How to Make Fake Rain in GIMP

Add rain to any photo with GIMP

What to Know

  • Open a photo > Layer > New Layer. Fill layer with solid black. Go to Filters > Noise > RGB Noise.
  • Uncheck box beside Independent RGB and adjust sliders. Go to Filters > Blur > Linear Motion Blur.
  • Set Length and Angle. Select Mode > Screen > Colors > Levels. Use histogram icon to create effect.

This article explains how to add a fake rain effect to your digital photos using the free pixel-based image editor GIMP. Instructions apply to GIMP version 2.10 for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

How to Add Rain to a Photo in GIMP

To produce a rain effect in GIMP, you'll first create the "rain" in a separate layer, and then superimpose it over the image:

  1. Go to File > Open and select the photo you want to add rain to.

    Go to File > Open and select the photo you want to add rain to.
  2. Go to Layer > New Layer to add a new layer to build the fake rain effect upon.

    A screenshot of GIMP with the New Layer command highlighted
  3. Go to Tools > Default Colors.

    A screenshot of GIMP with the Default Colors command highlighted
  4. Go to Edit > Fill with FG Color to fill the layer with solid black.

    A screenshot of GIMP with the Fill with FG Color command highlighted
  5. Go to Filters > Noise > RGB Noise.

    A screenshot of GIMP with the RGB Noise command highlighted
  6. Uncheck the box beside Independent RGB to link the three color sliders.

    A screenshot of the RGB Noise screen in GIMP with the Independent RGB option highlighted
  7. Adjust the Value slider to 0.70, move the Alpha slider all the way to the left, and then select OK.

    You can use different settings for this step. Generally, moving the sliders further to the right will produce the effect of heavier rain.

    Adjust the Value slider to 0.70, move the Alpha slider all the way to the left, and then click OK.
  8. Making sure the speckled layer is selected, go to Filters > Blur > Linear Motion Blur to open the Motion Blur dialog.

    A screenshot of GIMP with the Linear Motion Blur option highlighted
  9. Set the Length to 40 and the Angle to 80, then select OK.

    Higher Length values will give the sensation of harder rain, and you can adjust the Angle to give the impression of rain being driven by the wind.

    Set the Length to 40 and the Angle to 80, then select OK.
  10. With the rain layer selected, click on the Mode dropdown menu in the Layers palette and select Screen.

    You may notice a slight banding effect on some of the edges. To get around this, the layer can be re-sized using the Scale tool.

    A screenshot of GIMP with the Screen blending mode highlighted
  11. Go to Colors > Levels.

    A screenshot of GIMP with the Levels command highlighted
  12. Select the Linear Histogram icon (the second box from the left in the top-right corner) and set the Channel to Value.

    Select the Linear Histogram icon and set the Channel to Value.
  13. You will see that there is a black peak in the histogram​ and three triangular drag handles beneath. Drag the white handle across to the left until it is aligned with the right edge of the black peak, then drag the black handle to the right and select OK when you're happy with the effect.

    You can drag the white handle on the Output Levels slider a little to the left to reduce the intensity of the fake rain and soften the effect.

    Drag the white handle across to the left until it is aligned with the right edge of the black peak, then drag the black handle to the right and select OK when you're happy with the effect.
  14. Go to Filters > Blur > Gaussian Blur and set the Horizontal and Vertical values to 1.

    Go to Filters > Blur > Gaussian Blur and set the Horizontal and Vertical values to 1.
  15. Select the Eraser from the Toolbox, then select a large soft brush and reduce the Opacity to 30-40%.

    A screenshot of GIMP with the Eraser tool and its opacity slider highlighted
  16. Brush a few areas of the fake rain layer to lend a more varied and naturalistic intensity to the effect. Add a second layer of rain using slightly different settings to add depth to the final effect.

    Brush a few areas of the fake rain layer to lend a more varied and naturalistic intensity to the effect.

It's also possible to add snow effects to photos in GIMP.

Was this page helpful?