Are there any GIMP Image Software users on MCM?

[Bernard Kron]

I often get asked what software I use, particularly by car modelers who either want to design their own graphics (for decals fro example), or who want to improve their photographs. The problem I have had is that my software of choice has always been far too expensive to recommend to casual users. I am a long-time user of Photoshop, starting years ago when I bought a copy for the business that I had at the time. But its tremendous cost barrier has always made me hesitant to recommend it.

Recently I downloaded a copy of GIMP, a professional grade image program that is available free of charge (GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program where GNU is the acronym for a free Linux-like kernel of basic code that is the basis for many of the powerful free software applications available today). I have known about GIMP but up to now have never taken the time to install it and use it.

To be clear, I consider Photoshop an excellent program rich with techniques and approaches to serve the needs of virtually anyone who works with bitmap images, Its one disadvantage is that it has always been enormously expensive. Even when you could still buy it, a full copy would set you back several hundred dollars. And nowadays Adobe won't even sell you a copy - you have to rent it at a cost of upwards of $30.00-$40.00 per month for a suitably powerful version.

Are there any long-time GIMP users in the MCM community who would care to comment on their experiences?  Now that I've had a chance to spend time with GIMP I must say that I'm impressed by it. It's quite powerful, and while in detail the user interface and functionality is somewhat different than Photoshop, I can see no reason why someone just learning this kind of software shouldn't learn GIMP instead of Photoshop. This is especially true of more casual users and hobbyists for whom the cost of Photoshop constitutes a huge barrier.

Edited November 4, 2016 by Bernard Kron

[Fat Brian]

I used GIMP briefly several years ago but abandoned it when it couldn't make a file compatible with the game I was working with. It seemed like a well made program, it just didn't work for what I needed. I also have a cracked version of Photoshop 7, it's great but very complex for a new user. My favorite freeware image program is Paint.net, it is powerful but doesn't feel nearly as intimidating as Photoshop when you're not quite sure what you're doing. Really, I need a vector graphics program like Corel for a lot of the decals I need.

[dodgefever]

Yes, I've used GIMP for years.  I also use Drawplus SE which is a free (with limitations) vector graphics program. I have used Adobe Illustrator and had a Creative Cloud account, but for my needs, including my day job, those free programs are more than sufficient and I said goodbye to Adobe some time ago.