Cutting out objects with GIMP – it’s easy

With GIMP, you can easily cut objects out of your images. These can then be inserted into other images or further edited.

Cutting out single-color objects with GIMP

Single-color objects are the easiest to cut out. GIMP has a “magic wand” tool that selects the entire object.

• Select the “magic wand” as the editing tool in the GIMP toolbox. Then click on the object you want to cut out.

• GIMP will now usually select all elements of the object that have the same color. However, it may happen that individual pixels are not selected automatically. In this case, you should increase the threshold value.

• Now press the key combination [Ctrl] + [X]. The object is now cut and stored in the clipboard. With [Ctrl] + [V], you can paste the image section into other programs or photos.

• Tip: If you have a particularly good picture, why not use it for a photo mug, for example, and give your loved ones a little treat?

The lasso for any image objects

For more complex objects, the “magic wand” will not work. But the “lasso” can help here—another handy tool for cutting out images in GIMP.

• Activate the “lasso” in the GIMP tool window. Then click on the edge of the object you want to cut out. A small circle will appear.

• This time, click slightly offset from the edge of the image section. A second point appears, connecting to the first point. GIMP will later cut the object along this line.

• Repeat the last step until you have completely surrounded the image object. Finally, select the first circle again. GIMP will now mark the framed part of the image. It can be cut out with [Ctrl] + [X] and pasted into other photos.

• Tip: Zoom in on the desired object by turning the mouse wheel. This allows you to select the image section more precisely.

Other helpful tools for cutting out

In addition to the magic wand and lasso tools, GIMP offers other tools that are particularly useful for complex or uneven backgrounds. These include the “magnetic scissors,” which automatically follow edges, and the “foreground selection,” which marks the desired object with a brush and separates it from the background.

• The Magnetic Scissors is a selection tool that follows the edges of objects. To use it, activate the tool via “Tools” ☻ “Selection Tools” ☻ “Smart Scissors” or by clicking on the corresponding icon in the tool window.

• Use mouse clicks to set control points along the edge of the object. GIMP automatically connects these points with a line that follows the color edge. After you have completely circled the object, click on the first point to close the selection. Click inside the closed selection to activate it. You can now cut or copy the selection.

• This tool is particularly useful if the object has clear color edges. If necessary, you can adjust the selection later by moving the control points.

• The foreground selection is ideal for separating complex objects from the background. To do this, activate the tool via “Tools” ☻ “Selection tools” ☻ “Foreground selection”.

• Roughly draw a border around the desired object. When you release the mouse button, the unselected area is masked in blue. The mouse pointer turns into a brush. Now paint inside the object to mark the foreground.

• Press the Enter key to confirm the selection. This method is particularly suitable for objects with irregular or complex backgrounds.