I have tried to use gimp before but got frustrated because of a lack of documentation years ago, back when Paint Shop Pro was new and free. Then, I couldn't get into PSP either. I am not computer-illiterate and a little familiar with cad drawing software, mostly due to good documentation and intuitive menus.

Now I have a need to make a serious point, and graphically is the only way to do it right. So, I am looking to start with a scanned image of a handwritten document. I want to circle a few letters and/or words on a new layer, I assume, blur everything not circled, and then save the circled items which will contain a number of different layers each to separate files. Hopefully, that makes sense.

Sorry that it looks like I am asking for someone to hold my hand, but I am. Mostly because I am running out of time and to try and fail in order to try again and learn each task necessary may take a while, a long while.

If this is the wrong board or forum, please direct me elsewhere. Or,

if there is a list of commands somewhere describing what it sounds like I want, please let me know or drop me a link. Or,

If there is some tutorial, or even better a reference book or primer, that describes how to perform each task, please forward that info. Or,

if none of the above works, any suggestions on how do I get this job done otherwise?

Welcome to Gimp Chat, TeachMe2Draw.
Ask what you need to know about Gimp. Sure you will find the right answer.

Teachme:

What Wallace is trying to say is that exposure to your question will be limited due to where you asked. This is the "Introduce Yourself" section, and might be overlooked by those who pay more attention to the Board Index list, like "Gimp Help". Why not, since you're already here, go ahead and introduce yourself more formally and then post your question again in "Gimp Help".

Otherwise, those who are looking for the same answers to your questions might never find it in "Introduce Yourself".

P.S. Is this similar to what you are looking to accomplish?

How did you shade out or make most of the text translucent Mahvin. That is an intermediate step I would like to incorporate into my project.