The GIMP
Posted by: ErikL on 03 April 2004
If any digital photographers are seeking a freebie application for editing digital photos, check out
GIMP 2.0 or "GNU Image Manipulation Program" (available for Win, Mac, and Unix). I recently downloaded it and I've been extremely impressed.
Posted on: 03 April 2004 by Justin
Is that with or without the forced anal sex?
Judd
Posted on: 03 April 2004 by garyi
Ludwig I played the gimp game some time ago and after the hassle of getting the thing going I gave up and got Photoshop Elements.
They cost the same if you choose to purchase GIMP. PLus in OSX having to use the interface even with the various skins was still a bit heath robins.
Posted on: 03 April 2004 by Peter C
Gimp is freeware and its Heath robinson layout cannot disguise a very good graphics program.
Gimp has been used by the studio for creating some of the computer images used in films, like Titanic
Posted on: 03 April 2004 by garyi
No doubt Peter, are you a developer by chance
If you check the gimp website you will see that they offer a free download but if you choose the CD it costs the same as Photoshop Elements which is infact a lot better and not a crap interface.
Posted on: 03 April 2004 by ErikL
Garyi,
My understanding is that 2.0 is a huge improvement over earlier versions, but this being my first experience I can't speak to specifics, layout or otherwise.
FWIW I refuse to pay for software so this is a great find for me.
Posted on: 03 April 2004 by garyi
Ludwig its possible, I will check now to see if they have created something which can be opened in OSX without having to install X11, Fink and all the rest of it just to get it started up.
Posted on: 03 April 2004 by ErikL
Posted on: 03 April 2004 by garyi
Trouble is Lud, in my experience to get that level of GUI you had to download, firstly Fink.
This would allow you to compile GIMP without a PHD in geekery.
Then you download gimp.
Then you download a windows manager such as AroborOSX.
Then you had to download X11 to allow you to run any of this stuff, which is actually something to do with Unix but has freqently screwed with the OS.
Anyhoo always one to trudge the depths of the web I am currently downloading all the above just to see if GIMP has come on at all!
Posted on: 03 April 2004 by garyi
I have just done all the downloads and the same problems for me remain.
The interface is such that you have X11 running in the main menu bar and the main functions of gimp run in a seperate menu.
And the most frustrating thing of all. X11 treats each window as a seperate entity. That is to say if I am working in the main picture then click on the tool in the tool bar, on any othe rprgramme the tool would be selected. In gimp it mearly highlights the tool bar window, so you have to then click again topick a tool.
This may seem a minor point but its very frustrating. Bearing in mind that GIMP made me go out and purchase photoshop elements !
[This message was edited by garyi on Sat 03 April 2004 at 20:00.]
Posted on: 03 April 2004 by Derek Wright
Gimp is great, I have been using it for 2 years
Done quite a bit of work for the charity with it -
Derek
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Posted on: 04 April 2004 by Peter C
Posted on: 04 April 2004 by Peter C
I have downloaded Gimp 2 today and it is a lot more user friendly than any previous version.
Posted on: 04 April 2004 by ErikL
Peter, IIRC that's where I obtained my download too. Did yours come with Help files? Mine did not but I need them.
Posted on: 04 April 2004 by ErikL
OK I FTP'd some zipfile that supposedly contains the Help files, but where should I extract them to?
Posted on: 04 April 2004 by sonofcolin
Mr Irwin,
How do you rate the Gimp to Photoshop? Why would someone with a current version of Photoshop switch to the Gimp (besides it being GPL)?
Cheers
Colin
Posted on: 05 April 2004 by garyi
Son of Coline.
I found the need for a graphics package some years ago and GIMP was free so I downloaded it (On modem mind it took days!)
Once I had it I couldn't get on with it at all it made me really angry (although I accept its free so there you go).
Anyway in town I discovered photoshop elements for 65 quid so I bought it.
I believe elements basically is photoshop but important elements such as being able to open the files in illustrator are removed. No problem for me.
This latest version of GIMP is just as frustrating for me, but as usual YMMV
Posted on: 05 April 2004 by sonofcolin
Mr I
Hopefully the Gimp will become a native cocoa app, like other ported X11 apps such as Abiword and Open orifice.
I've always found the Gimp to be a good app, but as I have photoshop, there is little point in having it on the system.
By the way, most cheapo scanners comes with a bundled version photo elements and graphic converter for $25? does 95% of what photoshop does plus some nice extras.
