I have started using GIMP for my design work and was wondering if anyone else is familiar with the program. Learning to use tools that are the same as those used in Photoshop with the exception of name they do the same thing.
#1 Website for Digital Scrapbooking and Hybrid Crafting.
There was a discussion on Gimp for tutorials. If you go there you will find a lot of informtion.
Gimp tutorial
https://www.digitalscrapbook.com/forums/digital-scrapbooking/digital-scrapbooking-discussion/gimp-tutorial
There is also an offer for Photoshop CS2 for free, if you are interested in trying Photoshop.
Get photoshop cs2 for FREE
https://www.digitalscrapbook.com/forums/software-specific/photoshop-and-photoshop-elements/get-photoshop-cs2-for-free
Thank you for the links! I think I will try Photoshop. Have you ever used InDesign or is that a good program for publication type work?
InDesign is a desktop publishing program. For creating you can also try Illustrator a drawing program.
I know it has been a while since this post, but I am a Gimp user, I am a newbie to all of this and I was not sure if I would be able to use photoshop, so I thought that since GIMP was free I would give it a go. I did and I am getting a little more familiar with using the layers and all that, and really I am so glad I joined because of the tutorials, although they use photoshop, it really helps me see what steps to take to edit, or create with.
Hi I also use gimp. I've found that most tutorialsf for photoshop work fine for gimp. A few tips: there is'nt such a thing as a clipping mask function in gimp, but it is explained how to do it here: http://starsunflowerstudio.blogspot.nl/2010/11/clipping-masks-and-pattern-overlays-in.html
That site made me check out pixelscrapper! Also very useful:
http://www.alessandrofrancesconi.it/projects/bimp/
for batch processing files!
shanti
I have Gimp...oh wait, I haven't re-downloaded it since I had to re-do my hard drive, need to do that... and I like Gimp. I normally use PhotoImpact and it is my program of choice, but have been learning PSE11 and PS CS5 and Gimp all at the same time and had to quit Gimp until I get more familiar with the PSE and PS. I kept getting confused!!! I don't use PS as much as I do PSE and I don't use PSE NEAR as much as PI. Pi is like an old comfy pair of slippers, but I wanted to learn other programs for when PI does eventually not work with Windows updates and such, since Corel isn't updating PI.
I need to go download Gimp and work with that again. LOL
I am a GIMP user, I've had success with a lot of Photoshop tutorials, but usually do a lot of trial and error for what I'm doing. It's grown on me...
I'm a GIMP user as well. I've learned a lot since I started with it about 1.5 years ago.
TIP:
1) When I was designing a couple of months ago, and had loaded several different brushes into it...I found that it was running VERY SLOW on my 9+ yr old computer. Moved many of those brushes out of the directory, and stored them someplace else today, and it was loading much faster. So I'll probably store my brushes somewhere else, and move them when I need them into a sub-directory of the brushes for GIMP.
2) If something didn't seem to work correctly, check and see what layer is selected and/or what the TOOLS selections are...as sometimes I find that I need to have the correct layer or I have a selection "on" and I need to deselect.
If anyone has specific questions, ask away! I've been quilting recently, but will try to do a better job of watching in the new forum!
I use Gimp as well! and it's mostly trial and error for me, too, but I pretty much love my Gimp... and I can do everything I want to do, so I'm gonna stick with it
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I am a Gimper too and love it.
I see no reason to change to PhotoShop, altought I've used it too. You can do same job with Gimp than PhotoShop, and it's free 
And you can use same brushes with it too nowadays, and even work with PSD files. I've have taken some classes with PS about ten years ago, and learned Gimp by trial after that.
Mareena: was wondering if you noticed any difference between the PhotoShop and Gimp, as far as speed goes?
I'm running GIMP on two computers that are 9 years old, and just wondering if part of the fact that GIMP is slow is based on the software, or just my old computers.
Laura, I have not had or used Gimp and PS in same computer, so can not say. I know that Gimp tends to crash easily on older or slower computers, but works fine and fast on new/faster ones. Same thing goes for PhotoShop too, I think.
For a while I had only an old laptop to work with, and Gimp was very slow on it and did crash frequently, so I learnt to save my files often..
Now I have good, new and fast computer and gimping is much more of a joy!
I had several crashes previously, saving frequently is mandatory, but after the last upgrade things have been running better, though not faster.
Mareena, where do you go to get brushes? Also, does anyone have any idea of where to go to get styles or Script-fu? Also, how do you smooth edges? I have been using the distort. Is there any other trick? I had a designer tell me that I should get PS if I wanted to design seriously...I thought GIMP could do everything that PS could, just a little trickier learning some of the tricks, as far as not having "Smoothing actions" etc. I am fairly new, though learning quite a bit! And, I just wondered if anyone had any insights. I really do not want to have to pay for PS if GIMP is as powerful as I think it is!
Thanks in advance!
lol I SOOOO feel you!! I just wanted to make sure that I had the motivation to want to create/edit my own items and it haaaas taken me a few weeks but I def feel a little more confidant about working with layers!
I am currently in the same boat, I do believe I have a link to a blog that uses gimp!! and that is where if I remember correctly I found digitalscrapbook.com!! if you would like the link feel free to reply or contact me
sharing is creative caring!
Thanks for the link for the clipping masks and pattern overlay tutorial. I'm new to digital scrapbooking, and though I've used gimp for years, I have never worked with layers at all...just basic photo editing. I know gimp can do so much more than what I've been doing, it's just a matter learning how to do it!
I've been using GIMP for almost 10 years, and I've been very happy with what it can do. I had the opportunity to switch to photoshop at work, but after being so comfortable with all the gimp functions, I didn't think it was worth the learning curve. Maybe one day . . .
Of course, I'm still learning new tricks . . . but if I'd be happy to try to help if anyone has gimp questions. Feel free to message me.