Any GIMP users?

[KeckCreative]

I generally use Adobe suite of products (Photoshop, After Effects, etc.) when creating material at home for church. However, the media PC at church does not have any of this software and no plans to invest in any at this time. I've come the open access GIMP and curious about other experience in using it. Any advice about GIMP workflow and what to avoid "learning the hard way" is appreciated.

[lanes6]

I would like to add to your question:

I am planning on teaching photo and video editing at church camp this summer to some students. I thought I would use Gimp so that the students could access the same program when they get home. I also would like some tips and maybe some advice on an outline of what to teach (basics).

[petereit]

I use Gimp exclusively and have found it more than adequate to serve my graphic needs. I started using it on the PC and still use it on my Mac, even though I have the entire Adobe CS4 suite available.

There are TONS of free tutorials on the internet which would be great sources to use to start teaching Gimp to your students.

[katanna]

Gimp is evil.

But on a serious note: I, too, have used Photoshop extensively for many years. Twice over the years I have downloaded Gimp to see what all of the fuss was about, and I was immediately turned off by it. It is close enough to Photoshop to give you hope that it will be good, but I would go to do something and the tool wouldn't be where I am used to it being. Plus the UI is awful.

My opinion is (and I know others that agree) is: If you have little background in image editing or are used to Gimp, then Gimp is the best thing since sliced bread. If you are used to Photoshop, Gimp is extremely hard to learn. (Hence: Gimp is evil.)

The good news is: It is free! Just download it and try it for yourself, you will know soon enough if it will work for you.

Matthew

[[Admin] osborn4]

I talked the church into purchasing Photoshop Elements for the media PC. That has enough horsepower to do the last minute kind of things that need to be done, usually. And is much cheaper.

[lanes6]

I normally use corel and can get things done pretty well. My thought is: the students that don't have, or won't buy editing software will be my students, so I thought it might be wise to demonstrate in a free program so they can go home and actually use the things we talked about.

If you were teaching students, 7-12 grade, editing tips, both graphic and video where would you start? This is a "fun" class during church camp, so I really don't think we can get very deep. What would be your outline for a 1.5 hour tutorial?

[petereit]

To make it really interesting, I would start by snapping pictures of them and having each student start with their own photo. Then stylize it, cut it up, colorize it, rotoscope it, paste in a cool background, etc.

[shayward]

I've been using computers since I was 9 and a professional software developer for about 14 years. I used Photoshop a little bit in college with no troubles.

When I first tried GIMP, my impression was that someone took a bunch of random UI components, put them in a box, shook them up, and dumped them on the screen.

I've been using Paint.Net ever since. As powerful as GIMP? No, probably not. But it does layer, various effects, has a bunch of community-developed plug-ins and it's insanely straight-forward. My 6 year old started using it last year to some degree of success. It's worth a loook.

[KeckCreative]

Thanks for the Paint.net suggestion. That might just do the trick. I'll have to give it a try.

[Sysmom]

Paint.net was so painfully slow on a 6-layer 300 dpi document (just a letter sized page, nothing large) that I learned what I had to learn to help someone, and immediately deleted it.

Gimp has not been deleted, and I'm a devoted Photoshop user. No matter what program you learn/re-learn ... the UI seems to always be the rough spot. I don't think Gimp's UI is any more difficult, per se, than Paint Shop Pro or Photoshop. It's just different.

I think that Gimp is a great idea, personally. The skills they learn in Gimp *will* transfer to Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, and Paint Shop Pro.

Just keep reminding yourself that every program has a learning curve and you are not too old to learn something new. It keeps me sane when I have to learn something that's driving me nuts...

deb

[dubya]

Never used GIMP, but I ran across these earlier today. May be of use to the GIMPlets on the board.

http://blog.qbrushes.net/best-40-gimp-tutorials/

[shayward]

Also, it's possible that GIMP's UI has improved since I tried it several years ago.