6 Best GIMP Tutorials For Beginners in 2025
GIMP is an image editor that provides sophisticated tools to get the job done, whether you are a graphic artist, photographer, illustrator, or scientist. GIMP can be used as a simple painting program, image editor, professional-grade photo retouching program, image render,s and image format converter.
GIMP, short for GNU Image Manipulation Program, has an impressive collection of mounting features, various ways to retouch your pictures, cropping, noise reduction, color adjustment tools, customizable brushes, gradients, and much more.
To learn how to edit and transform photos like a professional, you have to have a good base in setting up a sophisticated photo editor. Luckily for which, here are the best GIMP tutorials for beginners in 2023.
Keeping this in mind, here at Coursesity, we have curated some of the Best Online GIMP Tutorials. Hope that you will find the best course for you to learn how to become familiar with GIMP and edit photos like a professional.
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Top GIMP Tutorials List
1. GIMP 2.10 Masterclass: From Beginner to Pro Photo Editing
GIMP 2.10 Complete Guide - Learn the Free Photo Editor GIMP. Go From a Beginner to Pro in Photo Editing & Graphic Design.
In this course, you will learn:
- How to master GIMP 2.10 and use all the tools in the GIMP toolbox.
- The GIMP layout and its most important features.
- All 38 layer modes (blend modes) for creating image effects.
- Important design and image editings concepts like Layers and Selection areas.
- Editing a photo professionally from start to finish.
- Using proper methods, not shortcuts, for better and more professional results.
- Importing and editing photos for print or web into GIMP.
- Making image adjustments using powerful built-in tools and filters.
With this tutorial, you will learn the GIMP layout & basics with a comprehensive overview of all its tools in the Toolbox, including Selection, Path, Transform, Paint, text, and miscellaneous tools.
Next, you will learn how to set up the program interface for photo retouching and open RAW images into GIMP for editing your photos to improve their color and quality. You will also learn how to master the Paths tool and add a vignette around photos for a more dramatic effect.
This GIMP tutorial teaches you how to touch up photos to remove imperfections or background objects and enhancing photos for a better-finished product. You will learn the Dodge and Burn Tools for a "Vogue" look.
In addition, you will learn how to crop or resize images with minimal quality loss, including cropping images into a circle shape. After learning the editing part of GIMP, you will learn how to export your photos to file types supported by it.
You can take GIMP 2.10 Masterclass: From Beginner to Pro Photo Editing certification course on Udemy.
Course rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 ( 3,791 Ratings total)
Duration: 35 h 5 m
Certificate: Certificate on completion
2. Getting Started in GIMP
Learn how to use GIMP to create a digital postcard.
In this course, you will learn:
- Opening a file in GIMP, finding and using keyboard shortcuts.
- Cropping an image and undoing edits.
- Become familiar with using GIMP and GIMPs User Interface.
- Using Crop and Text Tools.
- Basic Color Correction Techniques.
- Adding text and rotate it.
- About layers and adding a drop shadow and lens flare.
- Applying color correction techniques.
- Saving a file in GIMP.
With this GIMP tutorial, you will learn how to use GIMP to create a digital postcard. You will be introduced to the GIMP desktop and learn how to perform some of the most common editing techniques to complete your project.
Plus, you will know how to crop and resize a photo, how to add and enhance the text. You will know how to save a file for digital use and for re-editing. You will also be introduced to the power of layers.
You can take Getting Started in GIMP certification course on Coursera.
Course rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 ( 112 Ratings total)
Duration: 45 m
Certificate: Certificate on completion
3. GIMP for Beginners - Learn How to Use GIMP from a Pro!
Learn GIMP from a pro photographer. Everything you need to know in 1 GIMP course for Linux, PC + MAC.
In this course, you will learn:
- Installing GIMP on a Linux, PC, or a MAC.
- Editing your photos, like a pro, with GIMP.
- How to process RAW files for GIMP.
- What is a Layer Mask is and how to use them in GIMP?
- Tips and techniques for editing images and creating graphics from a pro photographer (and graphic designer).
- Configuring the GIMP interface for increased productivity.
- Different file types you can use in GIMP as well as GIMP's proprietary file format.
- Setting up and using the History panel for streamlining your workflow.
- Saving files for the web, print, Photoshop, and more.
- What Blending Modes are and how to use them in GIMP?
Initially, you will learn how to install GIMP, set up the interface, and preferences of this tool. Then, you will learn one of the most essential tools in GIMP i.e. Layers. You'll learn all about Layers and how to work with them. Plus, you'll learn about another powerful type of layer; the Layer Mask.
Apart from Layers, Selection Tools, are an integral part of your skill-set. You will learn about the 7 different types of selection tools to make your job of "selecting" much easier. These tools are a big part of the advanced GIMP projects for which you will learn the basics first.
This GIMP tutorial will also show you how to process RAW files for GIMP and perform a complete edit, from start to finish, on a Nikon RAW file, a Canon RAW file, and a JPG file.
You can take GIMP for Beginners - Learn How to Use GIMP from a Pro! certification course on Udemy.
Course rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 ( 2,547 Ratings total)
Duration: 35 h
Certificate: Certificate on completion
4. Easing the Transition to GIMP for Photoshop Users
Learn about setting up GIMP to work more like Photoshop.
In this course, you will learn how to:
- Become familiar with the GIMP Desktop.
- Compare GIMP tools to Photoshop tools and set keyboard shortcuts.
- Customize the GIMP desktop to look more like Photoshop.
- Customize GIMP settings to behave more like Photoshop.
- Create a digital poster.
- Save GIMP files and learn about plugins.
With this GIMP tutorial, you will learn about setting up GIMP to work more like Photoshop. You will learn how to make the GIMP desktop similar to Photoshop’s desktop and become familiar with GIMP’s tools and how they compare to Photoshop’s tools.
In addition, you will learn how to make GIMP’s keyboard shortcuts be similar to Photoshop’s keyboard shortcuts. Plus, you’ll create a digital poster by completing a few common editing techniques and comparing these steps to what you are familiar with in Photoshop.
You can take the Easing the Transition to GIMP for Photoshop Users certification course on Coursera.
Course rating: 4.7 out of 5.0 ( 54 Ratings total)
Duration: 45 m
Certificate: Certificate on completion
5. GIMP Essential Training Online Class
Learn how to perform basic image editing techniques such as cropping, resizing, masking, and retouching in GIMP, the popular open-source image editor for Mac, Windows, and Linux.
The course includes:
- Working with Selections, Layers, Masks, and Paths
- Adjusting Images
- Using the Paint Tools
- Retouching Photos
- Working with Filters
- Working with Text
- Outputting Images
In this GIMP tutorial, you will learn how to use GIMP 2.10 to work with images and understand the GIMP interface. It also familiarizes you with the program's preferences and tools, he takes you through working with selections, layers, layer masks, and paths.
The tutorial also explains how to adjust canvas and print size, use brushes to edit masks, work with color, retouch photos, work with filters and text, print GIMP documents, and export images for web and print.
You can take the GIMP Essential Training Online Class certification course on LinkedIn Learning.
Course rating: 13,384 total enrollments
Duration: 5 h 10 m
Certificate: Certificate on completion
6. 2D Game Artist: Design Pixel Art From Scratch
Make 2D art for video games using GIMP. Master GIMP's interface & create great 2D Art from scratch.
In this course, you will learn how to:
- Master GIMP's powerful interface.
- Convey meaning through shape and color.
- Use GIMPs fundamental drawing tools.
- Work with layers for complex images.
- Create gradients, drop shadows, and reflections.
- Organize and professionally export your work.
- Work to a specification like a pro.
- Create pixel art assets for your games.
- Create your own character.
- Becoming a digital artist.
Initially, you will learn by mastering GIMP's interface and get started with just 8x8 pixels for your training. You will learn how to add color, contrast, and more to bring your images alive.
Moving on, you will increase your canvas to 32x2 and beyond and learn how o create great-looking 2D icons.
You can take 2D Game Artist: Design Pixel Art From Scratch certification course on Udemy.
Course rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 ( 1,377 Ratings total)
Duration: 18 h 5 m
Certificate: Certificate on completion
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