The Gimp - free alternative to Photoshop

[cosworth]

GIMP - The GNU Image Manipulation Program

GIMP - Frequently Asked Questions

What is it and where can I get it?

GIMP is akin to a free version of Photoshop. Although not published by Adobe, it is an open source image editing suite that has some very powerful features.

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. 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 about a Windows version?

See http://www.gimp.org/windows/



What about a Mac version?

http://www.gimp.org/macintosh/


Where do I get it?

Most (if not all) Linux distributions will support GIMP through their package management systems and may even come with GIMP preinstalled. You can follow these links to linux and UNIX, Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OS for the latest binaries. Of course, this is free software so the source code is available to, along with instruction on how to compile it. Don't fret. If you are just looking for a Windows or Mac "installer", the links above have those. No Linux command line roadblocks for the casual user will be enountered.

Is there a user manual?

Yes. It is available at http://docs.gimp.org/ in HTML form, and at http://docs.gimp.org/download.html in PDF.

What does The Gimp look like?

Click here for the screenshots

Are there tutorials? Why yes!

Click here for The Gimp tutorials.

More: http://goingmanual.com/photo/

50 Tutorials To Get You Started With Gimp

Are there any POTN threads on the GIMP? Yes!

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...highlight=gimp

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...highlight=gimp

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...highlight=gimp

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...highlight=gimp


Thread discussion processing options:

Photoshop 7 vs Gimp

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...ad.php?t=82735

Gimpshop 2.2.11

The entire 85 MB install

http://www.plasticbugs.com/blogimg/G...OSX-2.2.11.dmg

It's a version of the Gimp called "Gimpshop" which mimics many of the keystrokes, menus, and tool names that Photoshop users are used to. It also makes it easier to follow Photoshop tutorials in the Gimp.

Currently, The Gimp only works in 8-bit not 16-bit.

Wikipedia's entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIMP

The GIMP (opinions)
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=122241

[dpastern]

Good stuff Jason, why not also mention KDE's Krita:

http://www.koffice.org/krita/

this is partly build on GIMP code I believe and is, like with gimpshop, a valid alternative.

Dave

[E-K]

To open RAW files in the GIMP you can use UFRAW (based on dcRAW). It is also free and can be found at http://ufraw.sourceforge.net.

e-k

[Samanax]

I didn't see it mentioned above so I'll mention the Grokking The GIMP tutorial in this post.

Samanax

[bits]

Awesome thread! Free and useful... and did I mention free.

Coming over to the dark side from medium format film and I'd rather put my meager resources on one key piece of gLass and do as little PP as possible. It's old school, but hey, there's room for all flavours in here.

Tks.

[sakurablossoms75]

Originally Posted by bits

Awesome thread! Free and useful... and did I mention free.

Coming over to the dark side from medium format film and I'd rather put my meager resources on one key piece of gLass and do as little PP as possible. It's old school, but hey, there's room for all flavours in here.

Tks.

With all respect, but IMHO comparing GIMP to Adobe Photoshop is like comparing VW to Porsche. GIMP has no chance!

[SlowBlink]

This thread isn't comparing Gimp to Photoshop. It's a free alternative to P.S.

[Jpatten]

I like GIMP, haven't played with photoshop in a LONG time, and that was version 4.0 and before I really did any actual photography stuff. Gimp seems to have the ability to do a fair amount of processing and it falls easily into my price range

[davidcrebelxt]

Originally Posted by sakurablossoms75

With all respect, but IMHO comparing GIMP to Adobe Photoshop is like comparing VW to Porsche. GIMP has no chance!

VW makes some very nice, affordable cars to get you and your family from place to place reliably. Porsche makes very very nice cars that often aren't practical for families, maintenance is expensive, and initial cost is prohibitive. So yes, in some ways your analogy makes perfect sense.

Again, I would never suggest someone who already owns a legal copy of CS2 or CS3 to switch. But it is an affordable, powerful, and legal alternative to buying photoshop, which can give the results that many desire.

[igotmilk]

I use Gimpshop over Gimp because the menus are made to navigate similar to PS. The only issue I have is that I cannot use GS it on my dual monitor setup because the menu bars get shifted to far up that you can't drag it down.

[cosworth]

"The GIMP team announced today the first release from the 2.5 development series. It is true that this version is unstable, but a little bird told me to give it a try and see what's it capable of. First of all, let me tell you that its interface is quite redesigned and I think that some users will have problems adjusting with it, but that's just my two cents. On the other hand, version 2.5.0 of The GIMP includes some hot new features, like the integration of GEGL (Generic Graphics Library) which will finally get support for higher color depths, more colorspaces and eventually non-destructive editing."

Promising news for you open sorcerers

[Mark1]

Originally Posted by sakurablossoms75

With all respect, but IMHO comparing GIMP to Adobe Photoshop is like comparing VW to Porsche. GIMP has no chance!

Actually the Porsche Cheyenne IS a VW.


It is true That GIMP will never be a true match for Photoshop. But it is about 3/4 of a photoshop or a bit more. And for what a photographer needs it is fine. I started useing it when I was selling stuff in SecondLife. I got to be pretty good with it. So when I decided to make a come back in photo, GIMP was what I used.

I think most people poo-poo it because its free. They have to justify the cost somehow. Never mind they never used it. And just repeat what others say. When in fact it is a program well worthy of a healthy try out. It may be all that 3/4th of us ever really need.

[superdiver]

does it have the layers capability of PS or S3?

[troypiggo]

Absolutely! Layers, layer masks etc.

It doesn't have adjustment layers, but AFAIK it has all other layer capabilities. Many of the adjustment layer uses I've seen can be obtained using GIMP anyway.

[Nick Pro]

Originally Posted by sakurablossoms75

With all respect, but IMHO comparing GIMP to Adobe Photoshop is like comparing VW to Porsche. GIMP has no chance!

Sorry to quote this, but....

If you take a close look at many of the parts on a VW or audi, you sill see it says Porsche-VW-audi on it. My dad used to own a A4 avant and everything in the engine bay said porsche-vw-audi.