Thread: Photoshop-type programs for poor souls...

Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant

Okay, I feel extremely frustrated at not having a program like that to be able to make my own sig or help out with the lucid task of the month badges... is there something out there that is free that is about as good as Photoshop?

www.GIMP.org

or www.serifsoft.com <- Photoplus 6 is free

Can someone do as much with those as with Photoshop?

Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant

Can someone do as much with those as with Photoshop?

Yea, GIMP, IMO, is better than photoshop.

Okay cool, thank you Seisie!!

The Gimp lacks some of the advanced reprographics features found in photoshop
colour spaces for large printers (poster printing)
support for commercial graphics tablets
few other bits 'n bobs
but short of being a professional artist, you wouldn't use any of the missing features anyway

and the gimp has one thing photoshop doesn't have
Script-fu

I used Gimp for a long time before I got Photoshop. I haven't found anything that Photoshop could do that Gimp can't. The only reason I use Photoshop now is because I got it free from my university and I don't like having to use the X11 window engine, but in Windows (I assume that's what you are using,) that doesn't matter.

I also think that the Photoshop environment is a little cleaner than Gimp. Does anybody else feel that Gimp is kind of cluttered?

Alright my mission is to learn as much about Gimp in the next few hours as possible. Just downloaded it - needless to say looks a bit confusing for a first timer.

http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/

the GIMPLite Quickies will get you used to the most common tools

It's a shame you can't get Photoshop, I'd say it's much better than GIMP. GIMP does have a few really cool functions, that Photoshop don't, though Photoshop is much easier.

Originally Posted by Marvo

It's a shame you can't get Photoshop, I'd say it's much better than GIMP. GIMP does have a few really cool functions, that Photoshop don't, though Photoshop is much easier.

I admit photoshop is cleaner, and easier, but hey, you can't really beat free for me .

the gimp doesn't use nested windows (or MDI as it's known)
it's a strict *nix no-no (see disadvantages in the link above)
unlike most of the apps on Windows that use it (or in some cases - MS Office - flip flop between the two depending on the version)
so people from a Windows background may not like the separate windows

Originally Posted by Ynot

the gimp doesn't use nested windows (or MDI as it's known)
it's a strict *nix no-no (see disadvantages in the link above)
unlike most of the apps on Windows that use it (or in some cases - MS Office - flip flop between the two depending on the version)
so people from a Windows background may not like the separate windows

Yea, that's what i hate about GIMP. No nested windows. I wish they could cross serif studio with GIMP! That would be awesome. And it would make GIMP a lot easier to use.

MS has been trying to fade out nested windows since Win95, as it's crap on multi-monitors
but stubborn app authors won't re-do their UI's

Originally Posted by Ynot

MS has been trying to fade out nested windows since Win95, as it's crap on multi-monitors
but stubborn app authors won't re-do their UI's

Psh. Nested windows are soo much better! I think i'll start a poll, lol .

I use the GIMP for everything. I love it. I used to use Photoshop, way back in the day, but lost it when I had to reformat my desktop. The GIMP does all I've ever asked of it, though.


Now if only there was a free program comparable to Premiere...

Originally Posted by Seismosaur

I admit photoshop is cleaner, and easier, but hey, you can't really beat free for me .

Honestly, I don't know a single person, who owns Photoshop CS3 legally.
The program is so easily cracked and hacked, Adobe is not even trying

They are on CS3 already!!! I only just got CS2

Maybe they fixed that by now, but the version of GIMP I used lacked proper preview in many of the filters, which is a big disadvantage compared to Photoshop.

Originally Posted by Adam

They are on CS3 already!!! I only just got CS2

Yes they are Adam, though from what I here CS3 is mainly upgraded around 3d manipluation rather than 2d. I "acquired" CS2 just because I felt I didn't need CS3 and because those extra features would slow down my computer and I don't really need them.

I would like someone to prove me wrong about CS3 and say how it's a huge step-up from CS2 though.

Originally Posted by Marvo

Honestly, I don't know a single person, who owns Photoshop CS3 legally.
The program is so easily cracked and hacked, Adobe is not even trying

Well, I can't imagine who would pay the ridiculous price to own it legally. I just checked up on it - Adobe Photoshop Extended Edition costs $999. That's just silly. I think the normal edition is around $600, but that's still much too much, considering that GIMP is free. And of course, you can get it illegally, although I'm not sure how

edit: I just saw this site, claiming to offer Photoshop Extended for only &#163;31.99... is this for real?

Originally Posted by Lord Toaster

edit: I just saw this site, claiming to offer Photoshop Extended for only &#163;31.99... is this for real?

Real, perhaps, legal, definately not.

Photoshop > GIMP. Perhaps GIMP is somewhat feature-comparable for a beginner, but AFAIK it doesn't have CMYK support and, besides, Photoshop just feels right whereas GIMP is a struggle.

Plus, whenever I think "GNU" I think RMS. And he needs to diet.

CS3 Extended Master Collection (basically, every Adobe product in its best form) is installed on all the PCs in our department at Uni. Quite what the site license would have cost them...

I just downloaded the GIMP and have no clue what I'm doing but I'm getting around with it. It seems much better than trying to use Picture It! for making avatars, sigs, etc. Nested windows would probably have been better but beggars can't be choosers and Photoshop is way overpriced.

So yes. Gimp is a little confusing and I don't like the separated windows but:

a. Only an idiot wouldn't be able to figure out GIMP with a little patience
b. I didn't have to put my computer at risk by downloading photoshop illegally... but of course I'm open to suggestions on that part...

GIMP can certainly do things, but the seperated windows pisses me so much of, and everything is just confusing. Why did they make an entire gigantic window for layers?! So dumb.