Templates can speed up your workflow by allowing you to instantly create new GIMP documents of exact size and specifications. Use of the Templates dialog is demonstrated by Mike Rankin, as well as how to use a template to change the default new document settings.
- [Instructor] So far we've seen how to create new GIMP documents by changing one of the templates listed in the new image dialogue to suit our needs. And that's fine to do every now and then but you wouldn't want to have to do that 10 times a day. Instead, you can create a custom template with all of the values that you want. So, let's see how to do that. I'll create a custom template in the Templates dialogue. So I'll start by making sure that's open by going to Windows, Dockable Dialogues, Templates. And here you can see a list of the available templates that you can use to create a new document.
It's the same as the list that appeared in the new image dialogue. So whatever changes you make here will also appear there. And in fact the templates dialogue gives you a really fast way to make new documents. All you have to do is locate the template you want and double click it. So if I want a new 1024 by 768 document I can just double click and it is created. Clicking the button at the bottom left of the templates dialogue accomplishes the same thing. It makes a new document from whatever template was selected.
There are also buttons to create a new template, to duplicate a template, to edit a template, and to delete one. In this case I'll click the button to create a new template. Let's say I often have to make images of a specific size for an email newsletter 300 pixels wide by 200 pixels tall. So I'll start by giving it a name, "Newsletter," and I can customize the icon that appears along with the template by clicking here and choosing one. I think the globe is a pretty good one for and email newsletter so I'll pick that.
And in image size I'll enter my pixel dimensions 300 for the width, and 200 for the height. I'll click on the triangle next to Advanced Options to check them and I'll make sure I'm using an RGB image. The rest of the defaults are fine so I'll click OK. And I have a new template for my email newsletter image. I can drag it in the panel to move it to a different spot in the list if I want to. And if I want to rename a template I can just double click on the name and type the new name. So I'll just change this to email newsletter.
And now I can double click the icon here in the templates dialogue any time I want to create a new image for my newsletter. And there it is, a 300 by 200 file. If later on I need to change this template because the format of the newsletter changed, I can select the template by clicking on it once, and then choose "Edit Template." And I could make it say 400 by 300. Click OK, and now double clicking gives me a new 400 by 300 image.
Finally I want to mention that you can also set a template as the default for new documents. In other words, to have the settings in the new image dialogue be the same as one of your templates. To do that, open GIMPs Preferences. Here on the Mac I'll choose GIMP Preferences but in Windows you'll find Preferences in the Edit menu. Then choose Default Image and pick your template from the pop up. You may notice that the width and height didn't change to match that of my email newsletter. That's just because GIMP didn't automatically refresh these values but the next time I open the dialogue it will show those.
So I'll click OK and then if I quit GIMP and relaunch it that will be my new default image size. If you want to go back to original settings just go to back to Preferences, Default Image, and click Reset. Just be aware that doing so will reset all of GIMP's Preferences back to their defaults not just the Preference for Default New Image. Using Templates allows you to make new documents with any desired properties very quickly and easily. And in this movie we saw how to use the Templates dialogue to create and edit a new custom image template.
Author
Released
6/13/2017- Navigating the GIMP interface
- Creating and saving documents
- Working with selections
- Using Quick Masks
- Adjusting images with Curves and Levels
- Working with text and paths
- Working with colors and brushes
- Configuring brush keyboard shortcuts
- Enhancing photos with filters
- Outputting images
Skill Level Beginner
Duration
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Introduction
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Welcome43s
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1. Getting Started
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Exploring GIMP preferences3m 52s
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Exploring GIMP tools4m 30s
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Creating new documents3m 56s
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Saving documents3m 52s
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2. Working with Selections
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Using the Free Select tool4m 32s
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Using the Fuzzy Select tool3m 55s
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Using Quick Masks6m 28s
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Saving selections2m 11s
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Using the Selection Editor2m 49s
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3. Working with Layers
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Understanding layers5m 28s
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Adding layers3m 1s
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Arranging layers3m 11s
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Blending layers9m 14s
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4. Working with Masks
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Creating layer masks6m 43s
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5. Working with Paths
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Creating and modifying paths9m 13s
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Paths and selections5m 2s
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Stroking paths4m 15s
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Transforming paths3m 3s
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Copying and merging paths2m 33s
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6. Adjusting Images
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Adjusting canvas size4m 28s
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Adjusting print size4m 19s
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Scaling images3m 29s
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Rotating images4m 44s
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Cropping images4m 2s
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Using perspective3m 27s
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Using Cage Transform3m 23s
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7. Using the Paint Tools
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Working with colors6m 50s
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Working with brushes7m 19s
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Using brush dynamics5m 43s
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Using the Brushes dialog4m 54s
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Creating a Parametric brush3m 56s
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Creating a Color brush3m 53s
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8. Retouching Photos
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Using Levels7m 29s
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Using Curves6m 8s
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Sharpening images5m 47s
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Blurring images6m 34s
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Using Dodge and Burn2m 6s
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Using the Clone tool7m 42s
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Using the Healing tool3m 38s
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9. Working with Filters
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Using the Distortion filters3m 15s
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Adding drop shadows3m 23s
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Adding noise3m 17s
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Fixing red eye5m 52s
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10. Working with Text
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Adding and editing text5m 10s
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Transforming text3m 10s
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Converting text to paths3m 14s
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Putting text along a path2m 59s
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11. Outputting Images
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Printing from GIMP1m 43s
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Exporting for web4m 15s
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Exporting for print4m 14s
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Conclusion
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Next steps1m 7s
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Video: Working with document templates