BASIC BANNER TUTORIAL
This tutorial is for a very basic banner in Gimp, one that you can make with the bare essentials. (i.e. no downloaded brushes, fonts, patterns, etc) The first step to a banner is to actually open the document. After you have opened Gimp, go to File>>New. Then, a screen should pop up. Set the dimensions to around 400 x 100.
Then, the next step is to make the background. A simple way to make your own custom background is as follows: first, select the paintbrush tool. Next, change the tool options to "Use Color from Gradient."
Now, you need to select the colors that you want to use for the gradient. You just choose two colors as your default colors, and the gradient will fade between them. You may also use one of the default gradients. I chose my own colors, and I decided on a dark turquoise and white.
Now, you need to change the brush. In the image above, the proper brush is chosen. (the diagonal line)Using that brush, simply paint the background. Just paint it until it is full, going in whichever directions and styles you choose. It doesn't take long, and when you're done you should see something like this:
Now, it's time to add an image. You can go to Google, but I just like to go to PE2K's Anime Resource. You need to create a new layer to put the image on. (it helps make it transparent) To do this, just go the bottom of the layer menu and select the empty page.
Now, paste the image that you want to use. Ew, look at that ugly white background! Well, I'll show you how to get rid of that!
First, you need to select the magic wand tool, then you need to be sure to set the tool options to have a decent threshold, and to have feathered edges. Like this:
Magic Wand Tool
Now, select a white area from around the picture. To get rid of it, simply drag it out of the screen (farther than in the image below), and click anywhere around it. Viola, it's gone!
Now, all you have to do is repeat that with all the white areas on the image. After that, you have a nice, transparent, glowing image! Now that that's over with, you can add text. First, select the text tool. Then, choose which font and color you would like it to be. (you can download fonts at DaFont)
Text Tool
Click where you want the text on your banner, and type what text you want. Simple! You an use the move tool to move the text around.
That's nice, but it's not quite up to standards. Let's make the text glow! Select the layer that has your image on it.
Now, choose the lasso tool, and be sure it has feathered edges selected.
Lasso Tool
Then, select the area around your text. Be sure it's not right up against the text, because then it will not glow properly.
Select the pour tool, and lower the Opacity. (make sure the "Fill Whole Selection" option is chosen)
All you have to do is pour! You may repeat it to make it more or less transparent. When your done, click any area outside of the selected region. Then, you will have something like this:
Now it's time to add a border. This is actually really simple, just go to Script-Fu >> Decor >> Add Border in the window where the image is shown. Then, change the settings to something like this (for a 1 pixel black border), although you can alter the thickness and color:
Then, you're finished with your banner, and you can step back and admire your work.
The next step is saving your image. Go to the top of the window with your image, and select File>Save As. Be sure to save your banner as a PNG file by putting ".png" at the end of the image name!
Viola, now you know how to make banners in Gimp. You can use your knowledge to make better banners. Be sure to experiment with everything, that is how you develop tricks and cool designs! :]
