Learn the GIMP Eraser Tool and its Limitations!

Unless you have multiple layers, the GIMP eraser tool should come in handy. Until then, and to make things simple, you should always try to see if you can paint over your mistakes and work with minimal layers as much as possible.

Just in case you want to use the eraser, you can find it in the main toolbox as you would in the any of the digital art program.

1. Locating the GIMP eraser

The GIMP eraser can be found in between the paintbrush and the airbrush. It looks like a pink eraser found in my early days of Elementary schooling.

Moreover, it looks like a variation on the Photoshop eraser icon you have already read about.

But again, as much as it seems like GIMP is a free version of Photoshop, you will discover that there are a few things you notice right away. Of course, I will show you the differences a little bit later.

For now, let’s look at what options are available once you picked the eraser tool.

2. The GIMP eraser options

Now, as soon as you click on the Eraser tool, you will get some options. You should already be familiar with most of the options here.

For example, opacity is the setting that dictates the maximum pressure the eraser can erase with respect to the actual pressure sensitivity, which is another option altogether used to control the GIMP eraser tool.

Another option you can find interesting is the fade out option which tells the brush to release pressure as you slowly erase for a certain given length.

Other than that, incremental means that it’ll leave a trail of the eraser shape for as long as you need instead of a nice even path while the hard edge option creates a pixel like edge instead of a smooth edge.

The one option that I don’t use too often is the anti erase. All it does is just recover what you did before by painting the original part that was erased. But you’re a digital painter now so you’re expected to continue painting anyways!

3. How to use the GIMP eraser

Remember that I said that you will be using the eraser when you have multiple layers? Well, as a beginning digital artist, you will discover that you will be using layers a lot.

It’s because of the beginner uncertainty. You don’t know what a good way to draw digitally yet is. Until you get enough confidence, you want something quick and easy to go back to when you make a mistake. Layers and the eraser tool will do that.

So, on each layer, you will erase as normally and repaint as necessary. However, that’s not to say it’s a bad thing. Until you gain enough confidence, it is perfectly normal to use the eraser tool.

4. GIMP brush limitations

Now, when you’re painting or erasing in GIMP, you will find one huge limitation factor in whatever you do. Namely, it’s that GIMP doesn’t support dynamic brushes as of yet. The brushes you see are what you get.

This means you can’t really change the size of the default brushes to meet what you need to paint. And when you’re moving towards professional painting, you definitely want tools that cater to what you’re digitally painting.

(Note: as of version 2.4 of GIMP, brushes are now scalable. If you haven’t already, upgrade to 2.4. Otherwise, use the remainder of this article as it is still useful in terms of helping you learn a bit about the GIMP eraser!)

However, that does not mean you’re stuck with the same brushes. As much as it’s a limitation, there is a work-around: you get to create your own brushes!

Obviously, I will teach you how to edit and make your own brushes in the near future. Until then, use the history box in GIMP to make all the necessary corrections you need.

I find it far more effective as a means to correct anything.

As always, do what you can now by simply playing with the tools you have in front of you. Keep up the persistence and you’ll be fine!

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