I'm impressed with Gimp!

[Ripcord]

Lately I've been exploring alternatives to expensive graphics software, especially with the new cloud based subscriptions, which I don't care for at all. I believe software in general is overpriced for this day and age, much like music CDs were ten years ago. Open source software and online file distribution, (whether or not it's "fair" to the musicians, software developers, etc.) is the reality of the 21st century.

I downloaded Gimp to check it out and I'm quite impressed with the tool selection, features, and controls. Also, a Google search instantly finds dozens of answers to any questions and solutions to any problems, along with numerous tutorials. I'm planning to use Gimp from now on for all my raster work.

I did this retouch to experiment with the different tools and effects, and Gimp does everything I want to do.

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

If it is good opening file formats I struggle with, It'd be worth a look.

I used to use GhostRip and GhostView and it served as a valuable tool. So I'm not opposed to open source packages.

We receive files of all sorts (nephew art  ) also we are often having to call the custy and have them please save their CS5 or CS6 files as an older format.

How is Gimp on that front?

Stan

[Ripcord]

I don't know...I just began using Gimp yesterday. From what I've read, it is compatible with PSD files and will open them normally. It won't open a Corel Photo Paint file (I tried...)

Since I still use Corel Draw for my vector work, I need to copy a raster image from there and paste it into Gimp. Not as convenient as Photo Paint, in which you can go back and forth with Draw as you please. I liked Photo Paint X3 OK. One of the reasons I'm switching over to Gimp is that version X6 appears to be missing a major airbrush setting that I use all the time in X3 (Gimp has it, and additional settings also not found in Photo Paint.) Also, when you can't figure something out in Gimp, there is a ton of helpful information available online. Not so with Photo Paint.

I still use Photo Paint X3, but I'm concerned that it might not be supported by future versions of Windows, so I want to become versatile with Gimp. I'm trying out Inkscape too, in case Corel goes the "cloud subscription" route like Adobe (Photoshop/ Illustrator package is $960 for two years. I've been in business for 12 years. At those rates I'd have paid $5760 so far for my graphics software!)

[Evo]

Been using GIMP for years. Once you get the hang of it, you won't look back for raster work.

However, I always pull the results back into Coreldraw for output, as GIMP sucks for that.

[Ripcord]

That's exactly what I've been doing. For the forseeable future I plan to use Draw X3 for vector and Gimp for raster, and experiment with Inkscape to become familiar with it. I tried Corel X6 and and I prefer X3. X3 was in my opinion, the last version with significant improvements over previous versions, especially the improved power trace tool. Subsequent versions just have a few added  "convenient" tools that I don't want (automatic link to What the Font, etc.) and as far as I can tell all the drawing tools are the same as before, just reconfigured to confuse those of us who were already familiar with the program.

[BrianHahn]

Evo, what format do you use to bring the file from GIMP to Corel Draw? Whenever I try to transfer the files I keep getting font size changes.

[Evo]

Evo, what format do you use to bring the file from GIMP to Corel Draw? Whenever I try to transfer the files I keep getting font size changes.

I only do type and text in Coreldraw. I typically export from GIMP as a tif and add everything else, then export as a PDF.

[blue moon]

for retouching, frequency separations seem to be the ticket. See if GIMP will let you do something like this (splitting texture and color into separate layers and fixing independently).

Frequency Separations on PHLEARN

pierre

[Ripcord]

This is a little more advanced... I can't comment about Gimp's frequency separation capabilities...But I did my retouch using similar techniques. Two layers with a gaussian blur applied to the top layer (I give it way more of a blur than the guy in the video...) Then a soft edge eraser to bring the definition back to the eyes, hair, nose, and mouth. Then a combine of the two layers and maybe a little airbrushing and smudging...clone tool if there are big zits or moles that need to be removed.