How do I cut out an image using Gimp?

GIMP: How can I replicate Instagram's Amaro filter using a computer based image manipulation software?

• Amaro filter examples: Original image 1: Amaro filter image 1: Original image 2: Amaro filter image 2: Original image 3: Amaro filter image 3:

• Answer:

  Let me take a stab at this. See if you like the result. I am using GIMP 2.8 We are going to make the photo on the right to look like the photo on the left. (I captured these photos from the original question's sample shots.) Step 1: Get the correct color curve First duplicate the original layer. We're going to work on the duplicated layer. Bring up the Curves tool. Switch to blue channel and modify the curve as in the screenshot above. This gets the blue channel shift that dominates the Amaro filter's character. Step 2: Composite the curve shift effect Change the composite mode of the duplicated layer to "Screen". Set opacity to 50.0. This blends the curve shift effect to the original photo to make the impact more subtle. Step 3: More subtle compositing Select both the original layer and the duplicated layer and create a new layer with "New from Visible". Set the composite mode of this new layer to Overlay at opacity of 40. This pushes up the contrast aspect of the Amaro filter. Step 4: Add vignette   Create a new layer. Draw a circular gradient from transparent to black right in the middle of the photo. Aim so that the black area forms the border for the photo (see screen shot above). Select Overlay for this layer's composite mode with opacity of 60. Step: Improve the mid tones The vignette layer does drop the overall brightness. Let's fix that. Select all previous layers, then use "New From Visible" to create a new layer resulting from all the previous steps. Then bring up the Curves tool. Make a curve like in the above screenshot for the Value curve only. Apply. Step: Finish with dodge point Like results from toy cameras, Amaro filter has a faint bright spot around the middle of the photo. Let's emulate that too. Create one last layer on top. Draw a circular gradient from white to transparent around where the faint spot is. Set the layer's composite mode to Overlay with an opacity of 40. That's all there is to it. You can tweak and do more in Gimp. Let us know how/if you improve the process.