Tech Talk:Open Source Software

for theHome Computer

Nathan HallUNT Libraries

Information Technology Services

IMAGE EDITING:Comparing

Photoshop with Gimp

GIMP BACKGROUND

    GNU ("ɡnu) Image Manipulation Program     Available for Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux     Originally developed by students at UC Berkeley.

    Currently maintained by the GNOME Project

    Often compared to / reviewed against Photoshop

DISCLAIMER

       Gimp screenshots in this presentation were created with the Mac iteration of Gimp.  

    Photoshop screenshots were created with Adobe PS CS3 running on Windows Vista.

    Some differences in interface design might be due to comparing software on two different operating systems.

Workspace

TOOL PALLETMany of the tools in the Gimp pallet are similar to Photoshop's.

Photoshop

Gimp

CROP TOOL

CURVES TOOLPhotoshop Gimp

CONTROLLING HUE AND SATURATION

Photoshop

Gimp

IMAGE MENU

Photoshop Gimp

LAYER MENU

Gimp

Photoshop

TOOLS MENUGimp only, but analogous to the Adjustments sub-menu in Photoshop.

FILTERS MENUGimp

Photoshop

write yourown plug ins

VIEW MENU

Gimp

Photoshop

WINDOWS MENUGimp

Photoshop

BUG!!!

GIMP ADVANTAGES

1. Cost  

2. Familiar environment for Photoshop users   

3. Familiar functionality for Photoshop users

CRITICISM

    Gimp's interface:        -too many windows / dialog boxes

        -boxes can get stuck behind other open applications.     Gimp's functionality:        -no CMYK         -no color management (e.g. ICC)         -lacks support for RAW images

GIMP IS RIGHT FOR YOU IF...

...you answer "yes" to any of the following questions.        You want more functionality than what comes with Photoshop Elements

    Do you want to learn and practice basic/intermediate image editing techniques at home without paying for Photoshop CS[#]?     Are you a casual user?     Are you interested in open source software development?

    Are you a law abiding cheapskate in general?

GIMP IS WRONG FOR YOU IF...

...You answer "yes" to any of the following questions.

        Are you an imaging/graphics professional?                AND do you NOT want to tinker with software

        Do you wish to be?                AND can you afford the Photoshop license?

Word Processing:ComparingMS Office

Google DocsOpenOffice

OpenOffice

Offers:                Word Processor                Spreadsheet Maker                Presentation Design                Database Managment                Vector Graphics Editor                Math Tool

Saves by default in OpenDocument Formats (ODF)Supported by MS Office 2007 SP2Plug ins are available to support ODF in earlier versions of            MS OfficeOpenOffice can export to other formats.

Inserting notes in OpenOffice ...

... Become comments in Word

...but "track changes" edits are saved and converted as if accepted.

Open Office Spell check: not good

What about Google docs?

Free, but not open source. (Though permission to use, copy, modify and distribute this software and database and its documentation for any purpose.)

This presentation was composed on Google docs.

Presentation can be exported to Powerpoint or PDF.

Google Docs

Offers:                Word Processor                Spreadsheet Maker                Form Maker                Presentation Design

Exports to pdf, ppt, doc, odf, html, rtf, txt

Google Docs

Some loss of formatting in (low frill) presentations

Major loss of formatting when uploading a Word document to Google Docs

Requires a Google account

UNT Libraries Strategic Plan, in Word

UNT Libraries Strategic Plan, in Google Docs

Google Docs and Collaboration

Invite people... Get the link to share...

See who has access...

Email as attachment... Send a message to collaborators... Publish as web page...View as web page...

Thank you

Questions and Comments?