GIMP Version: 2.6.11
Operating System: Windows
OS Version: XP - SP3
GIMP Experience: Basic Level

List any relevant plug-ins or scripts:
Layer masks?

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Alright, what I want done is to take an image and create a fading, gradual to transparent border all around it. I've been working at it for a while but can't seem to get it done.

I've been playing around with layer masks and such. Also, when I use the 'radial' gradient that gets the effect I want, but is a circular border rather than rectangular. (I'm working on a rectangular image)

Thanks for any help/suggestions.

Make a rectangular selection where you want the border to be.

Add a layer mask to your layer, and choose initialize to black in the dialog.

Bucket fill your selection with white.

Select->None

Run the Gaussian blur filter (in the filter's preview you will see a black and white image, just realize while setting the radius that black will be transparent and white will be your image).

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Thanks you helped me out SO much~!!

Or you could instead of using Gaussian blur, you could use the feather command on it than fill with white.

That is really cool Saul. I haven't tried it that way before.

I have a tutorial on ways to make borders: http://patternhelp.com/uploads/HeightMapTutorial9.pdf

This is a pretty simple technique that can make greyscale borders. They can be turned into color ones usning the Color Map functions or just colorize. With this technique you can make any selection into any kind of gradient you want using the curves dialog box.

Basically you make a selection the size you want the border to be, fill it with Black, go to Border found under the Select menu, put in the width of your border in pixels and then click Feather, then with the selection do a Fill with BG Color to fill it with white. Then after unselecting simply use the Curves dialog box to make the border round by drawing a round shape. Then colorize.

Alan