Gimp Open Source (and Free) Photo Editing Tool.

[CameraDan]

I'm curious if many people out there are familiar with GIMP as a free open-source allternative to Photoshop. If you have used it, how do you feel it compares to Photoshop?

If you haven't heard of it, here is a brief synopsis. First, I'll start by saying I hate spending money on software. Any kind of software (except maybe games). So I have always loved finding free software that has the same functionality as commercially available software. Often it's hard to do but occasionally you come across a great piece of software. The popularity of open source development efforts has contributed to many outstanding software packages with as good and sometime better functionality as their commercial counterparts.

One of my favorite examples of this is GIMP (The GNU Image Manipulation Program). This is a full featured image manipulation tool with outstanding advanced features. For those of you that are die-hard Photoshop users, you'll appreciate GIMPShop a version of GIMP created by Scott Moschella of TechTV, which was made to mimic the look and feel of Photoshop.

Here are the links to both versions:

http://www.gimp.org/
http://www.gimpshop.net/

I haven't used photoshop very much, and one of my big questions for those that may have used photoshop and gimp, is whether or not I'm missing out on much by not coughing up the money for Photoshop. And for those of you who just don't have the cash (or just don't want to spend it on Photoshop). Consider gimp as an alternative.

(note, I have absolutely no affiliation with GIMP other than being a user. I don't know the guys who developed it, or Scott Moschella who developed GIMPShop. Just like the software. )

[wulf]

I'm a long-term GIMP fan. It has it's quirks but it's a solid and powerful tool for working on pictures. I haven't tried any very recent versions of Photoshop but have made some use of earlier versions; nothing from that experience makes me desperate to fork out a bundle of money to Adobe when I can get on and use the GIMP for free.

Wulf

[Joshua Schroeder]

I find Gimp to be a passable "poor man's Photoshop", but it certainly far from the real thing.

To begin with, I have a hard time with some of Gimp's interface ... it just doesn't seem as intuitive as Photoshop (I'll give GimpShop a try and see if that's any easier to get acquainted with).

That being said, free is always a nice perk. I'm rather a techie and spend some of my life on Linux machines, so I've got a soft spot for anything open source as well. I applaud any software that you can run on any platform ... I've run it on Linux, Mac, and Windows, and it runs equally as well on any. I also like Gimp Portable (http://portableapps.com/apps/graphics_pictures/gimp_portable) ... stick it on your USB key, and you don't even need to install it on each computer you use it on. Handy when you're using multiple machines, especially if they're shared computers which you may not have admin access on. I've also spent a great deal of time learning Photoshop and Illustrator, so I've invested a lot in Adobe since last really using Gimp.

Bottom line, though, is that I wouldn't consider it a substitute for PS for those who are truely serious about their image touch-ups/enhancements/maninpulations. Otherwise, it may do what you need it to, and the price is right.

[Nicole]

For those of you that are die-hard Photoshop users, you'll appreciate GIMPShop a version of GIMP created by Scott Moschella of TechTV, which was made to mimic the look and feel of Photoshop.


Thanks for that link to GIMPShop. I haven't seen this before, and I'm just downloading it now. I'm quite keen to try it out.

I was introduced to GIMP when using Linux machines in a uni course. I find it quite good to use once you get used to it. I find that it has a bit of a learning curve, but once you get past that, it works really well. Needless to say, the best thing about it for me is that it is free.

[lisa nolan]

Thanks for that link to GIMPShop. I haven't seen this before, and I'm just downloading it now. I'm quite keen to try it out.

Ditto that - thanks CameraDan. I'm downloading GimpShop right now.

I like the Gimp. I agree that it can be a little more tricky to figure out in the beginning, but after a few online tutorials, I feel pretty comfortable in it. I did download a trial version of PhotoShopCS2 and the only thing I have wanted to do in Gimp that I was unable to, but could do in CS2 was panorama stitching, but I think I've seen some panorama plugins for the Gimp somewhere. I'll have to search for those.

[Nicole]

I'm really liking GIMPShop so far. I've just had a bit of a play around with it, and I find it easier to use than the GIMP. Still has a bit of a learning curve, but I'm getting there. Thanks again for the link :)

[Mtik]

Does Gimp support an RAW files? .dng maybe?

Not a huge deal, but it would be nice.

I'm probably going to purchase Lightroom when it comes out, but I'd still like to have a good editor for more strenuous work.

-Tim

[tyrithe]

Check out UFRaw (http://ufraw.sourceforge.net/Install.html).

It's a raw importer that will work as a gimp plugin. You get the basic image adjustments (color temperature, exposure, etc) before import, then it imports into Gimp for the rest of the manipulation.

I'm not quite sure if DNG is included or not.

[mattdm]

From my perspective, the major lack in current Gimp (other than "getting a marketable name") is LAB colorspace. You can do neat things with this in photoshop that really can't be done as easily without.

[wulf]

From my perspective, the major lack in current Gimp (other than "getting a marketable name") is LAB colorspace. You can do neat things with this in photoshop that really can't be done as easily without.

You can "decompose" a picture into LAB (or several other components) using the option under filters | colours. That allows you to, for example, sharpen only the luminosity channel, and then "compose" back into a picture that looks sharper but with more natural colouration. That's certainly available in the 2.2 release.

Wulf

[mattdm]

You can "decompose" a picture into LAB (or several other components) using the option under filters | colours. That allows you to, for example, sharpen only the luminosity channel, and then "compose" back into a picture that looks sharper but with more natural colouration. That's certainly available in the 2.2 release.


Yeah. It's just a lot more clumbsy to work with.

[bindibadgi]

Thanks for the link to GIMP Portable! I've got to try that out. I can't even count how many times I've wanted GIMP away from home.

[omega]

Gimp is great tool(I use both, but have limited access to photoshop) but it is also lacking in a quite a few areas in relation to photoshop:
cmyk and other color systems support
layer system
many effects that must be done slowly with a script in gimp are done in realtime in photoshop
has the ability it apply setting ie: contrast, color balance, etc. to only certain layers and easily modify or undo them
visual plain and simple scripting
better filter management and preview system
healing brush, patch tool, and perspective tools
interface
support and training materials
raw support
file management system
brush control system
pantone or better color picking system

[s9am_me]

I started using gimpshop about a month ago. I tried the original gimp last year, but was a little unhappy about the interface. With GIMPshop, all the menu's and tools are just like photoshop so its easy to follow photshop tutorials. I'm still a beginner, just upgraded to a D40 for Christmas, so this is the perfect alternative. Another one I found that was great was Paint.net -- http://www.getpaint.net/index2.html

[Dan Rowe]

I've played with GIMP of and on for a couple of years and haven't had much luck with photo retouching but I have had great success (as in I don't know what I'm doing but the end result surprised me) with logo design and web graphics. For those interested in trying GIMP here's a good source (http://www.gimp-tutorials.com/index.php) for tutorials I recently stumbled upon.