How to highlight text in screenshots

Before

After

Sometimes scientific presentations include screeshots and text is highlighted by drawing box around it and either filling it it blank or a semi transparent fill. In fact, yesterday I was just about to do that but then I decided to open Gimp and  apply some layering technique.



The results?

For black text the natural option is the Addition Layer. For the blue text HSL Color works best.

Here is a quick run down.

1. File > Create > From Clipboard

2. If the layers dialog isn't showing press Ctrl + L  or in Mac Command + L. 

3. Create a new transparent layer Shift + Ctrl + N or in Mac Shift + Command + N.

4. If the toolbox dialog isn't showing press Ctrl +  B and click on the rectangular select tool or press R.

5. Make sure the newly create layer is selected. In it draw a box over the text you want to highlight. You don't  need to be so precise.

6. Open the color picker dialog and select the highligh color. After you are happy with your selection close the dialog.

7. Drag that color over the selection. Again make sure you're doing this on the transparent. 

8. Select the appropriate layer mode  (click on the video above to see the posibilities).

Enjoy and stay safe.

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