B Space

Draw regular shapes using The GIMP

September 30, 2007 · 35 Comments

I have been a user of GIMP for a while now. While I was able to do whatever change to existing images, today I was faced with a new challenge. Well, how do I draw a simple non-filled rectangle? I could not find any tool in GIMP which would help me create a simple rectangle. A decent image editor should provide an easy way to draw regular shapes right?

After a bit of searching I found a way to draw a simple rectangle. Here it is for all of you who may need it.

Step 1: Open GIMP

Step 2: Create a new Image by clicking on File > New and selecting the image size from the dialog that pops up

Step 3: Click on the Select Rectangular Regions tool. [Figure 1]

Step 4: Draw a rectangular selection on the image. [Figure 2]

Step 5: From the menu choose Edit > Stroke Selection. [Figure 3]

Step 6: In the Stroke Selection dialog, select the line width of the rectangle you wish to draw, the type of line, the pattern and other desirable attributes. [Figure 4]

Step 7: Click on the Stroke button

Step 8: The rectangle is now drawn and selected [Figure 5]

List of Figures

Figure 1 – The GIMP – Rectangular Selection

The GIMP - Rectangular Selection [Figure 1]

Figure 2 – Draw a rectangular region

[Figure 2]

Figure 3 – Stroke Selection

[Figure 3]

Figure 4 – Stroke Selection Dialog
[Figure 4]

Figure 5 – Hurray!

[Figure 5]

Categories: Computers · GIMP · GPL · Graphics · Linux · Shapes · Software
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35 responses so far ↓

  • rio2000 // October 5, 2008 at 1:22 am | Reply

    how to change the border color ?

  • Bala // October 5, 2008 at 1:51 pm | Reply

    @rio2000, first select the color from the palette and then make your selection. Once you click Stroke Selection, the selected color will be used to draw the shape.

    ~B

  • Harsh // October 23, 2008 at 7:21 am | Reply

    Pretty nifty tip, thanks! But getting to know GIMP is taking a long time. :(

  • Bala // October 23, 2008 at 3:42 pm | Reply

    @Harsh, thanks for leaving a comment. It takes a while and that too if you use it on Windows it is pretty difficult to adjust to the way the controls look/respond/work.

  • Jason Friedman // October 27, 2008 at 4:35 pm | Reply

    Thanks for providing this information, it was very helpful!

  • Bala // October 28, 2008 at 6:38 am | Reply

    @Jason, glad you found this post useful and thanks for the comment

  • prasanna // October 30, 2008 at 10:59 am | Reply

    really nice, i had been searching this for a long time in Gimp.

    Now i got it, thanks

  • Bala // October 30, 2008 at 6:34 pm | Reply

    @Prasanna, glad u found it useful.

  • Key Figures of this blog « B Space // December 6, 2008 at 4:33 pm | Reply

    [...] Most Active Post: Draw regular shapes using The GIMP [...]

  • merada // December 8, 2008 at 11:09 am | Reply

    I was doing a cd booklet with Scribus but could not
    find out how to draw boarders for cutting. Your tip
    was really pretty handy.
    Thank you so much.

  • Bala // December 8, 2008 at 5:28 pm | Reply

    @Merada, glad you found it useful and thanks for leaving a comment.

  • David Apeji // January 5, 2009 at 12:05 pm | Reply

    Thanks for this tip. I’ve been wanting to know how to do that for ages.

  • Bala // January 5, 2009 at 4:14 pm | Reply

    @David, Happy to hear that you found this post useful :)

  • nasheeda // January 28, 2009 at 7:52 am | Reply

    Its gettin difficult to other shapes. I am tryin to draw a diamond shape, n I tried by drawing rectangle and rotating it 45 degrees, no use. its getting aliased. :(

    I even experimented with Map Objects, its workin and I am getting a filled diamond but I want an empty one with just borders.

    Any suggestions?

    • Bala // January 28, 2009 at 4:50 pm | Reply

      @nasheeda, You can try using the Perspective tool before making the stroke. Please see this illustration. You might be able to get one half of a diamond and then duplicate it for the other side.

  • A French // February 25, 2009 at 10:41 pm | Reply

    Thanks. I could not work out how to do it.

    • Bala // February 27, 2009 at 3:25 pm | Reply

      You are welcome
      ~B

  • titanium_geek // April 17, 2009 at 6:30 am | Reply

    This is legend. Thanks!

    • Bala // April 17, 2009 at 3:50 pm | Reply

      Glad it worked for you

  • Nenad // May 4, 2009 at 8:40 am | Reply

    Yesterday I was disappointed because my mom wanted to boot into windoz to use Paint so I thought I give her a brief GIMP tutorial. It’s the first time I realized there is no rectangle/circle drawing tool!!!

    Quite amazed… How am I to explain to a newbie that you need 5 or so steps to draw a simple shape…

    Gimp developers, get yourselves together!

    • Bala // May 5, 2009 at 5:50 pm | Reply

      Yes, you are right, it is something very basic and would be expected in a piece of software that would want to be known as the substitute of Adobe Photoshop.

      Unfortunately, in the several editions that had come out after I had written this post, this has not changed.

  • Simon // May 8, 2009 at 9:21 am | Reply

    How about drawing a rounded rect?

    • Bala // May 9, 2009 at 1:21 pm | Reply

      Make a rectangular selection and then do a Select > Rounded Rectangle. In the popup select the desired radius

  • ravi // June 2, 2009 at 4:14 am | Reply

    It is helpful.

    • Bala // June 8, 2009 at 4:14 pm | Reply

      Thanks for the comment, Ravi!

  • OurPhotos // July 23, 2009 at 2:04 am | Reply

    Hey thanks for the quick and easy guide! There is a bit of a learning curve with GIMP.

    • Bala // July 23, 2009 at 4:50 pm | Reply

      You are welcome. Agreed, there is a bit of a learning curve.

  • CaseCrash // July 31, 2009 at 8:11 pm | Reply

    Wow, thanks alot! I’ve been trying to figure this out for awhile :)

    • Bala // August 1, 2009 at 1:06 pm | Reply

      You are welcome, CaseCrash

  • David Clayton // August 13, 2009 at 9:33 pm | Reply

    Thank you for this tip. It is very helpful.

  • Piotr // September 27, 2009 at 8:57 pm | Reply

    1. Open image
    2. Filters >> rendering >> Gfigure

    Draw any figure that you need
    And thats all.

    • Bala // October 1, 2009 at 5:32 pm | Reply

      That was one super cool tip. Worked Great. Thanks :)

  • techspalace // November 14, 2009 at 3:38 am | Reply

    superb

  • techspalace // November 14, 2009 at 3:56 am | Reply

    Helped me in this picture http://techspalace.blogspot.com/2009/11/use-ssh-tunnel-for-internet-browsing.html

    • Bala // November 14, 2009 at 9:01 am | Reply

      Thanks for your comment and the link :)

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