How to make an ‘Obama’ HOPE Poster in GIMP

There are a few tutorials for this in Photoshop and Illustrator, but I haven’t found any for the GIMP, so I attempted it myself! It is a fairly simple method and easily done with great results!

My Hope Poster :)

1. Starting

Firstly choose your portrait – the less detail in the photograph the better the results!
Open in GIMP
Duplicate Original 4 times
Then Add Alpha Channel to all layers

how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp001

Add Alpha Channel

2. Threshold (~ = APPROX.)

On First layer – Go, Colors –> Threshold
Set to ~25 as shown:
REPEAT for each layer:
Second Layer: set to ~50
Third Layer: set to ~100
Fourth Layer: set to ~130

https://www.images.scottphotographics.com/how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp/how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp002.jpg

Threshold

3. Blur (This will make it smoother) (~ = APPROX.)

Now, for all layers again:
Go, Filters –> Blur –> Gaussian Blur
Set to ~2.00, ~2.00 (any more and they’ll be large white outlines later)
(Speed up the process by selecting your layer –>go, Filters –> Repeat ‘Guassian Blur’ , Ctrl F)

https://www.images.scottphotographics.com/how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp/how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp014.jpg

Blur

4. Remove Background

Grab the Selection Tool
Select the parts you don’t want to include:
Delete them from all layers (keep selection, then select layer – Press Delete)
The most detail will be on the Fourth Layer:

how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp

Remove Background

5. Delete the rest

Grab the Color Selection Tool
Select the white parts of each layer
Press Delete (You need to select the white parts for each layer, otherwise you’ll delete other things)

https://www.images.scottphotographics.com/how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp/how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp013.jpg

Delete the rest

6. Adding Colour

Select Layer – Right Click –> Alpha to Selection
First layer: Strip Pattern (download my version here) (goes in Pattern Folder of GIMP Folder)
For the Strips to fit nicely you may need to scale down the image(~350) or edit the .pat file!
Apply a little blur if you like!

https://www.images.scottphotographics.com/how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp/how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp004.jpg

Strip Pattern

Select Layer – Right Click –> Alpha to Selection
Second Layer: Creamy Colour: fbde90 (or you could use a Light Blue: 0087a1)
Settings as shown: (remember Fill Whole Selection)

Creamy Colour

Select Layer – Right Click –> Alpha to Selection
Third Layer: Red Colour: 820606 (or for a brighter red e7000a)
Settings as shown: (remember Fill Whole Selection)

https://www.images.scottphotographics.com/how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp/how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp006.jpg

Red Colour

Select Layer – Right Click –> Alpha to Selection
Fourth Layer: Blue Colour: 004754
Settings as shown: (remember Fill Whole Selection)

https://www.images.scottphotographics.com/how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp/how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp007.jpg

Blue Colour

7. Background Part 1

Create a new Layer:
Grab the Selection Tool
Go round the edges just slightly in off the edge, as shown:
Now, Fill the selection with the Blue Colour: 004754
Then use the Selection Tool again, but select one half (right), fill with Red Colour: 820606 (or for a brighter red e7000a)

https://www.images.scottphotographics.com/how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp/how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp008.jpg

Just inside the edge - Fill with Blue Colour

https://www.images.scottphotographics.com/how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp/how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp009.jpg

Fill the other half with Red Colour

7b. Background Part 2

Now, go Image –> Canvas Size
Adjust so it is slightly wider and the length is increased to fit some text (‘HOPE’)

https://www.images.scottphotographics.com/how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp/how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp010.jpg

Enlarge Canvas

8. Move

Now, go Right Click (on a layer) –> Merge Visible Layers
Then centre the layer in the middle-top, as shown:
Now create a new Layer and fill with a Creamy Colour: fcdf91

Centre-Top

9. Add Text ‘HOPE’

Use the Text Tool
Whatever word you’d like underneath? (‘HOPE’)
Use Text: Franklin Gothic Demi
Size: ~180
If there is excess length or width just crop away!

https://www.images.scottphotographics.com/how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp/how-to-make-an-obama-hope-poster-in-gimp012.jpg

Insert 'HOPE'

10. Adjusting Colours

If you’d like to experiment with colours, just Right Click (on a layer) –> Merge Visible Layerd
Then, go Colors –> Hue-Saturation

That’s it! Some parts are tricky so feel free to ask if you need clarification!

If you’d like to use these photographs please Contact Me!

Please comment below if you have any questions and I’ll answer them ASAP!

Written by Mike

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Michael Scott is the publisher and photographer behind Scott Photographics! He is very passionate about his photography and enjoys sharing the best of his experiences for others to enjoy too! Contact Mike via email!

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