Creating Books Covers with the GIMP for Self-publishing Beginners

Learn the GIMP from the Ground UpIn this book 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 book 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. Now I Can use GimpI downloaded Gimp a while back, but thought it would take me forever to figure out how to use it in my spare time. Now Brian comes along with this book and explains how to do the one thing I need to do most--design book covers! I don't have to sift through the entire software manual anymore. Brian gives the essential information and offers links to many great examples of book covers. This book is an excellent value for self-publishing authors who want to go beyond the Kindle Cover Creator without paying for expensive software like Photoshop.---KschimmelwriterThis book 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 to stand out. Note: I discuss 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 book beyond installation should be fully applicable. Sell More of Anything with Professional Looking GraphicsThough 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 Book Includes Everything You Need to Know to Become Proficient with the GIMPInstalling and Running the GIMPCreating a Simple Book CoverWorking with Layers and SelectionsLoading Fonts and Using Font EffectsBuying and Manipulating Inexpensive ImagesCreating Colored BoxesUsing Layer MasksSroking a PathPutting It All TogetherLearn to Create Stunning Book Covers and MoreWhy 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. Informative. Nice to know!!Very informative and nice to know. Very useful for the beginner and advanced alike. Thank you for writing this book !!---Ernie A. 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?About the AuthorHi, I'm Brian Jackson. I'm a self-published author, publisher, web site designer and cover creator for both myself and my wife, author Melanie Jackson. I originally began using the GIMP while working for Cisco Systems in the Silicon Valley.---Brian