How to create custom composition guides

[VulpineVisions]

Hi!
I would like to create a composition guide for Gimp, but I couldn't find anywhere stating how.

For clarifications, I would like to create the composition guides used with the crop tool, i.e. my custom version of the Rule of thirds, Golden sections etc. but with my own proportions.  I've attached two images highlighting what I am mean, I would like to create a custom of those.

I am aware of that one can use vertical and horizontal guides by going to the Image Menu > Guides > New Guides, but that is not the kind I want to use. Neither would I like to use configurable Grid by View > Show Grid. 

Thank you in advance

[rich2005]

(04-25-2026, 11:45 PM)VulpineVisions Wrote: Hi!
I would like to create a composition guide for Gimp, but I couldn't find anywhere stating how.

For clarifications, I would like to create the composition guides used with the crop tool, i.e. my custom version of the Rule of thirds, Golden sections etc. but with my own proportions.
....snip....

As far as I know, that is not possible.  I think the crop tool guides are hard-coded into gimp.

[sallyanne]

Unselect fixed in the tool options and you can save it at any size you want but the guides will not save - even as an xcf

[denzjos]

One possible solution is to use paths. Create a path composition using guidelines on a white background (which is more visible). Once all paths have been created, you can combine them into a path layer. Copy this layer to memory and undo the edit so that you have all the paths back. Paste the copied layer. You now have the lines separately in path layers and all paths in one layer. Save the file as an XCF file. If you want to use this composition on a photo, load the photo as usual and also load the XCF file of the composition. You can now drag the path layer to the layer containing the photo. You can now edit the path layer of the composition using all GIMP tools (move, scale, rotate, perspective, etc.). You can use the composition layer as many times as you like. You can create multiple path compositions and save them in a single XCF file, so that you can easily drag a composition from the compositions you have created. This is just a tip.
Example : 
   

[VulpineVisions]

(04-26-2026, 08:05 AM)rich2005 Wrote:

(04-25-2026, 11:45 PM)VulpineVisions Wrote: Hi!
I would like to create a composition guide for Gimp, but I couldn't find anywhere stating how.

For clarifications, I would like to create the composition guides used with the crop tool, i.e. my custom version of the Rule of thirds, Golden sections etc. but with my own proportions.
....snip....

As far as I know, that is not possible.  I think the crop tool guides are hard-coded into gimp.

I see, that's a bummer.
Thank you for the response

---

(04-26-2026, 05:23 PM)denzjos Wrote: One possible solution is to use paths. Create a path composition using guidelines on a white background (which is more visible). Once all paths have been created, you can combine them into a path layer. Copy this layer to memory and undo the edit so that you have all the paths back. Paste the copied layer. You now have the lines separately in path layers and all paths in one layer. Save the file as an XCF file. If you want to use this composition on a photo, load the photo as usual and also load the XCF file of the composition. You can now drag the path layer to the layer containing the photo. You can now edit the path layer of the composition using all GIMP tools (move, scale, rotate, perspective, etc.). You can use the composition layer as many times as you like. You can create multiple path compositions and save them in a single XCF file, so that you can easily drag a composition from the compositions you have created. This is just a tip.
Example : 

That is a good workaround for when needing the precision
Thank you