Editor’s note: My good friend John Mata sings the praises of GIMP for photographers who want to have fun and play with their images. I have yet to spend much time with it and suggested that a quick rundown for visitors to this site would be in order.
Just GIMP it!
We’re all familiar with the frequently used verbs “google” and “photoshop”. Personally I don’t mind using google as a verb. It sounds much cooler to say, “just google it” as opposed to “initiate a database query employing a web based search engine.” But to say, “just photoshop it” just crosses the line! It’s just wrong! Despite the fact that I’d be exaggerating if I went as far as to say that to use “photoshop” as a transitive verb makes me want to puke, i’ll say it anyway, just for effect: the term “just photoshop it” makes me want to puke! I mean there are other applications on the market that are just as powerful as Photoshop! For me, GIMP is the best choice. GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free raster graphics editor, which is an exceptional tool for editing raster formats, such as JPEG, PNG, GIF, and TIFF. GIMP is available for Linux, Mac, and Windows, and it’s free to download
If you don’t already know, I’ll share with you the secret key concept that unlocks the power of graphic editors, like Photoshop and GIMP. Well, okay, it’s really not a secret, but it is the key concept still, I am referring to layers. For a brief description on how layers work, see the information graphic below:
Example: Jayce standing on sheet music
The image above was created by manipulating three individual layers as shown in the information graphic.
Once you get on top of the layer paradigm, the rest should come naturally, just through good old fashion brut force determination. Not to mention the countless support available online. So roll up your sleeves, jump in and get dirty.
You’ll be glad you did.
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Check out the amazing moonrise of December 9, 2011 from Around the World in Eighty Years
I dig the new look to your website, Jim!
Thank you but…I got a ways to go brutha.
John Mata I just made another big round of changes – these mostly color to make is easier to read. What do you think?
Jim O'Donnell, much easier on my ojos, amigo.
John Mata Hey. Just checked this page and the images are appearing fine.
Jim O'Donnell, that's pretty strange. Perhaps they were performing maintenance at the time I looked. I see them now too.