{37} GIMP Essential Projects for Graphic Designers (Udemy.com)
GIMP essentials class for graphic design (ers)! Includes 37 GIMP projects for your graphic design portfolio.
Created by: Chris Parker
Last updated May 2025
What you will learn
- Learn the essential GIMP skills all graphic designers need for a successful career.
- Once you complete this class you'll have 30+ different graphic design projects for your portfolio
- You will learn how to wrap text around shapes, put text inside shapes and much more
- You will learn how to properly align layers for precise, clean, professional design layouts
- You will learn how edit photos like a pro
- You will learn how to create basic and custom shapes in GIMP... like badges, banners and more
- You will learn how to warp, distort and re-size shapes, text and more all in GIMP
- You will learn how to add color accents, quickly and easily remove white backgrounds, how to add textures and change colors with Blending Modes
- You will learn how to use Layer styles (in GIMP - I'll show you how) to customize and create unique designs
- You'll learn how to place text and graphics onto products (mockups)
How it compares
Against the other 413 rated Udemy courses in Graphic Design on CourseDuck:
- Rating4.6 out of 5higher than 65% of them
- Reviews152#257 of 414 by number of reviews
- Length6.1 hourslonger than 59% of them
- Last updatedMay 2025earlier than 50% of them
Course Description
37 GIMP Essential Projects for graphic design (ers)!
Yes, you'll learn GIMP and graphic design by doing. This GIMP course will teach you how to use GIMP & graphic design by doing actual, practical, real world graphic design projects!
This is the largest graphic design course, using GIMP, on this platform in terms of the number of projects. Once you complete this class you'll have 30+ different graphic designs for your portfolio!
Oh, and I'll share my pro tips for starting your graphic design freelance business by creating your logo, business card and getting your 30+ designs on a free online portfolio site... to share and network your skills as a graphic designer!!
If you're ready to jumpstart your graphic design career I'm here to help you achieve your dream. Let's do it! To get started click on the "Add to Cart" button (to the right or bottom - depending on your device).
If you're still not quite sure if this course is for you... read on...
Here is the full list of EVERYTHING you'll learn with this course and ALL 30+ graphic design projects...
New to GIMP? No worries, you'll start off learning the essentials of GIMP: Layers, Layer Masks and "Adjustment Layers"... for GIMP). All 3 are essential for being a creative graphic designer.... and you'll use all 3 continuously throughout the class. Once completed, you'll have mastered these Layer types.
Also, for GIMP beginners, you'll learn how to set your resolution for web and print graphic design projects, the difference between RGB and CMYK, how to create custom sized documents, and more. All things graphic designers should know!
GIMP Graphic Design Projects 1 - 9: How to properly edit your photos like a pro. Your first 9 projects will consist of learning new skills for editing images. These are essentials skills for increasing your income and improving your clients designs.
GIMP Graphic Design Projects 10 - 11: Next, the fun begins! That is, if you weren't having fun already. :) Shapes. Basic shapes & creative shapes. Essentials for containing text, photo frames, balancing designs, leading readers and much more. You'll learn how to create shapes and more for balanced graphic design projects.
GIMP Graphic Design Projects 12 - 13: Let's add some context to your graphic design layouts! Text. Learn how to add it and use it in GIMP.
GIMP Graphic Design Project 14: For professional graphic design work you must know how to properly align your layers! If not, your designs will look sloppy. We can't have any of that! So... you'll learn how to use the alignment tool, in GIMP, to precisely align your content.
GIMP Graphic Design Projects 15 - 16: Take your GIMP & graphic design skills to the next level by applying Blending Modes for creative results. Learn how to add color accents, change colors and more!
GIMP Graphic Design Projects 17: It's now time to spice up your text and shapes with Layer Styles... drop shadows and strokes!
GIMP Graphic Design Project 18: Learn how to use the Gradient tool for creative effects. Combining some previous knowledge with this new tool you'll end up with a new (creative) design for your portfolio.
GIMP Graphic Design Projects 19: Transform & Distort. 2 new skills all graphic design (ers) should know! Learn how to replace images on existing product photos and more.
GIMP Graphic Design Projects 20 - 23: Time to up your creativity and skills with GIMP Filters. Filters are a great way to help you achieve your creative vision. Create graphic design projects that will help your portfolio stand-out from the over crowded graphic design community. You'll learn how to create an old-school, retro ad with a '60's vibe, how to create natural looking lens flare, how to create a soft-elegant glow, and much more.
GIMP Graphic Design Projects 24 - 27: Selection tools, in GIMP, can help make your job easier by separating foregrounds and backgrounds, removing unwanted objects/subjects, and even being creative, and much more. You'll learn my favorite selection tools and how to use them to perfect your graphic design portfolio.
GIMP Graphic Design Projects 28 - 31: Learn how to create some of the most popular visual effects in GIMP. Then, take that knowledge to create your own graphic design projects for your portfolio.
GIMP Graphic Design Projects 32 - 33: You'll learn how to install custom brushes in GIMP, created by other artists, to use in your own artwork. Then, you'll work on 2 new creative graphic design projects with these brushes. First, you'll take an ordinary photo and transform it into a watercolor painting... it's easier than it sounds. Then, you'll create a retro vintage auto ad with the brushes and with a lot of the tools learned thus far!
GIMP Graphic Design Project 34: This is my favorite project! Just when you thought there was nothing more to learn in GIMP you'll be blown away with the tips and techniques in this project. This is by far the most advanced graphic design project (in this GIMP Essentials course) and once completed you'll have a masterpiece for your portfolio!
GIMP Graphic Design Projects 35 - 36: Now it's time to take all the knowledge you've gained and put your new-found GIMP skills to work. Oh, and it's time to start promoting yourself as a graphic designer too! How? By creating YOUR logo and business card. Pro tips and more included in projects 35 and 36.
Instructor Details
- 4.6 Rating
152 Reviews
Chris Parker
30 years experience as a pro photographer. Teaching photography, Photoshop, Lightroom, and Topaz Photo AI.
In the last 30 years, I've photographed thousands of portrait sessions and 500+ weddings. I'm also a graphic designer and a lifelong user of Photoshop (since 1991) and Lightroom (since 2007).
Helping photographers achieve their creative vision since 2010.
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Reviews
By Aaron Castro Ulloa on 3/12/2023
Great for people with no experience or whose main goal probably is not to use this tool on daily bases. I would like to see more options for the modes, filters, or colors (perhaps some explanation of what you can accomplish between using this set of tools vs the other), not just to focus on retro effects (maybe what I mean is that retro effects were the most common set of exercises). Overall, this course is a great tool that you will probably review a few times to remember the effects you like to apply.
By Anonymized User on 12/16/2022
This is one of the best Udemy courses I have taken. Chris is knowledgeable and funny, and really gives you a deep and thorough explanation about how to do the projects. I highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to unleash GIMP's potential.
By Dorothee Lehmann on 2/5/2022
Der Kurs hat sehr viel Spaß gemacht. Ich habe viel gelernt. Am Anfang habe ich versucht, wie vom Dozenten vorgeschlagen, mit Photopea zu arbeiten. Da dort aber nicht alles 1:1 wie bei Gimp ist, war es schwierig, die Projekte nachzuvollziehen. Als ich dann doch Gimp installiert hatte, hat es prima geklappt.
By Richard Lamey on 9/24/2021
The section on layers jumps into the first image without giving its name. The layer / file 008.png is not in the resources I downloaded. The GIMP software layout on his screen is completely different to my GIMP app when I open it.
By Brenda George on 4/30/2021
I'm halfway through so far and can't believe how pleased I am with this course! Although I've been using GIMP for years (mostly because I know how to look up quick YouTube instructional videos), this is the first time I've taken the initiative to learn the tools and layer-mode capabilities. In just a few minutes, our instructor explained how layers and different layer modes work, more thoroughly than any random instructional video you'll stumble upon from YouTube. Since that, I've understood the effects they'll create before I select one for my personal for-fun projects. First time ever that I fully understand the foundation for everything else we'll use in GIMP. I'm not intimidated by the program anymore. In this course, we work along with the lessons on (provided) sample images to see each concept in action. The course also includes a detailed guide to supplement the lessons. And the most exciting part of this whole endeavor, for me at least, is that we'll have a full portfolio to share with potential clients after finishing all the lessons. The pace of each lecture seems ideal for maximum comprehension and following along. The lessons are engaging and well organized. The course's "flow" seems ideal - neither too slow nor too fast. I wish I'd have signed up long before now. If you're on the fence, don't hesitate. You cannot go wrong here.
By Brian Richardson on 6/29/2020
I love the way Chris explains the process in a clear and easy to follow way without getting bogged down. I understand far better how and WHERE to apply certain tools, and my editing and creative web projects have gone to a new level. I've taken a gimp course before but this far surpasses it.
By Gregg Hardin on 9/24/2019
Yes, this is a good match. I can understand the instructor and he explains the concepts well and I am enjoying being in the virtual classroom doing the exercises alongside him. I have taken other Gimp course where instructors have mumbled or had accents and haven't had any problems yet with this instructor. I am sorry that it took me so long to get to this particular course and will proceed when I have the time, which I will carve out each day for this.
By Robert Bates on 8/30/2019
I am really enjoying this course. The course is fantastic so far. The instructor is fun, easy to understand, knowledgeable, and willing to help students. The course material is splendid and makes the course enjoyable overall. I would strongly recommend this course and this instructor to any other student interested in learning Gimp. It was also a nice reward/incentive for working hard through the course in order to get some more FREE courses. Thanks
By Arif on 8/3/2019
I am beginner and this course helped me a lot in understanding the overall how GIMP works and specially the projects helped me get some confidence in handling this software. Good way of teaching. really enjoyed it.
By Wesley Marsh on 7/29/2019
Great course. I've tried others and found them too hard to follow or confusing. The course explains how to use and also explains the tools so I can understand them. The pace is just right for me without quick jumps from command to command. Also, he explains some of the design terms a designer needs to know.
Quality Score
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Overall Score : 92 / 100












