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GIMP

PostPosted: Mon Dec 21, 2020 10:14 pm
by Roseflamingo
Just curious if anyone here has ever used the GIMP program to make any covers or labels. I've read it's almost identical to Photoshop but the only difference is that it's free to download. Would like to know if anyone has had any experience or has any feedback for the program.

Re: GIMP

PostPosted: Tue Dec 22, 2020 10:44 pm
by ctaulbee
It's far from Photoshop, I know what is said on the internet...

The way you test that is ask yourself this...

"If it were actually as good or better why does anyone still use Photoshop and pay monthly for it ?"

I've installed and tested it in in the past, just so I could see whether to recommend it to others and found it to be a total mess.

That is my personal opinion having tried it and for perspective I have used a lot of different graphics programs and suites over the last 30 years...

Many of those are more like Photoshop than GIMP is, the rub is any I have found worth using cost money though, there is no free program out there that actually works well... plus support and help on all other programs is very limited too... just like GIMP.

By the way, just to be clear, they stopped actively developing GIMP in the 2012-13 time frame.

I know their site says there have been updates but that is only minor bugs fixes here and there, the original group who developed it and kept if going from 1996-2012 all left long ago, they finally figured out it was a war they could not win.

It has had no major updates in years and there will be none in the future, anyone new with the skills to improve it who has looked at it has determined they could never make it actually compete with Photoshop and therefore not worth the investment of their time.

https://www.gimp.org/about/history.html

I think it's very hard to use myself and you will find no help online for it beyond what little they have there which may or may not be useful.

There or tons of Photoshop users around the world and uncounted sites dedicated to tutorials, making it very easy to learn and get help on.

It is regularly updated and maintained and that is why it is the gold standard everyone else want's to claim to be just like.

That's my two cents.


:)

Re: GIMP

PostPosted: Wed Dec 23, 2020 4:29 am
by Roseflamingo
Thanks for your feedback, it's nice to know before I devote any time to it.

Re: GIMP

PostPosted: Wed Dec 23, 2020 11:05 pm
by ctaulbee
There are some decent programs out that don't require a monthly subscription but they are not free either.

Corel Paintshop Pro is still a contender at 49.00 btw there are cover templates out there for PSP still on most sites as many used it back when it was free.

Affinity Photo is a up and comer at 49.00 that claims to be able to edit PSD files and that would be a plus.

You can get a free 30 trial of either to test out.


:cheesy

Re: GIMP

PostPosted: Wed Dec 23, 2020 11:37 pm
by Pip
Roseflamingo wrote:Thanks for your feedback, it's nice to know before I devote any time to it.


What have you been using up to now?

Re: GIMP

PostPosted: Thu Dec 24, 2020 5:36 pm
by Roseflamingo
I've been using Corel Draw and Paint for many years now but still learning the Photoshop program (the free download you sent me I believe). I'll use the Photoshop program all the time once I'm more comfortable with it. I'm still trying to get the hang of my Aquios drawing tablet too, so much to learn! I can't believe 15 years into this and I'm still learning all the tools, brushes etc. Gives me a headache! ;)

Re: GIMP

PostPosted: Thu Dec 24, 2020 8:50 pm
by Pip
Ha, I'm still learning photoshop. I don't think the learning ever ends. :cheesy

Re: GIMP

PostPosted: Fri Dec 25, 2020 1:40 am
by ctaulbee
Well your on the right track then, Photoshop is the way to go, there is a wealth of info on the web on how to do everything imaginable with it.

As Pip said, it's really an on-going learning process.

I started doing vector graphics in the early 90s on CorelDraw 3 and added raster graphics in 1997 with Photoshop 4 and have been learning new things ever since...


:)