# Using GIMP...any on-line tutorials, help, advice? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 5, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-gimp-any-on-line-tutorials-help-advice/535092 "2010-04-05T23:52:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-gimp-any-on-line-tutorials-help-advice/535092/1 "2010-04-05T23:52:49Z")
I’m trying to use GIMP. I just do some image smucking for my Web site, and I’ve learned how to make the background transparent, but I struggle with everything else. Example: after I use the rectangle select tool, how the heck do I move the selected area? I click on the 4-way-move jigger, but nothing happens. Then I smuck around for 20 minutes and somehow I get that selected area to be active and I can move it, but I have no idea what I did. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![freakstasy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@freakstasy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freakstasy)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-gimp-any-on-line-tutorials-help-advice/535092/2 "2010-04-06T01:47:27Z")
I’m not sure this is the best way to do it, but when you use the Rectangle Select tool, pressing CTRL X (cut) and then CTRL V (paste) will allow you to move the selected area. [Some GIMP links and tutorials](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIMP#External_links). ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-gimp-any-on-line-tutorials-help-advice/535092/3 "2010-04-06T07:16:29Z")
You might want to look into GIMPshop, which is available here: [http://www.gimpshop.com/](http://www.gimpshop.com/) > [@](#): > > GIMPshop is a modification of the free/open source GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP), intended to replicate the feel of Adobe Photoshop. Its primary purpose is to make users of Photoshop feel comfortable using GIMP. > [@](#): > > Due to the changes to the interface, many Photoshop tutorials can be followed in GIMPshop unchanged, and most others can be adapted for GIMPshop users with minimal effort. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-gimp-any-on-line-tutorials-help-advice/535092/4 "2010-04-06T14:02:57Z")
There have been some recent changes in the way GIMP handles selections. If you’re using GIMP 2.6, you should be able to move a selection by simply holding down the left mouse button over the selection and dragging it (while the selection tool is active). You can also drag on the corners to expand or contract the selection. Note that this moves the selected area, **not** the content of the selection. If you want to move the content you need to either cut or copy (or copy visible), then paste. And make sure you’ve got the correct layer as the active layer. About GIMPShop, IIRC it’s behind in features compared to the latest GIMPs, and I actually wouldn’t recommend it anyway unless you really like its alternative interface; when stuff doesn’t work as you expect, you’re probably better off using the standard GIMP, since at least then you’ve got a reasonable chance of finding someone who knows how to fix your problem. ETA: [here](http://docs.gimp.org/2.6/en/gimp-using-selections.html) and [here](http://docs.gimp.org/2.6/en/gimp-painting.html#gimp-concepts-selection) is the documentation on selections. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-gimp-any-on-line-tutorials-help-advice/535092/5 "2010-04-06T14:59:00Z")
[Here](http://gimp-savvy.com/BOOK/) is an online book, _Grokking the Gimp_. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-gimp-any-on-line-tutorials-help-advice/535092/6 "2010-04-08T01:41:55Z")
> [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](#): > > …Note that this moves the selected area, **not** the content of the selection. If you want to move the content you need to either cut or copy (or copy visible), then paste. And make sure you’ve got the correct layer as the active layer… This is the behavior I was seeing, now that I think about it. Apparently **freakstasy** is correct and cut+paste is the way to make it happen. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Random\_Design](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58f4c7/32.png) [@Random\_Design](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random_Design)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-gimp-any-on-line-tutorials-help-advice/535092/7 "2010-04-08T08:42:25Z")
This thread inspired me to try Gimpshop but now I’m having a silly problem. I’ve got 2 same-dimension jpgs and I want to combine them into one, so I was going to do this by doubling the height of the first pic’s canvas, and then paste the second one underneath. I doubled the height and the copied pic pastes, but the second image is only visible while it’s over the first, if I move it into the new empty space it disappears and I only see the selected outline. It seems to be masked? How do I make it so anything pasted is visible? I’ve tried playing with channels but that didn’t reveal anything. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-gimp-any-on-line-tutorials-help-advice/535092/8 "2010-04-08T09:24:31Z")
You need to increase the size of the layer. I found it rather counterintuitive at first, but the size of a layer is not necessarily the size of the canvas. I don’t know why that’s the case. But there’s a button that says “layer size to canvas” or something like that - that’s the button you want. ---
**Author:** ![Random\_Design](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58f4c7/32.png) [@Random\_Design](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random_Design)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-gimp-any-on-line-tutorials-help-advice/535092/9 "2010-04-08T10:21:36Z")
Excellent, much appreciated! Gotta say though, GS looks a little buggy (running XP, SP3). If I minimize and then resize I get ghost toolbar windows that don’t have anything besides a close button that doesn’t work. :dubious: