’d like to add a simple border to your images in GIMP, the process is fairly straightforward. This particular technique uses the Decor>Add Border filter to create a flat or slightly beveled border. Keep in mind that this filter creates a border outside the dimensions of your image, not an overlay, so you’ll need to consider this when sizing and cropping your image prior.
Launch GIMP and open up your image. From the menu, select “Filters>Decor>Add Border…”.
The Add Border dialog offers a few options. Let’s start by selecting a color for our border. Click the “Border color” button. This open the Script Fu Color Selection dialog. Click and drag inside the color picker square. The bottom left will give you black while the bottom right gives you white. Select one of these or any tone or color in between. Once you’re done, click OK.
Next, we need to decide on the size of border. This is really an issue of taste and what works for a particular image. However, I generally tend to use a simple formula to decide on border width. I start by looking at the image’s pixel size on the title bar.
I choose the shorter side (in this case 2400px), divide by 2 and knock off the last 0 (10%). In this case, I get 2400 / 2 = 1200 * 10% = 120px. You can work out your own similar formula depending on whether you prefer wider or thinner borders. Personally, I find that this formula suits my taste.
Once you’ve determined a suitable border size, type it into both the Border X Size and Border Y Size fields, unless you want uneven borders.
Finally, you can set a value for Delta. This determines whether your border will lay flat or will have a mitered corner and gradient. This first example shows a Delta of 1 which gives a flat border.
This second example has a Delta value of 50.
Click OK to apply the filter. Your image dimensions will grow by the amount you specified in the Border X Size and Border Y Size fields. Here’s what the borders (Delta 1 and Delta 50) look like once applied.
Hope this helps and thanks for reading!
Brought to you by dodisdodat.com! All Rights Reserved © 2010-2011!
Share This Article! Share This Article!
Are you a blogger, site owner or writer with a tip or review to share?
