Preparation

• Scan a printed photo onto your computer or use a digital photo to manipulate. Digital photos are easier to edit and change in a photo-editing application. Adding an earring in GIMP works best if the photo isn't a closeup.
  
  

Drawing the Earring Shape

• Drawing an earring shape directly on the image is not necessary the best approach. The filters in GIMP that can produce this sort of effect work best if you first open a separate document. Then you can use one of the selection tools, such as the “Ellipse” tool, to draw the shape of your earring. This will still be only a selection, rather than a shape, until you use the “Paintbucket” tool to fill it with the color you want.
  
  

Making the Earring Effect

• Once you have filled a selection with color, the process of turning it into a ring shape with highlights and depth is surprisingly simple. Under the “Filters” menu in GIMP are a group of filters called “Alpha to Logo.” These are filters which automate the process of adding multiple filters to create and effect. If you choose the “Chrome” filter, you can choose the color you want to with one click apply the effect. You won't need to two bottom layers in the layers panel, so delete them.
  
  

Getting it in the Photo

• Once you have created the earring, you need to get it into the photo. Simply open the photo in GIMP. Then, under “Edit,” you can use the “Import as Layers” function to bring the earring into the photo. Scale and position it on the earlobe. It still won't look quite right, so use the “Eraser” tool to remove the top so it looks like it is going through the earlobe.