How to Add Inner Text Shadow in GIMP

by John Martin Engineer

The users who are well-versed in Adobe Photoshop know how to add inner shadow to the text in GIMP. Most of the Adobe Photoshop users understand that they can add it through layer styles. However, GIMP does not offer such features, making it tricky to add an inner shadow in GIMP to the text. So, the users need to follow some distinct steps to add internal text successfully. So, first of all, install GIMP and then follow the below-given steps:-

§ First of all, you will need to create a new document and open it by clicking on it.

§ Then, add some text to the document.

§ Now, click on File to open it and then click on New.

§ Further, When prompted to the dialog box, Create a New Image, click on it.

§ Click on the Image Size section and set the size of the image as you want and click on Ok.

§ Choose and click on the Background color box section when the new document will be opened.

§ Choose the color you want and set it for the background.

§ After selecting the color and placing it, click on, Ok.

§ You will further need to tap on Edit and then go to Fill with BG color section and click on it.

§ You can fill your background with your preferred color.

§ You will need to select the text along with setting the tone to the Foreground by clicking on the Foreground color.

§ Choose the Text Tool and click on it.

§ After choosing the blank document, enter the text you want to add in the text editor of GIMP.

§ Modify the size and face of the selected font by using the controls available in the section Tool Options palette.

§ Duplicate and rasterize the layer to make the inner shadow base.

§ To do that, click on the sheet and then click on the option Duplicate Layer.

§ Choose the latest layer and right-click on it.

§ Rasterize the selected layer by clicking on Discard Text Information.

§ If there is a need to move the text layer, go to Toolbox, and choose the Move tool from there.

Now, after selecting the text layer appearing in black color, choose arrow keys available on your computer keyboard and use them to move the text to different directions you want.

Note: The original amount you want to move the layer depends on the size of the text you have selected. If the text size is larger, then it will require movement if you have chosen a document, then it will require you to move only to one pixel. Now, you continue the steps:-

§ Now, go to the Layers palette and click on it.

§ Then, go to the text layer appearing at the lower and right-click on it.

§ Select and then click on the section Alpha to Selection.

§ The outline in the form of marching ants will appear to you.

§ If you have clicked on the upper layer of the text, click on Edit and click on Clear.

§ When you click on Clear, it will remove most of the text appearing in black color.

§ Delete the marching ants by going to Select and then clicking on None.

§ Make sure that you have selected the layer looking at the upper by going to Layers palette.

§ Then, first, click on Filters and then click on Blur.

Once you complete all the steps entirely, then adding inner shadow will become easy for you. Here are the remaining steps:-

§ You will then be prompted to Gaussian Blur and click on it.

§ Once the dialog box Gaussian blur is opened, make sure that the icon of the chain visible next to the Blur Radius is not broken.

§ Click on the symbol of a chain

§ When you found a Blur Radius broken.

§ Now, choose the arrows up and down placed beside the Horizontal input box and Vertical input box and blur the text as much as you want.

§ Once you have set the amount to the blur text layer, then click on Ok.

§ Use the feature Alpha to Selection and then the Layer Mask to make the layer you have blurred to look the same as an inner shadow.

§ If you are currently working on the larger text, it will require you to move the layer blurred.

§ Choose and click on Move Tool for moving the layer blurred.

§ Now, again select the lower text layer and right-click on it by going to the Layers palette and then choose Alpha to Selection.

§ In the end, select the top layer and right-click on it.

§ Choose and click on the Add Layer Mask option to open the dialog box.

§ In the Add Layer Mask dialog box, choose and then click on Selection and then select Add.

When you click on Add, it will hide the blurred layer’s falling outside the text layer’s borders. It will give you the impression of an inner shadow to the text.

Source URL - How to Add Inner Text Shadow in GIMP