GIMP?GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program.

It is open-source photo editing software and more.

If you were wondering, GNU is a unix-like operating system. Also open-source, also free. A Gnu is also….

Another name for a Wildebeest

I doubt you’ll be confused

As a “multi-platform photo manipulation tool,” GIMP is comparable to Adobe Photoshop (www.gimp.org) .

It is particularly useful for editing digital photos and creating web graphics.

With an active user community from all across the globe using GIMP on a variety of operating systems, new users can find advice in their language, for their operating system, and for their needs.

GIMP was created by Spencer Kimball and Peter Mattis as a project for their computer class in 1995. Today GIMP had over 60 current developers and 23 individuals maintaining the website.

You may be interested in GIMP or you may think…

www.gimp.org - FAQ

Ok, GIMP has attitude. But does it fit in a Library?

- GIMP is EasyAnyone can learn how to use GIMP. It is designed to fit the purpose of the user. You can use it to design a website template and graphics from scratch, or as the adult version of Kidpix.

-GIMP is FreeDoes your library have a limited budget for software? GIMP is free up front and does not have hidden fees. It will not require a library to hire or have an expert staff member on hand to troubleshoot.

-GIMP is for you and for your patronsLibrary staff can use GIMP to prepare images for the organization website and blogs. Patrons can use the software to edit images for presentations or a family photo album.

I’m ready to try GIMP, so what now?

Go to : http://www.gimp.org/

Go to the Downloads page and select the latest version of GIMP plus the user manual.

Mac users: On the downloads page click on the link to “show other downloads” or follow the link below

http://gimp.lisanet.de/Website/Download.html

The best way to begin is to open GIMP and start manipulating photographs and images.

The Basics

These are your standard GIMP windows.

So far, no image to manipulate but notice the tool box and the layers, channels, paths,

and undo dialog box. This will come up later in the tutorial.

The tool box will always show up when you open the program. You can change the dialog

boxes to meet your specific needs.

All tools and program functions are also available from a menu that appears when you

right click.

Start by opening an image you have stored on your computer. (Hopefully something you have the copyright for)

Select File, then Open on the menu at the top of the screen. This should pull up all images present on your computer.

Okay, it’s not a Gnu but calves are in the same family of scientific classification.

*All Gnus in this tutorial are subject to copyright.

I’ll start with a photograph taken from a trip to an open house at Picket Fence Creamery in Woodward, IA.

To start working on the image, I need to rotate it.

Select Image, from the top menu, then Transform, and then Rotate to correct the image.

If your image needs to be flipped instead of rotated you will instead select Tools, then Flip

The image does not have to be cropped but many images will. Pick the crop tool from the tool box and drag a box over the area you would like to keep.

You can also go up to Tools, Transform Tools, then Crop

Let’s say that I want to put this image on my personal website. It is important the image size is appropriate for where it will be displayed.

It might be viewed on a variety of screens ranging from a width of 300 pixels to 2,000 pixels. I’ll scale it to a width of 400 pixels. GIMP figures out the other dimension – scaling proportionally

Select Image, then Scale Image and a dialog box will appear. Type in the width in pixels. Click Scale.

For now, I’ll save the image and compress the file size.

Select File then Save. A dialog box should appear “Save as JPEG”. Drag the bar next to the word “Quality” to your preferred value. By checking the box Show preview in image window you can see what the quality of the image is and what the file size will be.

This image will automatically be saved as a JPEG because it was the format of the original file. GIMP supports a wide variety of file types you can also save in.

You now know the basics for making digital images web ready.

What if your photo is dark, blurry, or out of prospective?

GIMP can fix these issues.

Let’s look at a new photo and a somewhat more advanced use of tools.

Dialog Boxes ?

A dialog box is a graphical interface communicating something to you, the user, or allowing you to communicate something to your computer or the program you are working with.

You can add dialog boxes with the tools and features you use the most. They will be remembered and open automatically when you use GIMP.

Right click, select Windows and then Dockable Dialogs…

To the right you’ll see the list of tools that can be dockable dialogs.

“Dockable” means shortcuts to these tools can be contained within one window…similar to having multiple tabs on your web browser with different web pages.

My dialog box has docks for layers, channels, paths, and undo.

Undo is a great choice to have in your dialog box. This will present you with a running visual history of the changes you’ve made. Simply select one of the images you see under the tab and return to the same place you were at before.

Layers, Channels, and Paths will become more important as you become more experienced in GIMP.

Here’s an example of how you can use layers to enhance a digital photograph as suggested in chapter 9.1.3.2 of the GIMP user manual.

Due to slow shutter speed on older digital cameras and many new phone cameras, over-exposure is a common problem.

Open your over-exposed (too-dark) photo in GIMP. This also works for photographs that are under-exposed as well.

Now layers come into play.

Creating a new layer above the one you are working is the best way to adjust brightness, contrast, and colors.

Go to Layers and select Duplicate Layers…

Now add a Gaussian Blur with a radius of 100 to the new layer.

(Don’t worry if you don’t know what Gaussian means. For now it’s the most common method of blurring used in the software.)

Set the mode in Layers by selecting the layers tab, then clicking on the downward pointing arrow on the right. Select Divide.

Now control the contrast by adjusting the “Opacity level” by sliding the bar back and forth till you get your desired result.

To complete the process select Background copy, right click, then select Merge Down and you will have a combination of the two layers without over exposure.

Here’s my original image.

Here’s my new image.

Our technological world is also a visual world, why not increase your ability to communicate with images?

If you are interested in learning more, check out:

- Online forums - http://www.gimptalk.com/ and http://gimpforums.com/ GIMP users from beginners to experts discuss new developments, request help, and post tutorials.

-Text based tutorials http://gimp-tutorials.net/Step by step tutorials created by GIMP users with plenty of screenshots and examples.

-Video based tutorials http://www.youtube.com/There is a multitude of GIMP tutorials on YouTube. Everything from tutorials for beginners to the currently popular, creating vampire eyes and skin in GIMP. Search for “GIMP” and the key words of the technique you wish to learn.

-User ManualsA variety of manuals are available in both print and e-book form on GIMP. Through Simmons and Books 24x7, nine titles are available to students for free. Check out Beginning GIMP: From Novice to Professional, Second Edition

Keep trying! The more you use GIMP the less “Gnu” it will seem.

Don’t forget, the user manual on www.gimp.org will take you through each tool and aspect of GIMP.