20 GIMP 2.10 Tutorials for Beginners

Are you just starting out with GIMP, the free photo editing and graphic design software? Congrats! You’re about to discover an amazing alternative to Photoshop that will help you drastically improve your photo retouching game or create designs for personal or business projects.

Davies Media Design, an educational source dedicated to GIMP tutorials, has compiled 20 of our best GIMP 2.10 tutorials for beginners to help you learn how to use the program and create stunning compositions. From installing the program to using the tools, to editing photos and performing photo manipulations, we’ve got tons of tutorials to get you on your feet and hit the ground running. Here’s the list:

1. GIMP 2.10 Basics: Complete Overview Tutorial for Beginners

In this tutorial, we put together a complete overview of GIMP 2.10 for beginners! We go over all of the GIMP tools in detail, as well as the general GIMP layout and how to set your preferences to get the most out of your GIMP. This is the perfect starting point for first-time GIMP users before getting into more advanced concepts!

2. GIMP Basics: Intro to Layers + Advanced Layers

Not sure how layers work? Well, you should! Layers are one of the most important features of GIMP as they are used in everything you do – from photo editing to complex design compositions. In this tutorial, we go over an introduction to what layers are and how they work, then dive into some more advanced layer concepts like layer masks, layer groups, and layer effects. Once you understand layers, everything else should start to make sense!

3. All 38 Layer Modes in GIMP Explained

Once you understand the concept of layers, it’s time to understand the various Layer Modes in GIMP and how they allow you to blend images to create numerous effects. In this tutorial, I go over ALL 38 LAYER MODES – an unprecedented GIMP tutorial of its kind. You’ll learn everything from what each layer mode is, to what layer mode type it is, and how the layer mode can be applied in a real-life scenario.

4. GIMP Tutorial: Top 5 Photo Enhancement Techniques

GIMP is first and foremost a photo-editing software. That’s why we’ve put together what we think is a very important tutorial on the top 5 photo enhancement techniques you’ll use in GIMP. Your photo editing should improve drastically after watching this tutorial – which is perfect for beginner photo retouchers!

5. 10 Photoshop CC Features Found in GIMP 2.10

A lot of users start out in Photoshop, then eventually decide to jump ship for GIMP – the free alternative. And trust me, I don’t blame you! In this tutorial, I make the transition from Photoshop to GIMP a bit easier by comparing 10 features that are found in both Photoshop CC and GIMP 2.10.4.

6. Crop an Image Into a Circle Shape

Cropping an image into a circle shape is one of the more common tasks that GIMP users want to know how to perform. Plus, it’s pretty simple to do and can create a cool end result. Check it out in this beginner’s tutorial!

7. 5 Tips for Properly Using a Vignette

Vignettes are great ways to frame your images and add both depth and mood to your final composition. In this tutorial, I go over 5 tips you should consider when creating vignettes for your photos using the new Vignette filter found in GIMP 2.10.

8. How to Open RAW Photos in GIMP

Most modern cameras allow you to take photos using the RAW image format. You can open up these RAW files using Photoshop’s built-in Camera Raw program – which is actually a third-party plugin that has been directly integrated with Photoshop. Similarly, GIMP can integrate with third-party RAW editors like Darktable and RawTherapee to allow you to seamlessly open and edit RAW file types with GIMP. See how to set up your GIMP to allow for the opening of RAW photos!

9. GIMP Basics: How to Set Up a Wacom Tablet in GIMP 2.10

Drawing tablets can take your GIMP skills to the next level, allowing you to use tools like the airbrush with more precision or to create illustrations using the paintbrush or MyPaint Brush tools. In this tutorial, I show you how to properly set up a Wacom tablet in GIMP to take advantage of these features.

10. GIMP 2.10 Basics: Using the Gradient Tool

The GIMP team introduced a brand-new gradient tool for GIMP 2.10 that allows for on-canvas editing, or live editing, for more flexibility and more possibilities when using gradients in your designs. In this tutorial, I go in-depth with this new tool, formerly known as the blend tool, to show you just what it’s capable of.

11. Color Tone with Gradient Maps

Gradient maps are a simple yet powerful way to change the mood and color of an image using any palette of colors. In this tutorial, I show you how to use gradient maps to create color tones that transform your images.

12. GIMP 2.10 Tutorial: Design a Business Card for Print

Whether your an entrepreneur or graphic designer, knowing how to design your own business cards is essential for success. This GIMP 2.10 tutorial for beginners shows you how to create an eye-catching business card, as well as prepare it for print. Though this is a fairly basic tutorial designed for beginners, the final result is super professional and is sure to turn heads at your next networking event.

13. GIMP 2.10 Tutorial: Create Photographic Text

When you combine several tools and techniques in GIMP – in this case the text tool, gradient tool, and image adjustments – the results can truly blow you away. In this GIMP 2.10.2 tutorial, I go over how to create photographic text – a technique that is applicable in a variety of use-cases (and is just fun to do).

14. Design and Export a Multi-Page PDF in GIMP 2.10

Adobe has become the king of PDF design and reading, but did you know that you can also design multi-page PDFs within GIMP? It’s not as difficult as you may think, and it opens up a whole new world for designers and business owners who want to design their own portfolios, create PDF templates, or draw up proposals for clients.

15. How to Create a Professional Brochure in GIMP (2018)

Speaking of marketing collateral, GIMP 2.10 can also be used for designing your own brochures or brochures for clients. This beginners tutorial using GIMP 2.10 goes over how to design tri-fold brochures for your own company or your clients.

16. GIMP 2.10 Tutorial: Make Cell Phone Photos Look Professional

Cell phone cameras have come a long way, and so have free photo editing programs! So why not combine the two? In this GIMP 2.10 tutorial, I show you how to make cell phone photos look professional. This is something everyone should know!

17. 5 Things You Didn’t Know GIMP Could Do

Alright, so you’ve been watching all the tutorials on this list and are starting to feel like you’ve seen it all when it comes to GIMP, right? Wrong! There are TONS of hidden features that constantly get overlooked – even by more experienced users – which is why I’ve put together this tutorial on the 5 things you didn’t know GIMP could do. Check it out – it might just blow your mind!

18. GIMP 2.10 for Photographers: Fix Blemishes and Skin Complexion (2018)

Acne, blemishes, and other imperfections of the skin happen to the best of us. And, if you’re anything like me, it’ll happen on the day you’re getting your photo taken. Not to worry – we can take care of skin problems using things like the airbrush tool, heal tool, and clone tool. I go over these tools and best practices for making skin look better overall in photographs!

19. GIMP 2.10 tutorial: Glass Window Reflection (Beginners)

In this GIMP 2.10 tutorial, I show you an awesome that uses layers and blending modes to make it appear as if your photo was taken through a glass window.

20. GIMP Basics: Your GIMP Questions Answered (2018)

During our 20,000 subscriber celebration, I asked our (amazing) subscribers to send in their GIMP questions for me to answer. Well, as always, they delivered – and thus I created this tutorial to answer commonly asked GIMP questions that you may have had yourself while editing photos or doing anything else.

If you enjoyed these tutorials, you can see more on our tutorials page or on our GIMP YouTube channel. Thanks for watching – and keep watching, keep learning!