swapping foreground or object with background color

eagertolearn · **Joined:** Feb 26, 2014 **Posts:** 248

GIMP Version: 2.8.2
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: New User

Hi All,

In GIMP, there's an easy way to substitute a foreground color or an object with a background color without having to draw boxes, etc.

I'm trying to recall the exact steps. I thought it was 3 simple steps like you place your mouse cursor over the background area of color you wanted and right-clicked the mouse and it then captured that background color. Then, you place the mouse over the foreground or object in a photo you wanted to be replaced by the chosen background color and you chose something like Ctrl or Shift and then left clicked the mouse and it swapped the foreground color or object with the background color?

I created a file about those steps and saved it on my hard drive but I can't seem to find that file.

I Googled it as well but I didn't not find the 3-4 simple steps involved - most of the posts and videos were very involved.

Would anyone recall the 3 steps or so to replace an object or foreground color with just a selected background color?

I've done it with Heal Select but that feature doesn't seem to appear anymore in my GIMP 2.8.2 under Enhance like it used to.

I had downloaded and installed the Synthesizer plug-in an it worked twice but now it does not appears in the drop down menu under Enhance.

If anyone uses Heal Select and can please share how I can revive it I’d very much appreciate your insights.

Thanks so very much for your help.

Wallace · **Posted:** Sat Dec 26, 2015 11:01 pm **(#2)**

eagertolearn wrote:

GIMP Version: 2.8.2
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: New User

Hi All,

In GIMP, there's an easy way to substitute a foreground color or an object with a background color without having to draw boxes, etc.

I'm trying to recall the exact steps. I thought it was 3 simple steps like you place your mouse cursor over the background area of color you wanted and right-clicked the mouse and it then captured that background color. Then, you place the mouse over the foreground or object in a photo you wanted to be replaced by the chosen background color and you chose something like Ctrl or Shift and then left clicked the mouse and it swapped the foreground color or object with the background color?

I created a file about those steps and saved it on my hard drive but I can't seem to find that file.

I Googled it as well but I didn't not find the 3-4 simple steps involved - most of the posts and videos were very involved.

Would anyone recall the 3 steps or so to replace an object or foreground color with just a selected background color?

I've done it with Heal Select but that feature doesn't seem to appear anymore in my GIMP 2.8.2 under Enhance like it used to.

I had downloaded and installed the Synthesizer plug-in an it worked twice but now it does not appears in the drop down menu under Enhance.

If anyone uses Heal Select and can please share how I can revive it I’d very much appreciate your insights.

Thanks so very much for your help.

The plugin you're referring to is named resynthesizer.
Check to see if you have this plugin installed to your plugins folder and that it's the only plugin with this name there.
If you find any duplicate files remove them,
then try to us heal-selection, to see if this resolved the issue.
Also check to see if the heal-selection plugin is also present.

Use the color picker tool :colpick

to select the background color,
witch will make this selected color the foreground color.

PegLeg44 · **Joined:** Feb 14, 2012 **Posts:** 426

If you choose the pencil or airbrush tool (or use the shortcut key to access it) and hold down the Ctrl key while right clicking on the color that you want it will be selected as the foreground color. If you hit the shortcut key for the Bucket tool then you can click on the canvas and fill with that foreground color. And you may need to adjust the threshold for the tool depending on your needs.

sallyanne · **Posted:** Mon Dec 28, 2015 5:26 am **(#4)**

Don't understand why filters > enhance > heal selection isn't there. I have had it right from 2.6 up to vs 2.8.10 and I have never had to add anything it has just been a part of gimp.