2 min read

Gimp Automating Image Processing with Python Fu

What a large volume of adventures may be grasped within the span of his little life by him who interests his heart in everything.

ā€” Laurence Sterne.

Hi guys, one night I decided to create an online store and sell some drop ship products. I grab some pictures from the wholesale seller and planned to customize those images (just to put some store branding).

There were a hundred images that I want to customize, by hand it would take ages so I decided to create a batch script. My first thought was to use Gimp (an open source image manipulator) and Script-Fu. After trying out what the result would be on Python-Fu console, I settled with this. It was a simple design but I was satisfied.

Here is the script that I use. Try it out on Python-Fu console and call it convert_to_poster(n), where n is the image number in the image list inside Gimp. You could for loop it for faster batch processing.

First we set the variables.

current_image = gimp.image_list()[n]
center_x = current_image.width / 2
center_y = current_image.height / 2
c_size = 600
c_size_d = c_size / 2 

Then we resize the image / canvas.

pdb.gimp_image_resize(current_image, c_size, c_size, c_size_d - center_x, c_size_d - center_y)

We create an empty background layer and just fill it with white.

bg_layer = pdb.gimp_layer_new(current_image, c_size, c_size, RGBA_IMAGE, "bg", 100, LAYER_MODE_NORMAL)
pdb.gimp_drawable_fill(bg_layer, FILL_WHITE)
pdb.gimp_image_add_layer(current_image, bg_layer, 1)

We will also set the main background and foreground color that would be use in future instruction set.

pdb.gimp_context_set_foreground("#960acc")
pdb.gimp_context_set_background("#000000")

Create branding layer and fill the rectangular region with indigo.

branding_layer = pdb.gimp_layer_new(current_image, c_size, c_size, RGBA_IMAGE, "branding", 100, LAYER_MODE_NORMAL)
pdb.gimp_image_add_layer(current_image, branding_layer, 1)

pdb.gimp_selection_none(current_image)
pdb.gimp_image_select_rectangle(current_image, CHANNEL_OP_ADD, 0, 0, c_size, 260)
pdb.gimp_drawable_edit_fill(branding_layer, FILL_FOREGROUND)

Get poster image and resize its layer to fit canvas.

poster_layer = current_image.layers[0]
pdb.gimp_layer_add_alpha(poster_layer)
pdb.gimp_layer_resize_to_image_size(poster_layer)

Select non-alpha on poster layer and grow.

pdb.gimp_image_select_item(current_image, CHANNEL_OP_REPLACE, poster_layer)
pdb.gimp_selection_grow(current_image, 3)

Create a mask and fill it with the background color that we set.

mask = pdb.gimp_layer_create_mask(branding_layer, ADD_MASK_WHITE)
pdb.gimp_layer_add_mask(branding_layer, mask)
pdb.gimp_layer_set_edit_mask(branding_layer, 1)
pdb.gimp_drawable_edit_fill(mask, FILL_BACKGROUND)

Add text node with color it white.

pdb.gimp_context_set_foreground("#ffffff")
text_layer = pdb.gimp_text_fontname(current_image, None, 10.0, 10.0, "Psyche Digital", 0, 1, 24.0, PIXELS, "SF Compact Display Heavy")

We select the main layer and add a legacy drop shadow.

pdb.gimp_image_select_item(current_image, CHANNEL_OP_REPLACE, poster_layer)
pdb.script_fu_drop_shadow(current_image, poster_layer, 10.0, 10.0, 10.0, (0, 0, 0, 255), 80, 0)

Here is the full script code:

def convert_to_poster(n):
    current_image = gimp.image_list()[n]
    center_x = current_image.width / 2
    center_y = current_image.height / 2
    c_size = 600
    c_size_d = c_size / 2 
    
    pdb.gimp_image_resize(current_image, c_size, c_size, c_size_d - center_x, c_size_d - center_y)

    bg_layer = pdb.gimp_layer_new(current_image, c_size, c_size, RGBA_IMAGE, "bg", 100, LAYER_MODE_NORMAL)
    pdb.gimp_drawable_fill(bg_layer, FILL_WHITE)
    pdb.gimp_image_add_layer(current_image, bg_layer, 1)

    pdb.gimp_context_set_foreground("#960acc")
    pdb.gimp_context_set_background("#000000")
    
    branding_layer = pdb.gimp_layer_new(current_image, c_size, c_size, RGBA_IMAGE, "branding", 100, LAYER_MODE_NORMAL)
    pdb.gimp_image_add_layer(current_image, branding_layer, 1)

    pdb.gimp_selection_none(current_image)
    pdb.gimp_image_select_rectangle(current_image, CHANNEL_OP_ADD, 0, 0, c_size, 260)
    pdb.gimp_drawable_edit_fill(branding_layer, FILL_FOREGROUND)

    poster_layer = current_image.layers[0]
    pdb.gimp_layer_add_alpha(poster_layer)
    pdb.gimp_layer_resize_to_image_size(poster_layer)

    pdb.gimp_image_select_item(current_image, CHANNEL_OP_REPLACE, poster_layer)
    pdb.gimp_selection_grow(current_image, 3)

    mask = pdb.gimp_layer_create_mask(branding_layer, ADD_MASK_WHITE)
    pdb.gimp_layer_add_mask(branding_layer, mask)
    pdb.gimp_layer_set_edit_mask(branding_layer, 1)
    pdb.gimp_drawable_edit_fill(mask, FILL_BACKGROUND)

    pdb.gimp_context_set_foreground("#ffffff")
    text_layer = pdb.gimp_text_fontname(current_image, None, 10.0, 10.0, "Psyche Digital", 0, 1, 24.0, PIXELS, "SF Compact Display Heavy")

    pdb.gimp_image_select_item(current_image, CHANNEL_OP_REPLACE, poster_layer)
    pdb.script_fu_drop_shadow(current_image, poster_layer, 10.0, 10.0, 10.0, (0, 0, 0, 255), 80, 0)

Run this code in Gimp console or in Script-Fu console.

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