How To Create Easy Wordpress Headers and Banners Using Gimp

In this article I will walk you through how to create a simple banner using the Gimp free graphics software.

Gimp is an open source software that is free for anyone to download. It is a great option when you do not have the need for a more powerful and costly software such as Photo Shop. While I love Photo Shop, Gimp gets the job done really well.

I have attached two Video tutorials for you to view. These are simple headers we are creating here. I have also attached a couple of  more complex headers to show you the power behind Gimp.

Here are a few examples of what you can create using Gimp.

They are somewhat simple with the exception on the elephant banner.That one was a bit more complex in cutting out the images for layering.

For now we will just keep it simple for you so you can get the hang of creating using the software.

To get Gimp set up, simply go to Gimp.org and hit the download link. In most cases you will need to right click and hit "Save As"

I recommend saving the Gimp to your desktop for easy access.

Once you have downloaded, click on the install link and let it do it's thing.

Once you have opened it. You can start your work by clicking "Ctrl n"

This will open a new window. A recommended width and height for most headers, will be right around 950 pixels wide and 150 pixels in height. This is a general dimension for most WordPress theme headers. If you are using a more robust Wordpress theme, you can go up to around 1240 pixels in width.