## Instructions - Set up GIMP right: 2.10+ with GEGL operations, single-window mode, linear-vs-perceptual precision (32-bit linear for heavy grades), tablet pressure curves tuned, Photoshop-shortcut preset imported day one. - Think layers + masks always: duplicate base (never paint on Background), white mask reveals / black conceals, layer groups per section (BG/Subject/Text/FX), blend modes Multiply for shadows / Screen for glow / Overlay for punch. - Go non-destructive with GEGL: Filters > GEGL Operation (unsharp, shadows-highlights, exposure) stay re-editable, layer modes + opacity instead of flatten, snapshot via Layer > New from Visible for safe checkpoints. - Retouch with healing and clone correctly: Heal tool for blemishes (sample clean skin nearby, 50-70% hardness), Clone for edges/patterns (aligned mode, 60-80% opacity, separate retouch layer), Frequency-separation via wavelet-decompose for pro skin. - Select like a surgeon: Paths tool for hard edges (product/person cutouts), Foreground Select for hair/fur, feather 1-3px portraits / 0.5px product, Select > Feather + Invert for background-only grades. - Color-grade with levels + curves: Levels set black/white points first, Curves per-channel contrast, Hue-Saturation master -10 to +15 only, Color Balance shadows/midtones split-toning, always adjustment via duplicate layer at reduced opacity. - Sharpen for output: Unsharp Mask radius 1.0-2.0 / amount 0.4-0.8 / threshold 2-4 for web, duplicate-sharpen layer masked to edges only (Alt-mask trick), downscale-then-sharpen order for thumbnails. - Handle text and thumbnails: 1280x720 72ppi canvas for YouTube, bold 120px+ type with 3-6px stroke + drop shadow, rule-of-thirds face left / text right, export PNG master + JPG <2MB delivery. - Export deliberately: WebP q80-85 for web (25-35% smaller than JPG), JPG q85-92 sRGB for photos, PNG for transparency/text, GIF only for tiny animations. File > Export with "optimize" + metadata stripped for web. - Batch with ImageMagick alongside GIMP: GIMP for hero edits, ImageMagick `mogrify` for folder-wide resize/convert/strip, BIMP plugin for in-GIMP batches. Never hand-export 200 images one by one. - Map Photoshop shortcuts to GIMP: V move, B brush, E eraser, [ ] brush size, Ctrl+J duplicate, Ctrl+Shift+N new layer, Del clear, remap via Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts + export shortcut preset backup. - Protect masters: save .XCF with layers/masks/paths intact, finals in `export/` with version suffix, embed sRGB ICC, keep RAW + XCF + export triple for every hero image. ## Examples - Good: duplicate layer retouch, heal at 60% hardness, WebP q82 export 180KB. Bad: clone-stamp on Background, 95% hardness blotches, 4MB BMP upload. - Good cutout: Paths traced, 1.5px feather, edge masked, shadow rebuilt on separate layer. Bad: fuzzy select no feather, halos, flattened save. - Good batch: 150 thumbs via one mogrify line in 40s. Bad: manual export-each afternoon lost. ## Workflows 1. Setup: canvas to delivery size, shortcut preset, 32-bit linear if grading, duplicate base. 2. Retouch: heal/clone on own layer, wavelet skin if needed, edge-masked sharpen. 3. Grade: levels > curves > hue-sat, blend-mode punch at 40-70% opacity. 4. Ship: XCF master save, WebP/JPG export, ImageMagick batch for sets. ## Templates - GIMP batch ImageMagick commands: - `mogrify -path ./web -filter Lanczos -resize 1920x1920\> -quality 82 -format webp -strip *.jpg` - `mogrify -path ./thumbs -resize 1280x720! -quality 88 -format jpg -strip *.png` - `convert hero.png -resize 50% -unsharp 0x1+0.6+0.02 hero_small.webp` - `identify -format "%f %wx%h %m %b\n" ./web/*` to verify batch outputs - Photoshop-to-GIMP map: `V move | B paintbrush | E eraser | [ ] size | Ctrl+J duplicate layer | Shift+O heal feel` - Thumbnail spec: `1280x720 | Title 120px bold + 4px stroke | Face/object left third | Export JPG<2MB + PNG master` ## Tools - GIMP 2.10+ (GEGL, Heal/Clone, Paths, Wavelet-Decompose) + BIMP batch plugin. - ImageMagick mogrify/convert/identify for folder batches, sRGB ICC profiles for web consistency. - SARAH file tools for retouch checklists and export manifests. ## Advanced - Build frequency-separation manually: wavelet-decompose 5 scales, heal texture layer only, smooth color layer with gaussian 8-12px for magazine skin. - Script routine work with Script-Fu/Python-Fu: watermark + resize + export recorded once, replayed on folders. - Calibrate display with dispcalGUI + sRGB proofing so GIMP exports match browsers and printers. - Cutout edge lab: Paths at 200% zoom, 1-2px feather, Layer > Mask > Add from Selection, paint-mask hair strands at 40% brush. - Product-on-white recipe: levels white-point to 245, Desaturate-shadow cleanup, drop-shadow on separate layer at 40% opacity, 2000px sRGB JPG. - Thumbnail text stack: bold sans 120px+, 4px black stroke, soft drop shadow 2px/30%, duplicate-glow Screen layer for pop. - GEGL grade chain: exposure + shadows-highlights + unsharp as live filters, snapshot New-from-Visible before export flatten. - WebP decision rule: photos WebP q82, graphics-with-text PNG, transparency PNG/WebP-lossless, animations WebP-anim over GIF. - Watermark action: 12% opacity logo bottom-right on 2048px copies only, never on print masters. - BIMP batch recipe: resize 1920 + sharpen + watermark + WebP convert in one preset, test on 5 files before 500. - XCF hygiene: named groups, masks visible, paths saved, fonts noted in layer names for handoff. ## Quick Reference - Setup: 2.10+, single-window, 32-bit linear for grades, Photoshop-shortcut preset day one. - Layers: duplicate base, masks (white reveals/black conceals), groups BG/Subject/Text/FX. - Retouch: heal 50-70% hardness blemishes, clone 60-80% edges on own layer, wavelet skin pro. - Select: Paths hard edges, Foreground Select hair, feather 1-3px portraits / 0.5px product. - Sharpen: unsharp 1.0-2.0 / 0.4-0.8 / 2-4, edge-masked, downscale-then-sharpen for thumbs. - Export: WebP q80-85 web, JPG q85-92 photos, PNG text/transparency; strip metadata web. - Masters: .XCF saved, finals versioned in export/, ImageMagick/BIMP for folder batches. ## Documentation - GIMP User Manual: layers/masks, GEGL, heal/clone, export (docs.gimp.org). - ImageMagick command-line reference: mogrify/convert/resize/unsharp (imagemagick.org/script). - sRGB + WebP web-delivery guidance (developers.google.com/speed/webp). - BIMP batch plugin docs for in-GIMP folder processing.