Make & keep
Center a booth cutout on a transparent canvas in GIMP
Set a shared canvas boundary without enlarging the image layer.
A transparent prop or frame may need the same canvas dimensions as the portrait it will overlay. GIMP can expand the canvas without scaling its layers, leaving the added area transparent. Center the artwork in that fixed boundary, then verify the PNG against a separate image.
Set the canvas dimensions
Choose Image → Canvas Size and enter the target width and height. Keep the layer-resize option at None so the cutout stays at its original pixel size. Use Center to distribute the extra space around the layer.
Evidence: Official product documentation
Keep the new area clear
Leave the new canvas area transparent for an overlay. If the dialog offers a fill choice, use Transparency and avoid resizing text layers. The checkerboard should appear around the art; it is a display cue rather than part of the image.
Evidence: Official product documentation · Official product documentation
Check alignment in context
Export a PNG and place it over the target portrait in a separate test document. Confirm the overlay sits at the intended scale and center. If its position is wrong, adjust the layer offset or canvas placement and export a new copy.
Evidence: Official product documentation · Official product documentation
Sources & further reading
Sources for the specific facts and product descriptions above. Our worked examples, interpretations and practical suggestions are original editorial guidance.
- GIMP 3 User Manual — Canvas SizeOfficial product documentation
- GIMP 3 User Manual — Add Alpha ChannelOfficial product documentation
- GIMP 3 User Manual — Export Image as PNGOfficial product documentation