How to Use Scissors in Gimp

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

GIMP is a free photo editing software that can be downloaded at gimp.org. The intelligent scissors in GIMP are used as a select tool that is faster than using the paths tool. The lines will curve to create a selection.

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. They look like a pair of scissors.
    Step 1 Make sure you are on the intelligent scissors tool.
    {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/4\/4a\/Use-Scissors-in-Gimp-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4a\/Use-Scissors-in-Gimp-Step-1.jpg\/v4-400px-Use-Scissors-in-Gimp-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":400,"bigHeight":300,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  2. To do this, simply click on that layer in the layers and channels box.
    Step 2 Make sure you are on the layer you wish to make a selection in.
    {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/f\/f4\/Use-Scissors-in-Gimp-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f4\/Use-Scissors-in-Gimp-Step-2.jpg\/v4-400px-Use-Scissors-in-Gimp-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":400,"bigHeight":300,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b0\/Use-Scissors-in-Gimp-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Scissors-in-Gimp-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b0\/Use-Scissors-in-Gimp-Step-3.jpg\/aid1533185-v4-600px-Use-Scissors-in-Gimp-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":600,"bigHeight":450,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Click around the object you want to select. Notice that the lines curve and zigzag sometimes to get the correct selection.
  4. An infinity sign should come up (looks like a sideways "eight"). Click on this point to complete the selection.
    Step 4 Once you have gone around the object, put the mouse on on the first point created.
    {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/7\/7d\/Use-Scissors-in-Gimp-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7d\/Use-Scissors-in-Gimp-Step-4.jpg\/v4-400px-Use-Scissors-in-Gimp-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":400,"bigHeight":300,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/79\/Use-Scissors-in-Gimp-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Scissors-in-Gimp-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/79\/Use-Scissors-in-Gimp-Step-5.jpg\/aid1533185-v4-728px-Use-Scissors-in-Gimp-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    An image of a dotted circle should show up. Click inside the circle to create the selection.
    6. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do I delete the selected area?
    Community Answer
    All you have to do it hit the delete button. It is that simple.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 51 Helpful 20
  • Question
    Where is the 'Delete' button?
    Community Answer
    Usually you'll find one on your keyboard, above the backspace key. You can also do CTRL-X to cut the selected area, effectively removing it from the image.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 5 Helpful 3
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • You can save your scissor selection as a path by going to the paths tab in the layers/channels/paths box and clicking on the "selection to path" tool, which looks like a red oval with black dots around it (roughly accurate).
        Thanks
      • If you notice the intelligent scissors have incorrectly guessed where the selection is, drag the line to the correct place. It will create another point and hopefully correct the mistake.
        Thanks
      • Clicking outside the image will include up the border of the image in your selection.
        Thanks
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Draw a Circle in Gimp
      How to
      Recolor Anything on Gimp
      How to
      Make a Transparent Image Using Gimp
      How to
      Create an Animated GIF Image with GIMP
      Using the Pen Tool in GIMP: Drawing Shapes, Curves, & Lines
      How to
      Install Scripts Into Gimp
      3 Ways to Install GIMP
      How to Adjust Brightness in GIMP
      How to
      Use the Clone Tool in Gimp
      How to Change the Size of Icons in GIMP
      How to
      Create a Gradient in Gimp
      2 Simple Ways to Crop an Image Using GIMP
      How to
      Remove Facial Blemishes on GIMP
      How to
      Outline Text in GIMP 2
      Advertisement

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 147,786 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement