GIMP Version: 2.10.21
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: Intermediate Level

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Hi all,

How do I draw an infinty symbol, in Gimp, whose lines get narrower towards the end (example attached).
I'm not very good with the pathtool

Ella - here is a ' two minute quickie' - yes, using paths and a brush with 'fade to fade' dynamic, which delivers your narrow ends. Happy to deliver an xcf file to you if this is what you are looking for.

If you want text as well then it becomes a more tedious job - like 5 minutes.

The Gimp dynamic setting does not usually cut it for me. There is a plugin that produces a nice taper along a path, although I suspect the original image was made with a vector program such as Inkscape.

It might go like this in Gimp. Long video for me, 6 minutes https://youtu.be/zxMrYka8GTQ




Both Windows and linux plugin attached. Unzip the attachment. For Windows put stroke-path-with-taper-win64.exe in C:\Users\"yourname"\AppData\Roaming\GIMP\2.10\plug-ins

Oldmangrumpy, thanks for the explanation and willingness to provide an xcf-file. In my humble opinion, using the fade-to-fade option blurs the line of the symbol.


Rich2005, thank you too for the explanation, the plug in and making the video. At least it helps me with using the path tool. But also I think my example was created with a vector program, like Inkscape. I use that too from time to time. Drawing with paths still remains a bit difficult for me. Keep practising, I suppose

Yes, it is all about practise, with Gimp always something new to learn.

For something symmetrical like infinity symbol the Gimp flip tool works.

This is a quick animation demo. https://i.imgur.com/av9NDVY.mp4 Making a 2 control point circle (start off with 3 and delete one) then stroking / duplicate layers / and flip.

Thank you, Rich.

This one is even better.

Thank you Rich. Thanks Ella.

Well, you can follow the steps to take your business to the next level. To draw an infinity symbol, you will need a pen or pencil and some paper. Here are the steps:

Thanks ananniamul. Welcome to Gimp Chat.
I've tried to follow your explanation. Is this sequence what you say?
What is useful the second circle for? Thanks.

Nice to see you back and using Gimp again Ella: Thanks for the inspiration!

I used a unicode character as a template when I played on 'More than just a Pretty Font'...

Unicode information

@ananniamul, thanks for te explanation. Is it as Issabella did?

Thank you for the kind words, Skinnyhouse.
But I can't manage to create the infinity symbol with the unicode, nor with the alt key.
Probably I'm doing something wrong

Hi Ella - I am sure that you will manage somehow but try this if you have a moment.

Open Gimp and add a new image - perhaps 1500x1000.

Open the webpage with the unicode symbol.

Put your mouse pointer over the large infinity character and drag across to select the character.
Copy the character (right click and copy or Ctrl + C or whatever key combination you use to copy).

In Gimp...
Set the active font to one that you know a word processor would use - Times New Roman, Helvetica, Courier, Sans Serif are some that have this unicode character.
Make the text tool active (so that you have the text tool options available).
Set a very large size - say 800.
Click on the gimp canvas to apply the text tool and press Ctrl+V (or whatever key combination you use to paste with) to paste the unicode infinity character.

Now it's available to use as a template in Gimp.

Examples below:

@Skinnyhouse, thanks to your detailed explanation, I managed to create the infinity sign in Gimp

Below is my test.

I told you that you would manage it Ella!