GIMP: anyone tried it?

[charjohncarter]

Gimp seems to be great for me. I don't do very much editing of my images, I don't send huge files (16 bit) off to the printer, I don't need a large cataloging feature (like LightRoom which I used in the Beta version and very much liked, but I decided to try something else). So for right now I'm not going to update PS and if I need something special I'll use PSE3 which I got with something. Gimp has a good curves, layers which I don't use much but it is there if I want to use it, channel mixer, and almost everything that I consider important in an editor. If nothing else try it out for resizing your images for RFF. You can control both file size (through DPI) and pixel width (and height) at the same time. So with one button you have a 875 pixel width and a 72 DPI (which translates to 277 file size, for most of my files).

Down side: no 16 bit, poor preview feature but it is there, need for easier access to plug-ins, needs a better healing tool which is coming in the next version.

 

[MartinP]

I also use Gimp, but also I don't do very much digitally. All the things I have needed are present, and Script-Fu macros are surprisingly useful for dealing with lots of files from scanned-film.

I do recall reading that 16-bit files can be made using the ciné version of the program - I never tried that as I have no need for files that big, but I know many people do have a requirement. There are also plug-ins, and/or companion programs to do CMYK separations. Not as smooth as Adobe, but costing zero and soon to be upgraded with the next release. There is even a version of the program "skinned" to be organised more like Photoshop.

Are we allowed to put the main site link, as it's non-commercial ? Gimp site

 

[Ash]

I've been using GimpShop on my iBook G4 for a little over a year now. No complaints. It's free and it's safer than software piracy, and less costly than legit Photoshop. 🙂

 

[charjohncarter]

MartinP and Ash, you obviously know more than I do about it, but as 90% of my stuff is film, B&W and processed simply, it sure fits for me. I am waiting for their next version, due to be out soon.

Carter

 

[dagabel]

I also have been using Gimp for a few months now for my scanned B&W negatives. However, instead of trying to figure out Script-Fu or scripting for batch processing, I've discovered some simple batch processing tools in the FastStone Image Viewer program (also Open Source). So now I can scan my rolls of negatives as positives, invert and channel mix in FastStone. Then I can use the Gimp for curves and such on individual images.

In order to use Script-Fu do I have to write and use a command line script (like Perl)?

Duane

 

[colyn]

I also have been using Gimp for a few months now for my scanned B&W negatives. However, instead of trying to figure out Script-Fu or scripting for batch processing, I've discovered some simple batch processing tools in the FastStone Image Viewer program (also Open Source). So now I can scan my rolls of negatives as positives, invert and channel mix in FastStone. Then I can use the Gimp for curves and such on individual images.

In order to use Script-Fu do I have to write and use a command line script (like Perl)?

Duane

Too bad FastStone doesn't work on a Mac. I've used it on a 2K machine and like it a lot..

 

[thomasw_]

i do very little software editing. i use only the gimp on my OpenBSD box and Seashore on my MacBook. Both were built from source....and they work well for the minimal image processing i do. i may buy photoshop when i buy one of those epson v7xx scanners, but i doubt it...we'll see. the digital editing of images becomes very boring for me after i finsh doing a crop🙂

 

[titrisol]

Yes, it works perfectly

Also great tutorials by Eric Jesche in his gimpguru.org site.

Lots of plugins have been included in the main program.

Try it, it is free

 

[titrisol]

Can;t you recomplire it for MAC?
OSX is based on freeBSD so it should be doable

Too bad FastStone doesn't work on a Mac. I've used it on a 2K machine and like it a lot..

 

[shadowfox]

John, try LightZone for Linux, I'd be interested on your impression on it.

 

[charjohncarter]

shadowfox, I guess you mean me (Carter) but unfortunately I don't have Linux, I tried to figure out how to do it (so I could try LightZone) with my MS on the hard drive, and I got nervous. Something about partitions. I would like LightZone as I understand zone much better than I do digital processing.

 

[BJ Bignell]

My experience with GIMP is that it works very well for what I need to do, but it's clumsy. I know the user interface is supposed to be "another paradigm" or whatever, but I find the layers window annoying; I always have to hunt for it because it's out of focus when I'm looking at an image.

The levels and curves seem to work nicely and sharpening is not bad, although I find Unsharp Mask a bit more rough than Photoshop's version. But what I like best is the price!

 

[ywenz]

What I don't get is why didn't they just copy the photoshop keyboard shortcuts? I've tried GIMP and going to that from Photoshop, I felt terribly handicapped by the different shortcut keys and the fact that same thing in both apps are called by a different name in GIMP...

 

[payasam]

I've used the Gimp -- both Windows and Linux -- practically since I began to do photo editing. There's a lot of power there which I have barely explored. It's true that PhotoShop users find the transition difficult: but for them there's GimpShop.

 

[350D_user]

John, try LightZone for Linux, I'd be interested on your impression on it.

I've just tried Lightzone on Linux, and it's the first application I've seen in years that's refused to run because of what cpu I have.

Ah well, back to GIMP... at least that works ok. 🙂

 

[TheHub]

I have Gimp installed, but I rarely use it. I find it a little complicated to find the menu options I want, and GraphicConverter starts up faster and performs faster. All I do is basic resizing usually, anyway.

For scanning I use PS CS1. It works fine for me.

 

[GeneW]

I mainly use Photoshop, but have used the GIMP as well. I found this particular book very useful:

http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-GIM...7087036?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188482951&sr=1-1

One tip I found useful, in Windows, was to find the file ps-menurc and rename it to menurc in the correct directory (read ps-menurc with a text editor for precise instructions). It puts Photoshop 6 shortcuts into the GIMP. This has some advantages over using GIMPShop because straight GIMP is kept more up to date.

Gene

 

[dmr]

I've tried The Gimp (the correct title always includes the article "The") but since I have a legal copy of Photoshop (>>SHOCK<<) I use that with few exceptions.

Coincidentally, a few years ago at a conference I found myself at dinner seated directly across from one of the Gimp developers. We did have an interesting conversation. 🙂

 

[shadowfox]

shadowfox, I guess you mean me (Carter) but unfortunately I don't have Linux, I tried to figure out how to do it (so I could try LightZone) with my MS on the hard drive, and I got nervous. Something about partitions. I would like LightZone as I understand zone much better than I do digital processing.

Carter, my apology! don't know why I always think of you as John :bang:. My bad!

If you really would like to give Linux a go, you don't have to set up a separate partition anymore. Go to VMware and download VMPlayer for Windows (free) and look up on their website for what they call Appliance and find Ubuntu or Kubuntu appliance.

By doing this, you basically have a separate virtual machine running Linux on your Windows machine, very handy for trying stuff like LightZone.

From what little time I have had a chance to play with it, it's very cool, it identifies your image according to brightness zones and let you adjust accordingly. Very impressive.

 

[shadowfox]

I've just tried Lightzone on Linux, and it's the first application I've seen in years that's refused to run because of what cpu I have.

Ah well, back to GIMP... at least that works ok. 🙂

LOL! That's hilarious! which cpu does it refused to run on? it ran on my Centrino laptop.