Creating Rounded Corners with GIMPShop

This article was created in response to a visitor’s request from a Matt Thommes article titled Using Paths to create smooth, rounded corners in Photoshop. The visitor requested a write-up on how to create images with rounded corners in the GIMP, a free, open source image editing and manipulation program. If you are on Windows, there is a modified version of the GIMP called GIMPShop that uses Photoshop naming conventions for tools and menus, among other features, making the transition to this easier for those that are accustomed to Photoshop. Read on to find a comparison of three very easy methods to create images with rounded corners using GIMPShop.

Method 1 - Make Rounded Selection, “cut” corners, Save As new image

The easiest way to create an image with rounded corners is to open your image, choose Select from the options at the top, and choose Rounded Rectangle. You can then adjust the “Radius” to make the curves more or less dramatic, and GIMPShop will automatically create a rounded rectangle selection on top of your image. From here you can simply choose Edit -> Cut and paste your rounded corner selection into a new window.

When you choose the Rounded Rectangle tool under Selection, you will get the option to adjust the radius. This will be a trial and error process for you as there is no way to preview your radius selection.

If you Cut your rounded rectangle selection, you will get some remnant pieces as shown below.

Arguably faster than “cutting” the rounded rectangle selection and pasting it into a new image, another method is to simply “cut” the remnant corner pieces.

To do this make your Rounded Rectangle selection as outlined above, but now choose Select -> Inverse (Ctrl+I), then Edit -> Cut (Ctrl+X), then File -> Save As… (Ctrl+Shift+S) to delete the corner pieces. This eliminates the need to create a new image to paste into, which can be a time saver if you are working with many images.

Method 2 - Make rounded selection, use Script-Fu to Fade Outline

Another option is to create your rounded selection as outlined above, then use a Script-Fu option to fade the outline. Choose Script-Fu -> Selection -> Fade Outline, then you can paste your selection into a new window (make sure to choose copy merged and not just “copy”), or you can save your selection as is.

If you save your pasted rounded selection as a .jpg, GIMPShop will warn you that JPEG can’t handle transparency and that the image will be flattened. If you will be displaying your image on a white background, this will probably be okay, otherwise you will want to save as a .png or another format that preserves transparency. While there are browser exceptions, the PNG or GIF file format will let you create something you can place on any colored background, great for website logos and other images.

Method 3 - Use Script-Fu to create Round Corners

Finally, there is a Script-Fu option under Decor called Round Corners that might be what you are looking for. There are a few options you can modify like changing the radius or adding a drop-shadow.

This can be a very convenient tool once you get comfortable selecting a radius size. For example, to create the rounded corner image below, I had to select a radius of 350 pixels since my source image was very large (around 2000 pixels wide). Unfortunately there is no way to preview your changes so you will encounter a trial and error process as you find the right radius for your rounded corners.

A rounded rectangle method comparison

In the image below I have created three rounded edge images using the different methods described above.

From the bottom left, going clockwise, are examples of methods 1-3. The image on the bottom left shows the clean edges you get from a cut and paste after you make a rounded corner selection. The image on the top left shows the feathered look you get when you choose the “Fade Outline” option under the Script-Fu “Selection” menu. The top right image shows the default output if you choose the Script-Fu “Rounded Corners” (defaults are a radius size of 15px and the inclusion of a drop-shadow).

Closing Thoughts

A new version of GIMPShop (2.2.8) was released October 16th, 2005. The MSI installer download size is just 7.35MB and the whole installation takes just a few minutes. Go to PlasticBugs.com for more information and a download mirror.

I haven’t found an equivalent Rounded Rectangle selection tool in GIMPShop, so I’m using one of the methods outlined above. Perhaps there is a better way to create an arbitrarily sized and positioned rounded rectangle and I have not found it. Please feel free to enlighten me by leaving a comment.

Finally, this guide was meant to show the rounded corners capabilities that exist in the GIMP, using a modified version for Windows called GIMPShop. PlasticBugs explains what GIMPShop is and that there are versions of it for Linux and OS X as well, so whether you choose the original or you choose GIMPShop, there are several very easy ways to create rounded corners for your images.