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How To Use the Foreground Select Tool in GIMP
Today’s GIMP tutorial is going to focus on using the Foreground Select tool. This is a great selection tool for separating the foreground and background.
For example, let’s say you want to remove your subject and place it on a different background.
Or maybe you have something else creative in mind. Like adding a Tone Curve adjustment to create an old-school retro feel.
You can do all of the above and more once you’ve applied the Foreground Select tool in GIMP.
I’ll share with you how to do the above two examples at the end of this article.
So, stay tuned!
Oh, and by the way, once you’ve made your selection, you’re not limited to just changing the background. You’re only limited by your creative imagination!
If you would like to practice what you learn, you can download the image used in this GIMP tutorial by downloading from Pixabay.
Let’s get started!
Select the Tool
Once you have your image open, select the Foreground Select tool from your toolbar.
Or via the Menu: Tools > Selection Tools > Foreground Select
Let’s go ahead and take a look at how we use the Foreground Select Tool. Then, you’ll be able to use it for your own artwork.
The first thing we need to do is we need to make a rough outline of our foreground. This will tell GIMP this is the foreground and we want to add a selection to it and not the background.
But first, let’s take a look at our tool options.
Tool Options
At the top we have four Modes: Replace the current selection, Add to the current selection, Subtract from current selection and Intersect with the current selection
The one I use the most is the default option – “Add to the current selection.” Occasionally I’ll use the “Subtract from Current Selection.”
Next, we need to decide on whether or not to Feather the edges. This option will smooth out the edges, so you don’t have jagged edges.
The amount you want to apply is dependent on the size of your image. The higher the quality, the higher the Radius.
Although I rarely go above 20-25. In most cases, I’m around 5-20.
Again, it depends on the image. You’ll have to experiment with your own photos to determine what you like best.
For this particular image (I downloaded the highest res file available from the photographer), I’m going to set the Radius to 10.
As far as the other options, at the bottom, we’ll cover those as we apply the Foreground Select tool.
Rough Selection
Ok, let’s go ahead and apply a rough selection around our subject with the Foreground Select tool.
You don’t need to be precise since GIMP will do it’s magic once you’ve applied it, made your tool option selections, and refined the selection process.
To complete the rough selection, you’ll need to take the tool back to the beginning.
When you’re near where you started, you’ll see these double yellow circles. This is your visual cue to complete the rough selection.
Go ahead and release your mouse button.
At this point, all we have is an outline that we traced around our subject.
The next step is to hit your enter (if you’re on a PC) or return (if you’re on a MAC) key. This will transform your outline into 2 layers masks and will change your tool from the Lasso to a Brush.
Now what? Glad you asked!
The brush will be used to refine the selection of the foreground further. The overlay, on your subject, is a lighter shade vs. the overlay on the background.
This is the beginning process of separating the Foreground from your Background.
Now, we need to give GIMP more information about our Foreground, so it knows where to apply the selection.
This is where the brush tool comes into use.
Change Color of Overlay
Quick Tip: if you’re having a hard time seeing the overlays, you can actually change the color (if needed).
For example, let’s say you have a lot of red in your image, and a red overlay is added (by default).
This makes it difficult to see what you’re working on.
To change the color, go to the Tool Options and click on: “Preview color.” Select any color you want and presto… the overlays are updated.
Refine Selection
O.k., let’s refine our selection with our brush tool. The Stroke width will allow you to change the size of your brush.
I like to start off with a relatively large brush to cover the majority of my Foreground.
Then, I’ll select a smaller brush for the smaller details. Even smaller for things like a stray hair.
Apply the Brush
Go ahead and apply the brush, and the color you’ll see is probably different from this image. That’s o.k. It doesn’t make a difference.
The color being applied is based on the Foreground color you have setup. In this case, I have a green color (which is one of my brand colors).
Go around the entire image with different size brushes to cover most of the subject. Again, like our rough outline, it doesn’t have to be precise.
However, you do want to make sure you’re not painting on the background. If you do, select “Draw background” in the tool options to “erase” the areas where you painted outside the line.
Preview Mask
Now that you’ve finished applying your brush let’s check out what we have so far. Click on the “Preview mask” button (top right).
Depending on the size of your image, your computer resources, and Tool Option selections, this could take a few minutes.
Ok, now that GIMP has processed your preview, what do you think?
Well, the first thing you’ll notice is there are no longer 2 overlays. The background overlay has grown to the edges of your subject.
Which is what we want. But is it acceptable? How do we know? Great question.
Is any of the background not covered with the mask? Is any part of the foreground covered with the “mask”? If so, you’ll need to refine your selection with the brush again.
Before you do that, you may want to uncheck the “Preview mask” option.
Here’s why; every time you apply a new stroke, GIMP is going to update your mask automatically.
This will take forever!
Go ahead and uncheck and fine-tune your brush strokes.
Once you’re done, you may want to Preview the mask one more time before finalizing it.
"Engine"
If you’re still not happy with the results, no worries. There are a couple of other things we can do.
One, you may want to check the brush type you have selected, in the Brushes panel.
If you don’t have a soft edge (which I prefer) or hard edge brush selected that could be the cause of your poor results. If you have a custom brush selected, that is not round, then that’s part of the problem.
Two, the “Engine” being applied isn’t the best option for your image. Engine?
Ok, let’s step back for a second.
Everything we are doing is giving data to GIMP. GIMP, will then take that data to create the selection exactly where we want it. Around our Foreground in this case.
The “Engine” is nothing more than an algorithm that GIMP uses to calculate and apply your selection.
We have 2 Engines to choose from. If you’re on a PC, that is. MAC users only have 1 algorithm (at this time – 2019).
Take a look at your Tool Options and locate the “Engine.”
By default, Matting Global is selected. If you’re on a PC, you can click on that and choose a different algorithm, Matting Levin.
Sorry MAC users (I’m one of you), Matting Levin, seems to give me the best results (I’m set up with Parallels and run Windows on my iMac).
If you can, select that option and see if that improves your results.
If not, (with either option) just below the drop-down menu, you’ll see some options to fine-tune how the algorithm is applied.
Try those out.
Final Selection
Once you’re happy with your selections for, well, your final selection…
…click on the “Select” button.
Further Refine Selection
At this time, GIMP will do its magic and apply the algorithm to create your Foreground selection.
Now the fun begins!
Or does it?
Well, the Foreground Select tool isn’t 100% perfect. Sometimes it may miss some of your “subject” or maybe include some of the background.
In that case, you can use another selection tool to refine your selection.
You could try adding or removing from your selection with the Lasso tool or maybe with the Quick Mask mode. It’s up to you on which tools you prefer working with.
Refine it!
Ok, now the fun begins!
But, really, now what? Well, what do you want to achieve? What is your creative vision for this project?
Let me share a couple of ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
Remove the Background
Removing the background, so you can add a different one, can be done easily by adding a layer mask.
Click on the Layer Mask icon and select “Selection.” Click OK…
Abracadabra… the background is gone! Now, drop in a new one…
Invert Selection
What if you want to do the opposite?
Go up to Select > Invert.
This will invert your selection to select the background.
Now, add your layer mask (you can also invert with the “invert” option from the layer mask panel) as you did in the first option.
Presto… the subject is now gone.
Quick Tip
How about this…
…instead of removing the foreground or background, let’s say you want to apply a custom edit to the background (or foreground if you so choose).
Make sure the background is still selected and go to; Colors > Curves
Now, adjust the Tone Curve like this…
…this creates an old-school retro type look.
Awesome!
Quick Tip #2
Ok, one more…
…turn off your Curves adjustment layer and make sure the original image layer is selected.
Go to Colors > Hue-Saturation
Drop the Saturation to -100
Your background should now be in black and white!
Just for fun… here is my final artwork for this project…
I found another background image, on Pixabay, to replace the original.
I then scaled and flipped my subject as needed.
Plus, I did some dodging and burning to match the foreground and background.
Oh, and I added a drop-shadow too!
Although, it does need a little work to make it look more natural.
Anyway… I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
Can you please do me a favor?
Post a comment below and let me know what you think or if you have any questions.
Thanks and have an awesome day!
Chris
One Response
Hi,
Your speech is both: Thorough and slow.. Both makes you a very useful asset. You are the first out of 11 i tried who talks human language. :-). The others are speech racing more that talking. You want us/me to subscribe. I would but then enslaved to bloody Utube :-)) Horrible living on the planet turned out to be. 🙂 60 clips you offer.
WOW!! thank you for letting me see this one 🙂 I wonder what version of Gimp you have? i have just downloaded ver. 2.10.20 ( i run Linux only) claiming to be the newest yet many options you referred to are not available in mine. for egz an engine… And few others. Never mind. Fantastic lesson. Thank you.
Cheers
Stet