The GIMP

[KingJackal]

Introduction

I had already posted much of this information before, but it's now obscurely hidden within the September desktop thread, so I thought I'd make a separate thread so the forum search function would get people here quicker.

This should help explain not only how to post your desktop image, but also where to download, how to install, and how to use the GIMP to achieve top results.

The GIMP is

A not-quite-as-powerfull open-source Photoshop replacement. It is open-source, so you're welcome to use it indefinately for FREE LEGALLY, unlike the much more expensive Adobe Photoshop software.

It is also cross compatible with Photoshop plugins, making it more than powerfull enough for all but the most hardcore use ( which posting desktop caps most definately isn't ;) ).

While the GIMP is natively available for Unix distributions including Linux, it is also available in Windows binaries, meaning all you MS users can get jiggy wid it.

Getting GIMP

If you're using a 'nix platform, just go to www.gimp.org (http://www.gimp.org/) RPM's, tar balls, source code - the lot ought to be available for just about every platform you use there.

If you're using Windows, then the GIMP page is here:
http://www.gimp.org/~tml/gimp/win32/

To get the GIMP running under Windows, you will probably need THREE files:

ftp://ftp.arnes.si/software/gimp-win/gtk+-1.3.0-20030717-setup.zip
1847kB ZIP file, containing the EXE installer for the GTK+ libraries, which are needed to install The GIMP. Make sure you have the latest version of the GTK+ libraries. Many open-source programs use these libraries, so they're a handy download anyway.

ftp://ftp.arnes.si/software/gimp-win/gimp-1.2.5-20030729-setup.zip
6015kB ZIP file, containing the EXE installer for the GIMP.

Note that Unisys holds a patent over LZW compression, which is used in GIF's and some TIFF's. Therefore to use GIF's, you must either own a licence or buy a tool whose developers have bought a licence! This patent applies to the following countries:
The United States, Japan, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom
...so if you're here in NZ, or elsewhere, or own a licence, then get this file as well:

ftp://ftp.arnes.si/software/gimp-win/gimp-1.2.5-lzw-setup.zip
37kB ZIP file, containing the EXE installer for adding full GIF support to The GIMP.

Installing GIMP

OK, so you've downloaded just over 7MB of ZIPs. Now do this:

1) Run the GTK+ EXE, found in gtk+-1.3.0-20030717-setup.zip.
2) Run the GIMP EXE, found in gimp-1.2.5-20030729-setup.zip.
3) Optionally run the LZW plugin EXE, found in gimp-1.2.5-lzw-setup.zip.

You should now have the GIMP installed and ready to use.

Capping that desktop

After hitting your Print Screen ( or Print Scrn ;) :p ) button the same as with any other program, load GIMP, and then go to File -> Aquire -> From clipboard. Bingo! You've got that desktop cap in an image.

Then just right-click the image ( most options are available via a right-click ), and go save-as. With JPEG images, you can drag the compression ratio slider around to find something ( make sure to select the preview fundtion ) that still gives a good crisp image, but also gives a low file size.

That's all for now

But I'll probably add some pictures to describe things sometime.

[Stove]

Seema rather complicated. I just use Irfanview.
Hit the "Print Screen" button on my keyboard -> Open Irfanview -> Ctrl-V to paste it in. Then Save As. . . whatever Jpeg.

[KingJackal]

Originally posted by Stove
Seema rather complicated. I just use Irfanview.
Hit the "Print Screen" button on my keyboard -> Open Irfanview -> Ctrl-V to paste it in. Then Save As. . . whatever Jpeg.

Yeah, irfanview is fine. But it's no way near as powerfull as GIMP. It can't even touch it in terms of features and compatibility.

The GIMP is handy when you want to do a little more than just take desktop caps.

[siti]

The gimp rocks!

At the moment in linux I am testing out the development release (1.3). Which has a way better UI, which was my only complaints in the 1.2 version, but it is also gtk2:)

[BeachBum]

Although I use PaintShop Pro under WinXP there is nothing, as far as I know, to beat the Gimp under Linux! Its a great and extremely flexible product and will do most things, as already stated, that either PS or PSP do. Open source programs are a newer improvement to the Win s/w scene and long may such excellent programs succeed. A toast to cheap/free s/w that replaces the $M applications of you know who.::D With The Gimp and Open Office your system is ready for the whatever you need in terms of graphics and wp.

[Method]

Does GIMP have all those cool filters like photoshop?

Like solarize ect (hehe thats the only one i can remember)

[KingJackal]

Originally posted by Method
Does GIMP have all those cool filters like photoshop?

Like solarize ect (hehe thats the only one i can remember)

Yep, lots :). These are all submenu's within 'filter':

[|nferno]

the gimp rocks my socks

[fatsanchez]

i'm sure the gimp is a powerful tool and everything, but the interface is pretty crap IMHO.

i want toolbars. :mad:

[varkk]

And if film editing is your thing, Film Gimp (http://filmgimp.sourceforge.net/)
A branch from the gimp project for editing videos. It has some heavyhitters behind it too, such as ILM DreamWorks and a few others.

[_N_]

nice, I've been looking for software like that, and as a bonus it's legally free, :)

that movie editing one looks good too,

<*goes of to DL*>

[dice]

Windows version isn't out yet.

[_N_]

gimp is, not the movie one,



copied from the first post:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If you're using Windows, then the GIMP page is here:
http://www.gimp.org/~tml/gimp/win32/
To get the GIMP running under Windows, you will probably need THREE files:
ftp://ftp.arnes.si/software/gimp-wi...313-setup-2.zip
1542kB ZIP file, containing the EXE installer for the GTK+ libraries, which are needed to install The GIMP. Make sure you have the latest version of the GTK+ libraries. Many open-source programs use these libraries, so they're a handy download anyway.
ftp://ftp.arnes.si/software/gimp-wi...20527-setup.zip
5821kB ZIP file, containing the EXE installer for the GIMP.
Note that Unisys holds a patent over LZW compression, which is used in GIF's and some TIFF's. Therefore to use GIF's, you must either own a licence or buy a tool whose developers have bought a licence! This patent applies to the following countries:
The United States, Japan, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom
...so if you're here in NZ, or elsewhere, or own a licence, then get this file as well:
ftp://ftp.arnes.si/software/gimp-wi...7-lzw-setup.zip
120kB ZIP file, containing the EXE installer for adding full GIF support to The GIMP.

[varkk]

yes, but the windows version of film gimp is scheduled for release this month, there is an early screenshot on the site. Or you could join us lunix monkeys, you know you want to anyway.

[Mr. T]

Film GIMP is now called CinePaint (http://cinepaint.sourceforge.net/), and the Windows release is out. I haven't tried it myself yet, but I'd recommend going with the Linux release. The Win32 copy of the GIMP that I have is really unstable, but I've never had a problem with the GIMP under Linux.

[varkk]

Just letting everone know that the gimp is on this months PC world cover disk, so if you want it but don't want to d/l it.

[varkk]

MORE GIMP NEWS!!!11!

Ok, maybe not that exciting, but gimp.org has released a 'testing' version of The Gimp 2.0 so go grab it if you are into that kind of thing

ftp://ftp.gimp.org/pub/gimp/v2.0/testing/

I think so far there are only *nix sources available.

[Phatputer]

It could be said that anything you want to do in photoshop you can do in gimp, the problem comes is that for more of the complex things it may take you longer on the gimp.

Personally I use both of them and depending on what im trying to do will chop and change between them.

[_N_]

I got film gimp and it wasn't what I expected, :)
It is meant to be used in a situation where you convert a movie into images, edit the images and then put it back into a movie,
I personally, didn't have much use for this and I couldn't find an app that would strip a movie into images.:confused:

[Feliz]

anyone know an open source alternative to after effects.. now that would be useful

[mird-OC]

Originally posted by Feliz
anyone know an open source alternative to after effects.. now that would be useful
film gimp (or CinePaint (http://cinepaint.sourceforge.net/) as it's now called) is about as close as you'll get any time in the near future.

my guess is that studios are willing to pay too much for such software for anyone to justify developing a free alternative... anything that might be spawned opensource would most likely evolve into a commercial product anyway.

[Solid Snake]

Being forced to use GiMP after using Photoshop is disastrous. I have used Photoshop for a long time now, and to me, the GiMP is simply awful.

The problem with GiMP is that there is no form of standardization in the tool sets and how to do things are a little strange and not immediately obvious. Take for example an Alpha channel in a TGA. I open it up in GiMP and it auto displays the Alpha channel as a transparency. I don't know how to turn it off as it is more useful to me off rather than on. So I go to channels and it isn't even present in the channels?

It's just so difficult to grasp, and to me... it just makes it rubbish. Yes it's free and it can't content with the x amount of money you pay for Adobe, but still ... I simply do not see why people say this a comparable alternative. It is in the sense of money conditions but not a program comparision.

[mird-OC]

If you've been using a particular toolset for a long time, the sense of familiarity is quite comforting. It's so comforting infact that when you have to learn another toolset, it can often seem very clumsy and awkward - you encounter something simple like the example you explained and find yourself growing more and more frustrated because you could've had it sorted in a second if you were using a familiar toolset.

I've experienced this a number of times from learning teh *nix after years in MS-DOS, learning Freehand after years in Photoshop and Illustrator, learning Maya after years in Max, and not to mention the multitude of different programming languages each with their own stupid syntax, quirks, and annoyances.

I went through exactly the same thing as you when learning Gimp and although I'm now pretty comfortable with it I find it very hard to let go of my precious Photoshop :). But I do know that Gimp and Photoshop are (more or less) capable of achieving exactly the same thing.

I think it's just that the learning curve gets pretty bumping when you've got relevant knowledge that can't be applied.

[traindriver]

OK, so the GIMP was pretty cool, but im afraid im with the others on the Photoshop thing....

Now, how do I uninstall the runtimes?

BTW I run win 98 and the GIMP work sweet as if thats any help.

Cheers
Drew