Create a 3D Photo Effect with the GIMP

Make Your Subject Step Out of the Photograph

3D effect goes beyond simply removing part of the background.

Original photo and modified image © J. James

The primary tools and/or skills needed to accomplish this effect are:

• Layers
• Perspective
• Masks / Background Removal

If you need a refresher on these tasks, see the tutorial links from About.com Graphics Software accompanying this step-by-step tutorial.

Inspired by an Instructables tutorial by Andrew546, I created this tutorial using the free GIMP photo editing program. It was the very first time I've ever used this software. I highly recommend it as an alternative to programs such as Photoshop or Photo-Paint. Although the instructions in this step-by-step tutorial are for the GIMP for Windows, you can accomplish this same effect in other image editing software.

• Make Your Subject Step Out of the Photograph
• Select a Photograph
• Set Up Your Layers
• Create a Frame
• Add Perspective
• Add a Mask
• Remove the Background
• Edit the Frame
• Change the Background
• Finetune Your 3D Photo