Need help with the Gimp

[King_Critter]

I was wondering if there was a way to make a certain color invisable? For example, I have a picture of a Hydralisk on a black back ground. I want to insert that picture onto another picture, but without the black background. Only problem is, I can't figure out how to do this! :cry:

[Modred]

You probably don't want to make black portions into transparent because this would also affect any black portions on the hydralisk. One good method, albeit a bit tedious while you're starting to learn, is to use the paths tool (B) to outline what you want to lift from the image. You can always edit the paths after you create them, so don't worry if you're a bit off when you first make your outline.

The main points are called anchors, and these are the centers for curves and cusps, and the little handles that pop out when you click on an anchor are used to change the curvature. You can play around with your anchors and their curvature to make a decent outline of your image.

After you've done this, find the "Paths" tab in your dock of tools. If you haven't changed any of your workspace, it will be on the right side of your screen in the top window. Hover over the tabs to see the title and then click on the Paths. This window should show a small thumbnail of the path you just created around your image. Then find the button in this window that says "Path to Selection" and click this to make the path into a selction. (Don't worry, it will still be a path, so you can reselect it like this if you messed up).

Now, in the image window, click Layer -> Mask -> Add Layer Mask. In the dialog box that pops up, tell it to create the Mask from the Selection, and then click OK. This will hide everything that isn't within your path. Now you can paint on the mask, with white to reveal parts of the image and black to hide things, for fine tuning your selection. Once you have everything appearing to your liking, click Layer -> Mask -> Mask to Selection and then you can simply copy and paste your hydralisk out of one image and into another.

Hopefully all of this will work. Photoshop is really much better for working with paths and layer masks, imo, but GIMP is getting better.

[King_Critter]

Ok, I'll try that. But just for refrence, is there a way to do what I asked?

[Glad_2_bestoned]

sigh* i wish i can get my lazy ass up and learn gimp.. >.<.. The only thing i can help people with is blender 3d..