The ultimate reference and guide to the GNU image manipulation program

GIMP is a free, Photoshop-like image manipulation program, and as its use grows, so does the demand for detailed instruction on how to get the very most out of it. GIMP Bible is the most comprehensive and current independent GIMP reference available that goes beyond official documentation.

If you're a digital artist or photographer, the step-by-step explanations in this authoritative guide show you how to power-use GIMP throughout a production pipeline. Topics include understanding the GIMP interface and how to work with it, how to use all of GIMP's tools to create high-quality images, GIMP's default filters and plug-ins, advanced techniques for customization with Python and Scheme scripting, and much more.

* GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free graphics editor that runs on Linux, Windows, or Macs; it is used to process digital graphics and photographs including creating graphics and logos, resizing and cropping photos, altering colors, combining images, creating basic GIF animated images, and more

* Whether you're a digital artist, professional photographer, or beginner, this detailed how-to shows you best practices, valuable techniques, and helpful tips for getting the most out of GIMP for your projects

* Topics include the GIMP interface and how to work with it, in-depth description of GIMP's tools and how to use them to create high-quality images, a comprehensive reference for all of GIMP's default filters and common plug-ins, and advanced customization with Python and Scheme scripting

Get the most out of this free image editing tool for your production pipeline with the GIMP Bible.

Robert Shimonski is a senior-level systems and network engineer with over 15 years of production experience working with enterprise applications, systems, and solutions. He is an expert in Web and digital media.

Create dazzling digital graphics using GIMP

Edit photos, paint, create animation, batch processyou can do it all with the free, open-source GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) and the instruction in this comprehensive GIMP Bible. This valuable book first introduces you to GIMP's interface and tools, then clearly shows you how to manage an entire production pipeline and produce high-quality images. If you're an artist, photographer, Web designer, or animator using GIMP, this is the book you need to succeed.

• Find out what GIMP can and can't doand master all of its tools

• Learn to use layers, paths, channels, and colors effectively

• Start painting in GIMP with improved paint dynamics

• Master a slew of filters and masks and see how to automate tasks

• Animate by hand or add effects to video with the GIMP Animation Package

• Intelligently resize images with Liquid Rescale

• Create custom effects with scripting and other advanced techniques

GIMP is a free, Photoshop-like image manipulation program, and as its use grows, so does the demand for detailed instruction on how to get the very most out of it. GIMP Bible is the most comprehensive and current independent GIMP reference available that goes beyond official documentation.

If you're a digital artist or photographer, the step-by-step explanations in this authoritative guide show you how to power-use GIMP throughout a production pipeline. Topics include understanding the GIMP interface and how to work with it, how to use all of GIMP's tools to create high-quality images, GIMP's default filters and plug-ins, advanced techniques for customization with Python and Scheme scripting, and much more.

• GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free graphics editor that runs on Linux, Windows, or Macs; it is used to process digital graphics and photographs including creating graphics and logos, resizing and cropping photos, altering colors, combining images, creating basic GIF animated images, and more
• Whether you're a digital artist, professional photographer, or beginner, this detailed how-to shows you best practices, valuable techniques, and helpful tips for getting the most out of GIMP for your projects
• Topics include the GIMP interface and how to work with it, in-depth description of GIMP's tools and how to use them to create high-quality images, a comprehensive reference for all of GIMP's default filters and common plug-ins, and advanced customization with Python and Scheme scripting

Get the most out of this free image editing tool for your production pipeline with the GIMP Bible.

Introduction xxxi

Part I: Meet GIMP 1

Chapter 1: What is GIMP? 3

Knowing What GIMP Can and Cannot Do 6

Working with GIMP's Interface 7

Windows and Menus 7

Docks and Dialogs 9

Images and Canvases 16

Setting Preferences 21

Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts 37

Summary 39

Chapter 2: Thinking Digitally 41

Digital Images vs. Traditional Photographs 41

Raster Graphics vs. Vector Graphics 44

Raster Images 44

Vector Images 44

Resolution and Image Size 46

Changing Image Size and Resolution 47

Confusing Terminology 49

Color Depth 50

Color Spaces and Color Modes 51

Color Spaces 51

Color Modes 52

Compression 55

Lossless Compression 55

Lossy Compression 57

Summary 58

Part II: Getting Started 59

Chapter 3: Working with Files 61

Opening Files 61

Opening Images 62

Creating a Blank New Image 68

Generating an Image from Plug-in or Hardware 69

Managing Open Images 75

Working in the Image Window 77

Copying and Pasting 79

Fun Things You Can Do with Paste (Besides Eat It) 79

Advanced Copy and Paste with Buffers 81

Taking Advantage of Undo 82

Saving Files 84

GIMP's Native Format: XCF 85

Other Formats 86

Summary 90

Chapter 4: A Brief Overview of GIMP's Tools 93

The View Menu 93

Modifying Your View in the Image Window 93

Using Display Filters to Color Correct GIMP to Your Monitor 96

Showing and Hiding Information 97

Snapping Controls 98

Padding Color 98

Showing and Hiding Parts of the Image Window 99

Selection Tools 99

Rectangle Select 100

Ellipse Select 101

Free (Lasso) Select 102

Fuzzy Select 102

Select by Color 103

Intelligent Scissors Select 103

Foreground Select 103

Image Tools 104

Informational Tools 104

Transform Tools 106

Paint Tools 106

Color Tools 106

Summary 107

Chapter 5: Taking Advantage of Paths 109

The Advantages of Paths: Get Some Vector in Your Raster 109

Creating Paths 110

Drawing with the Paths tool 111

Creating a Path from a Selection 114

Managing Paths 118

The Paths Dialog 119

Importing and Exporting Paths 121

Using Paths 123

Painting along a Path 124

Selecting with a Path 132

Summary 133

Cha…