Is GIMP cool or lame?
I’m a big fan of open source, or alternative, software. I’m not a fan of paying hundreds of dollars for an application. Needless to say I’m not a big fan of Microsoft or Adobe.
So what’s a good open source graphic design application? I’ve tried a lot of programs and now I’m looking at GIMP. GIMP is the free alternative to Photoshop. But how well does it work?
A friend said that it’s hard to convert from Photoshop to GIMP. Since I’m a Fireworks fan, I guess I don’t have to worry about that one. 
But what does GIMP really do? Does it open PSD or AI files? Does it do vector or just bitmap? Easy to use?
I’ve been wanting to try it, but it requires X11 on my Mac. I’m not sure what that is so I never installed it. I may though if GIMP is cool enough.
What do you think? Is GIMP a great piece of freeware or a lacking alternative for graphic design?
I love the Gimp. I use PhotoShop at work on my Mac and Gimp at home on my PC and I can switch between the two easily - you can install a script that maps PhotoShop shortcuts to the Gimp.
Version 2.4’s just come out with a more updated interface and a few tweaks to the tool set, I’d recommend trying it out.
As for X11, I installed that on my Macbook in order to get Open Office to work and haven’t noticed any problems.
- Katy October 30th, 2007 at 8:36 am
Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.8 - Windows XP
I would say switching from Fireworks to Gimp is harder than the Photoshop switch. The main reason being that Fireworks is much more vector-oriented when it comes to creating stuff. Gimp, for the most part, is a bitmap image editor like Photoshop used to be.
In any case, I would recommend you give it a go and make sure you give it enough time. As with pretty much all community-driven software, the first impression may not be great, but it will grow on you steadily.
- Ashish Bogawat October 30th, 2007 at 9:26 am
Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.8 - Windows XP
I’ve been using GIMP for nearly four years now, and I can honestly say that I see no difference between Photoshop and GIMP, other than a shinier GUI that exists on Photoshop.
Yes, it is better suited for bitmap and JPEG work, but that’s not to say you can’t vector with it.
(I’ve never tried, but it could work, I guess. You might need to ask the GIMP community if they know convenient tricks for vectoring in GIMP.)
Most of my own art work is either edited or colored in GIMP, and besides lacking certain effects, which I believe is only a matter of adding scripts and plug-ins, it works well for damn near any type of graphics work.
- Steven Moncivais October 30th, 2007 at 10:12 am
Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.8 - Windows XP
Katy - Instead of Open Office, you should check out NeoOffice. It is like Open Office without X11.
Ashish - I thought that Fireworks to GIMP would be easier seeing as it’d be a completely different program where as Photoshop and GIMP are similar. But it’ll be a big change, very true.
Can GIMP open AI or PSD files? That’s one of my big questions of the moment.
- Thomas October 30th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Safari 523.10 - Mac OS X
Someone else recommended NeoOffice, the problem is I have a years worth of meeting notes in OpenOffice format so that’s why I plumped for it.
You can open PSD files but it looks like you can’t edit text layers as they get rasterized. I haven’t been able to successfully open an Illustrator file.
- Katy October 31st, 2007 at 5:09 am
Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.8 - Windows XP
I don’t really know. I think GIMP is harder to use than Photoshop, and is more complicated. But I’ll have to check it out to find out.
- Jeremy November 20th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Internet Explorer 6.0 - Windows XP
GIMP and Photoshop blow chunks. Paint.NET rules, but it’s Windows Only.
- Alpha Nerd April 8th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Internet Explorer 7.0 - Windows Vista
I love the gimp on my macs. I’m using it to teach myself graphic design.
X11 is on the OSX Install disc.
Also, if you google Wilbur loves Apple, it will take you to a great site with a version of the GIMP ported for mac, with great install instructions. It’s really easy.
And if you get the GIMP from Wilbur Loves Apple, it’s specifically designed to automatically open X11 when you open the GIMP. There’s also scripts there so that you can use the Apple key instead of the ctrl key, among other things.
- Prophetnoise May 1st, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Opera 9.27 - Mac OS X
GIMP Is The Worst Piece Of Gargabe That Open Source Have Ever Made…
- Blitz June 16th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Mozilla Firefox 3.0 - Linux
@Blitz
dude, get your facts straight before you blabber about stuff
@Topic
I’ve been working with GIMP for about a year now, and I must say, it’s quite impressive
Try it out for yourself
- The Zero June 19th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.13 - Windows Vista
Hi,
Does GIMP have text effects that don’t require rasterization of the layer? I can’t find anything like that.
Best,
Dainis
- Dainis July 25th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Safari 525.20 - Mac OS X
Who’s going to trust the guy using internet explorer with vista on what software to use?
I’ve been toying with the GIMP lately. It’s my first real editor, as mostly I’ve never had the need for anything more advanced than MS Paint. It’s good to ask around, but just try it for yourself.
- brandonh September 18th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Mozilla Firefox 3.0.1 - Windows XP