GIMP: create a retro look - how it works
We'll show you how to create a retro look for your photos with Gimp, the free alternative to Photoshop. We take a photo of an Icelandic waterfall as an example image.
Step 1: Open the photo
First open the desired photo in Gimp and duplicate the layer via the menu "Layer" -> "Duplicate Layer" (key combination: Shift + CTRL + D).
Step 2: First adjustments to the picture
All of the following steps are performed at the copied level. This must be clicked in the layer window and highlighted in blue. All values are of course only guidelines and depending on the initial image, try a little with different settings.
- Now select "Colors" in the top menu and then "Values". Enter the value 20 under Source values in the left field and confirm the selection with "OK".
- In the next step go back to "Colors", then to "Brightness / Contrast" and reduce the contrast to approximately -15.
3rd step: A big step towards a retro look
These steps are also carried out again at the copied level.
- Open the "Colors" menu again. Now select the sub-item "Curves". In the window that opens, go to "Channel" and select the red channel there first.
- In the lower area of the window there is a red straight line that runs from the bottom left to the top right. By clicking and dragging, you give this straight line the shape of a curved S. You should also deform the green straight line to an S.
- With the blue channel, you simply move the starting points of the straight line. The left starting point is shifted up a little, the right starting point is shifted down a little.
Step 4: Optional and flexible last step for your retro look picture
Your image has lost some of its warmth through the previous steps. We can now fix this in the next step. This step is not mandatory if you were already satisfied with your previous result. The same applies here: try different values and do not commit yourself to a specific value.
- First we create a new layer. To do this, we go to "Layer" in the menu, then to "Create new layer" (key combination Shift + CTRL + N) and select the item "Transparent" in the following dialog under "Layer filling type".
- Now fill this level with the filling tool (Shift + B) with a red, orange or violet tone. In this tutorial we choose a violet shade (color code: # f638f8). Of course, you can also use other colors to give your picture a different touch. In this case, trying is better than studying.
- The mode of this level is set to "screen" and the opacity is reduced to about 10%.
Step 5: The picture with the vintage look is ready
Your picture with the vintage look is now finished and you can also save it as .PNG or .JPG via "File -> Export".