Course Information
Course Overview
GIMP graphic design for beginners: Free GIMP on Windows/Mac/Linux: Free book/eBook covers for self-publishing!
Learn the GIMP from the Ground Up
In this course I'll show you how to use the Gnu Image Manipulation Program (GIMP), a free Photoshop like program, to produce professional looking, high quality graphics on a budget. The course uses the creation of book covers for self-publishing as the basis for demonstrating the use of the program. The techniques demonstrated can be used to create stunning graphics for any purpose including display on the Web.
GIMP Easily Explained:
Excellent course with detailed explanations on how to use GIMP to create fabulous book covers. Thank you!
-Maria Oquendo
This course provides material suitable for the absolute beginner and includes information on how to install all required tools and resources. It then goes on to show you how to use those components to produce unique, professional looking, and high quality graphics suitable for use as book covers for self-publishing. The course includes information on graphic composition that can be used to cause the most important elements of your image stand out.
Note: I demonstrate the use of the GIMP on a PC running Microsoft Windows 7. If you're a Linux or Mac user, the GIMP is also available to you, and information in this course beyond installation is fully applicable.
Sell More of Anything with Professional Looking Graphics
Though you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, the truth is that most people do exactly that. Why not produce the best impression you can by displaying stunning graphics mixed with text. Whether you're selling books or some other product, graphics that can capture the customer's attention will give you a leg up in differentiating yourself from your competition.
This Course Includes Everything You Need to Know to Become Proficient with the GIMP
This course includes 29 lectures, over two hours of material, divided into the following major categories of information:
Installing, staring, and stopping the GIMP
GIMP window layout
Creating a simple book cover
Working with layers and selections
Loading fonts and using text effects
Buying and manipulating inexpensive images
Creating colored boxes
Using layer masks
Stroking a path
Putting it all together
Learn to Create Stunning Book Covers and More
Why focus on book covers? The course benefits from having a specific focus and I'm the most familiar with using the GIMP to create book covers. Besides, you only need to know the fundamentals of using the GIMP to produce book covers. Don't worry, you can still create amazing images for the Web and beyond using the basics of the GIMP.
A Great Cover Course
Bite sized lessons that are clear and concise on how to use The GIMP to create ebook covers for the KINDLE. Very easy to follow.
-Bronwyn Wilson
This course uses a combination of presentation slides and screen capture to show you how to use the GIMP to produce book covers specifically.
Expect to spend several days to weeks digesting all the information provided in this course.
Start Today!
Silly as it may seem, your book cover is the first characteristic of your book that is likely to distinguish you from the crowd. Why not spend some time learning how to produce a quality, professional looking book cover for your self-published work using free tools and inexpensive professional quality images?
I'll see you in the classroom,
---Brian
Course Content
- 14 section(s)
- 102 lecture(s)
- Section 1 Introduction
- Section 2 Creating a Simple Book Cover
- Section 3 Working with Layers and Selections
- Section 4 Loading Fonts and Using Text Effects
- Section 5 Buying and Manipulating Inexpensive/Free Images
- Section 6 Creating Colored Boxes
- Section 7 Using Layer Masks and Paths
- Section 8 Book Cover Design Theory
- Section 9 Putting It All Together
- Section 10 Favorite Tricks and Common Errors
- Section 11 Recreating My Personal Favorite Book Covers: 2017 Course Extension
- Section 12 2017 Amazon Book Cover Reinterpretation Challenge
- Section 13 Question and Answer
- Section 14 Conclusion
What You’ll Learn
- Install the GIMP on Your PC, Use the GIMP to produce a basic book cover, Use advanced concepts to produce professional looking book covers, Use tips and suggestions to maximize our design and implemention
Skills covered in this course
Reviews
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IIgnace Vanbiervliet
Yes I can follow well. Too well actually, so to me I had hoped for some more content on other GIMP possibilities that are useful to making book covers. There are still lots of options on actions used that are left unexplained. For instance layer locking, subtracting and intersecting paths, foreground select tool, the alignment tool, cage transform, the healing tool, the difference between the text tool options in the toolbox versus those above text, snapping, cropping possibilities, other filters....
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SShelena Muller
Great course for self-published authors and anyone interested in cover design. Very informative. Thanks!
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CCraig Mazur
Out of the box, GIMP is not very user friendly or intuitive. This course got me over than hump.
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MMaitland
Several hours it took to convey the basic functions could've been taught in 1/10th of the time. He's good at image editing, but the same can't be said of his video editing skills. Only about a fourth of the way in and I couldn't take anymore. I hit the speed-up option to end it.