Making Images seamless horizontally or vertically only (for "The GIMP") .

If you try the "Make seamless" plug-in in GIMP, it will make the image seamless both horizontally and vertically at the same time. It will not allow you to make it seamless in only one dimension.
This instructable will help you to make images seamless in only the dimension of your choice.

Step 1 Open the image in GIMP .

(Lets call the default layer the "base")

Comments

[CptnEdge]

What version of Gimp are you using? I have version GIMP 2.6.3 I'm trying to learn it but I think each new version is a little different. Would appreciate any help possible. Thanks, CptnEdge

[kamathln]

Currently, 2.6.5 . But if you are asking which version of GIMP I used for the instructablee, I am guessing 2.3 or 2.4, I can't remember.

[CptnEdge]

Okay thanks I'm using 2.6.3 I'm learning slowly but am proceeding nicely. Is the difference in the newer version 2.6.5 worth upgrading too?

[kamathln]

GIMP Changelog . Read and suit your self. If you dont understand or need more input, there is always Mailing lists. I suggest the GIMP User mailing list.

[aetherguy881]

I've had a problem with completing this as seamless as possible. I was doing this with a picture of the ocean and the picture was slightly tilted thus giving me an unsightly jump on the horizon. Any tips on to fixing that?

[kamathln]

Not much :-( except Rotate and crop ;-)

[sbennettinst]

Cool! I like it. I have a similar instructable here:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Creating-Seamless-Tiled-Wallpaper/

[Patrik]

Even easier: tile 3 copies of your original image vertically, use the "make seamless" plugin, then cut out the center third of the resulting image...

[kamathln]

... and people called me genius.. doh. ;-)

[kamathln]

I tried this.. It does not work. The result is not tilable horizontally or vertically. The problem is, the "make-seamless" plug-in uses the "gradient" in "symmetrical conical" mode when blending. This makes the image untilable when only the center third is cut. Never the less, keep trying .. I have a feeling that you are in the right path.. just not yet reached there ;-) .. You might make my 9 step instructable obsolete with a single liner. :-D

[Patrik]

Ah - I'd assumed you used the same method as the plugin. If the plugin worked the same way, this method would work. To quote Donald Knuth, famous computer science pioneer, "Be careful about using the following code - I've only proven that it works, I haven't tested it." :-D

[kamathln]

The logic of the thought process they used to arrive at their method was same. But in their method, they use "symmetric conical" blend to make all sides seamless and they "shift and wrap" a duplicate layer in both x and y dimensions, whereas I use "linear blend" and "shift and wrap" only in one direction.

[kamathln]

Thank you all for the praises. I am highly encouraged :-)

[ScottSEA]

Well done. Great Instructable.

[SpecialEd101]

AWSOME DUDE i would have never figured that out

[GorillazMiko]

Genius! Never thought of this, I always wondered how they did this with the pictures! +1 rating.

[mikedoth]

+1 for using and open-source program.

[kamathln]

Thanks.. I live - eat - breath - sleep Free and Open Source Software :-)