GIMP to edit pictures

Hello, I was told that Gimp is great for editing photos even though it's free I am having problem with their web site which is temporarily unavailable.
Is this software reliable for non professionals?

Any feedback, welcome

Thank you
Trek 9.9

It's a GREAT alternative to Photoshop, which can be a daunting investment for a hobby-photographer.

The Site is working for me right now... no problems, you should go check it out again.

purelithium wrote in post #2876049
It's a GREAT alternative to Photoshop, which can be a daunting investment for a hobby-photographer.

This is the prime reason why Adobe developed and released Photoshop Elements. Elements in now in Version 5 and is a great alternative to the full version of Photoshop. You might look at that before trying GIMP. You can download 30 day trial versions from Adobe's website.

I've had problems with open-source software in the past and would rather use something like Photoshop for my image editing.

Gimp is Great, I used it for a few years before starting to use Elements (only because it came free with my Wacom tablet.) I still use it for layer masks and other things elements can't do.

I love open-source software myself, there's alot of good stuff out there.... I don't see me ever buying MS-office again, for example.

My experience is limited to elements version 3, but compared to that version of elements gimp is far, FAR superior in my opinion. Although, if you are used to the photoshop interface already gimp might seem cumbersome...great features though.

Uhh, in my opinion I much prefer my old Photoshop Elements 2.0 to gimp. Not saying there is anything wrong with gimp (it is free after all) but there are quite a few more nice features that gimp doesn't provide. Also, a few of them that are the same are easier to use with PSE, as well as the fact that most tutorials use Photoshop and elements is going to be a lot easier to follow along with than GIMP.

GIMP is great free software, but I think elements is much better.

*also, this is before I was into digital photography, so I'm speaking from more of a graphics design perspective, but I think the point still stands.

True, many tools are nicer in elements (Especially like healing brush, and spot healing tool.) Also readeye tool. I like the organizer in Elements also. Plus a majority of Plugins will work with Elements also. (And don't forget Camera Raw, in case DPP isn't doing it for you for some odd reason.)

There is a version of gimp called "Gimpshop" that tries to mimic the photoshop layout and names for tools, as well as shortcuts. That makes following the photoshop tutorials a little easier.

As I said, I use both... but I'd say, comparitvely, I use Elements 90% of the time.

But if I'm giving a system, or building a system for someone, Gimp is a standard program I pre-install for them along with OpenOffice, and AVG antivirus.

well the site is down again. It looks like one has to download two software in try gimp?
I'll try later and hopefully my vista premium will like it

Trek 9.8

try this link... seems to be up for me.

http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/st​able.html

Good luck with the vista thing, though! Haven't heard any reports about gimp on it yet.

also, install the GTK runtime environment FIRST, then install gimp

does an open source raw converter exist out there somewhere?

I have CS but not Bridge

Why not use the one that comes from Canon?

Stackinchips wrote in post #2877257
does an open source raw converter exist out there somewhere?

I have CS but not Bridge

Yes. I personally use UFRaw (ufraw.sourceforge.net​). It works standalone or as a plug-in for the GIMP. If using it as a plug-in for the GIMP, make sure you install it after you have installed the GIMP.

UFRaw is based on dcRAW.

e-k

I have mainly been using the GIMP for my photo editing needs. I did recently get Photoshop Elements 3.0 with a Wacom tablet. I like Elements for doing digital photo painting as it feels a bit smoother with the tablet than the GIMP. I'm the other way around though in that the Elements interface seems a little wacked to me having used the GIMP for so long .

You might find this site interesting: http://www.gimpguru.or​g/.

e-k

Are you following me around, E-K?

Seems like we're on the same page with alot of things!

Yeah, when I was using Gimp at home, I also used photoshop at work, so I was used to both interfaces... I think alot of people that used photoshop in the past, at home, at work, etc might have given Gimp about 2 seconds and gave up on it. The tools ARE all basically the same, just different icons, and in different places. Gimp is arguably one of the best free pieces of software out there, I'm actually surprised more people haven't heard about it.