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The Toolbox
The main window of GIMP, shown in
"The Main Window" on page
136, contains the main controls
of the application. Closing it exits the application. At the very top, the menu bar offers access to file
functions, extensions, and help. Below that, find icons for the various tools. Hover the mouse over
an icon to display information about it.
The Main Window
Figure 10-1
The current foreground and background color are shown in two overlapping boxes. The default
colors are black for the foreground and white for the background. Click the box to open a color
selection dialog. Swap the foreground and background color with the bent arrow symbol to the
upper right of the boxes. Use the black and white symbol to the lower left to reset the colors to the
default.
To the right, the current brush, pattern, and gradient are shown. Click the displayed one to access the
selection dialog. The lower portion of the window allows configuration of various options for the
current tool.
Layers, Channels, Paths, Undo
In the first section, use the drop-down box to select the image to which the tabs refer. By clicking
Auto, control whether the active image is chosen automatically. By default, Auto is enabled.
Layers shows the different layers in the current images and can be used to manipulate the layers.
Channels shows and can manipulate the color channels of the image.
Paths are a vector-based method of selecting parts of an image. They can also be used for drawing.
Paths shows the paths available for an image and provides access to path functions. Undo shows a
limited history of modifications made to the current image.
10.3 Getting Started in GIMP
Although GIMP can be a bit overwhelming for new users, most quickly find it easy to use once they
work out a few basics. Crucial basic functions are creating, opening, and saving images.
10.3.1 Creating a New Image
To create a new image, select File > New or press Ctrl+N. This opens a dialog in which to make
settings for the new image. If desired, select a predefined setting called a Template. To create a
custom template, select File > Dialogs > Templates and use the controls offered by the window that
opens.
In the Image Size section, set the size of the image to create in pixels or another unit. Click the unit
to select another unit from the list of available units. The ratio between pixels and a unit is set in
136 SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 GNOME User Guide
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