# Photo edit software: How to achieve the filtered/gel effect. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 18, 2009, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-edit-software-how-to-achieve-the-filtered-gel-effect/506800 "2009-08-18T01:29:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-edit-software-how-to-achieve-the-filtered-gel-effect/506800/1 "2009-08-18T01:29:27Z")
What Im looking for is some kind of software (free) that can give the effect of coloring a picture with a color, yet retaining the details of the picture. Sort of as if looking at a picture of something that was lighted with a green light, or photographed through some green filter. (color optional). I had a Print Shop, but the picture was only lightly tinted, and the other colors came through. I only want one color, and the varying shades that will define the objects in the picture. Can anybody help me? Thanks, hh ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-edit-software-how-to-achieve-the-filtered-gel-effect/506800/2 "2009-08-18T02:48:07Z")
[Gimp](http://www.gimp.org/) ---
**Author:** ![Improvisor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/50afbb/32.png) [@Improvisor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improvisor)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-edit-software-how-to-achieve-the-filtered-gel-effect/506800/3 "2009-08-19T16:58:10Z")
Second using the GIMP If I get what you are asking to do, here are the steps to follow for a very rough version. This is pretty high level instructions, since I’m not sure how familiar you are with image editing tools.: - open your image in the GIMP - In the Layer window, create a new layer that is white (make sure the new layer is above your main image) - In the Toolbox window select whatever foreground color you want. - Completely fill the newly created white layer with that color using the Fill Tool - In the Layers Window, select the new colored layer, then find the 'Mode" pull down and change it from “Normal” to “Color”. This basically filters the image below through a color filter of your new layer. - you can then play with the “Opacity” slider to go back and forth between the original full-color image and a completely color filtered version. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-edit-software-how-to-achieve-the-filtered-gel-effect/506800/4 "2009-08-19T18:17:17Z")
You might want to play with the saturation controls on your original layer to be sure that none of the original colors come trough. Reducing the color saturation will basically turn your original into black and white. I think that’s what your wanting. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-edit-software-how-to-achieve-the-filtered-gel-effect/506800/5 "2009-08-19T22:49:29Z")
I’m not sure what exactly you want but [XNView](http://www.xnview.com/en/index.html) is free (there is a pro version too but I’ve never needed anything in it). It does pretty much of what you need. GIMP is excellent and will do pretty much anything PaintShop Pro will do, but it isn’t very easy to learn. When I used GIMP, I was fortunate to have a book from my library to guide me through it or I’d have been lost. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-edit-software-how-to-achieve-the-filtered-gel-effect/506800/6 "2009-08-20T05:41:59Z")
Yes, indeedy! I did the GIMP thing, and it works like a charm. Now, I’m going to download XNVIEW, and I’ll be ready for anything! Thanks, guys! hh