GIMP - a viable free alternative to Photoshop?

[coolershaka]

Hi,

Since I cannot afford a licence for Photoshop nor do I wish to get an unlicensed version, for the moment I have started to use the free GIMP open source image editing tool (www.gimp.org), which seems very powerful and extensible. I have heard reviews rate it at nearly the same level overall as Photoshop CS, although I can't comment on the comparison personally.

However, there is almost no mention of it used by photographers and graphic designers. I wish to know if any of you are familiar with it and if so, how it compares to other applications on the market.

[hudub]

I started out learning on GIMP since it started and it does seem to have nearly all the bells and whistles. However since it was such a young program all the tutorials for doing things were for jasc paint shop pro and adobe photoshop that I just ended up learning on those programs. My last job used photoshop and adobe products exclusively and I have since been too familiarized with them that I don't use GIMP anymore.

[timbernet]

I have tried many times to use GIMP. I am a Linux/Windows user and would love to have a Photoshop-like application in Linux.

I have tried to keep and open mind, and adjust my workflow to work with GIMP, but I can't do it. It just isn't there...

[gcogger]

Until the GIMP implements colour management then no, it's not a viable alternative IMHO. That's up near the top of my 'absolutely necessary' list.

[davidcrebelxt]

Until the GIMP implements colour management then no, it's not a viable alternative IMHO. That's up near the top of my 'absolutely necessary' list.

I believe the (soon to be released 2.4 (maybe even the current 2.3XX build)) is supposed to have color-management... but I haven't looked too closely at it.

I like it, and still use it (in conjuntion with PS Elements... which you can find for pretty cheap on e-bay.) If I need to do something Elements can't handle, I'll send the image to the Gimp (layer masking, curves, other tools).

There are alot of tutorials now for the gimp... (granted TONS more for PS) And it can be confusing translating PS tutorials to the Gimp's commands. There is a version of the gimp called Gimpshop, which tries to mimic PS command names and menu layout, so you may try that. (though its several builds behind current version of Gimp)

There are several commercial books and the thick free manual for the gimp.

Gimp will always be several years behind PS in terms of development, no argument there. But for the price? Hard to knock it... come on, its $600 cheaper than CS3! But after getting Elements 3.0 with my Graphire tablet, I've come to use it mainly, so that I can use PS plugins and filters, and other tools. For saving that kind of money, I'll settle for a quiltwork set of tools!