Hi Everyone,
Has anyone here ever used GIMP before? I use it because it is free and a decent photo editor similar to Photoshop (without a lot of features).
GIMP says about itself:
| Quote: |
The "GNU Image Manipulation Program" (originally the General Image Manipulation Program) sired by Spencer Kimball & Peter Mattis.
In their own words, "GIMP is our answer to the current lack of free (or at least reasonably priced) image manipulation software for GNU/Linux and UNIX in general."
It is a raster editor, which means that it performs operations directly on the pixels that make up the image, and not a vector editor. Other (proprietary) raster editors include Adobe Photoshop, Jasc Paintshop Pro and the humble Microsoft Paint. An alternative free editor is the KOffice project, Krita. Users wanting to edit photographs will certainly want a raster editor like GIMP. Graphic designers and illustrators may prefer a vector editor depending on their tastes. |
What do you think? I like it since it's pretty much just as powerful as Photoshop and I prefer the interface. However in the last version, I think they got much closer to Photoshop in the interface (which I think is utter crap) so I'm still using an old version.
I'm totally bowled over by Gimp. I landed with Gimp because my Adobe Light Version Photoshop, that was quite old, and could not load on my computer at work, for some or other funny reason. So I searched the Internet, found Gimp, and it is much better than my old Photoshop Light software. So many tips, as well as tutorials. I could use it immediately. I am most grateful for those guys to make it available as freeware. I am using Gimp both at home and at work, as well as for my Websites and can recommend it. Very easy to use and almost effortless to download.
I used to use it, but I have found photoshop to actually be a little better. Switching between either one is quite confusing just for little differences in the tools and shortcuts.
| snowboardalliance wrote: |
| I used to use it, but I have found photoshop to actually be a little better. Switching between either one is quite confusing just for little differences in the tools and shortcuts. |
yeah..me too
but one thing I have liked in GIMP that u can convert image to a ASCII art...prety coolI've used the GIMP for a long time. I don't have any money in my budget for Photoshop and I like to use open source programs anyway. I really wish Gimp was made more natively for Macs because it needs to use X11 which feels like too much of a work around.
I'd like to try gimp, how does it work on osx, does anyone have a tutorial?
I used GimpShop (because interface is simmilar to photoshop) but at work I'm using Photoshop and i love this app.
There is one free editor which is realy nice, and online and photoshop like - http://www.sumopaint.com/web/
It's reali nice thing for simple work - better then buying Photoshop Elements or learn how to use GIMP 
I'm a long-time user of GIMP. I can't get used to Photoshop, and I've tried (had an employer insist on it, used GIMP in secret once). It's always suited my needs.
I really like GIMP, being free and having much useful functions, but I don't like the interface much. It's not that convenient for me having multiple windows with tools and stuff... But it's not that bad that it really bugs me.
I can't stand GIMP/ I only use it for the extra plug-ins. My teacher in photo club makes us use GIMP because my school is too cheap to buy the license for Adobe. It really sucks in my opinion. If you use Photoshop, you will not like GIMP. Other kids in the photo class (who had to be taught how to even open a picture) were amazed by it. I think it's pretty obvious why they were so amazed.
Well I tried few times to learn GIMP but it is kind hard if you are a photoshop user. I don't know about this new photoshop like GIMP the new version so i ll check this one out too.
A seems good little article about some handy GIMP tweaks at Smashing Magazine...
Although I'm a prime-ps user.. ^^ Buying photoshop is fine if you can talk someone else into picking up the bill for it, or if you can only have one computor for the rest of your life.
If your like most people that pay their own bills and wind up with multiple computers over the years then Gimp is the only way to go.
Here's a link to some Gimp tutorials.
http://www.designyourownweb.com/gimp-tutorial.htm I may be wrong, but Photoshop licence allow You to install it for example on your PC and Laptop and use both with one contition - not in this same time ... next - You may install it on new PC if You bought one ... it's not XP/Vista OEM where everything is linked with motherboard
Next thing is that You buy photoshop not for fun bot for work ... for example webdesigners or photograhpers ... this app should earn on itself
But You pay $1000 for App, make one designs/worksfor $2000-$3000 and You are on "+" yeah i heard about this gimp but i never went to it. so can someone post a pic that they created through this so i can obtain my own opinions about it. thank you
peace, pure
i am a huge ps cs3 fan, ever since i got it, but my designing ability was raized on gimp... its great for beginners, but if you are into designing, i would suggest something from the adobe family
I've been using Gimp for a couple years now. I've used Adobe Photoshop at school for a couples years, too,, and it is also awesome. While they are similar, photoshop has more tools, and I find that its smudge tool works a lot better for making beautiful graphics.
However, I don't have money so I settle for Gimp. If I had the money I would go ahead and get Photoshop, because I also love the text effects it has. Even with photoshop, I would still use Gimp. Changing between either program is no problem for me because I've played with each of them.
I use it quite often instead of Photostop, because it runs faster on my computer. It has a very good user friendly feel and its simple. Overall its an excellent program and I think people would be more inclined to use than Photoshop because its FREE!
Can you use "transparent" color in GIMP (for gifs with a transparent background, etc.)?
I've tried it, and the way it works doesn't seem to please me, so I stopped using it.
Ok, thanks.
Can you recommend any simple program to do that? (I have heard that if you open a gif with transparent background in Paint and use the sampling tool (under the eraser) to take the transparent color from the picture you're supposedly able to re-use that color; but it does not work for me.)
I've used it because its free. There is also a upgrade or plugin available that makes the menus look like in Photoshop. So if your used in using Photoshop you can use that to be familiar with the menus.
I use the GIMP because I don't have $699 to spend on image editing software. If you're used to Photoshop, you can install GimpShop, which rearranges the menus and renames commands to be as Photoshop-like as possible. You can get it free at gimpshop.com.
I actually quite like GIMP now that I'm used to it, because for my purposes, it does ALMOST everything Photoshop does.
There are three things I'm not crazy about though:
1. I hate not being able to record actions.
2. No liquefy filter and
3. Working with text is REALLY awkward, but hopefully that will change soon. There's a new version coming out that is supposed to make working with text easier and more flexible.
I prefer Photoshop. But GIMP is nice but I use GIMP Shop!
| Asap170 wrote: |
| I prefer Photoshop. But GIMP is nice but I use GIMP Shop! |
What is "Gimp Shop"? | zbale wrote: |
| Asap170 wrote: | | I prefer Photoshop. But GIMP is nice but I use GIMP Shop! |
What is "Gimp Shop"? |
This is a mod for GIMP which makes GIMP simmilar to photoshop (interface, some shortcuts etc) ... just write GIMPShop in google - it's realy that simple 
well i dont use GIMP i rather use Paint.NET. Very Small and affective
| zbale wrote: |
| Can you use "transparent" color in GIMP (for gifs with a transparent background, etc.)? |
Yes, you can. The post below yours wasn't addressed to you, I don't think. You can use a regular transparency for GIFs, or an alpha channel transparency (i.e. partially transparent things - translucent, if you will) for PNGs and other file extensions.
It really is a useful program, and though the interface takes a lot of getting used to, it is really almost as good as Photoshop. I think it should be GIMP for personal things, and PS for big businesses.GIMP offers all of the powerpacked features but photoshop definitely takes it in for it's superb interface and ease-of-use. Always consider photoshop if you are a newbie. It is much simpler and easy to understand.
| joe_042293 wrote: |
| zbale wrote: | | Can you use "transparent" color in GIMP (for gifs with a transparent background, etc.)? |
Yes, you can. The post below yours wasn't addressed to you, I don't think. You can use a regular transparency for GIFs, or an alpha channel transparency (i.e. partially transparent things - translucent, if you will) for PNGs and other file extensions. |
Thanks Joe, I found the way to use transparency and export it in GIF. It is indeed a really powerful functionality (at least when you start with limited skills ).
Haven't tried "translucency" yet.
