Poor? Want Photoshop?

[danaeris]

For those who aren't aware, GIMP, or GNU Image Manipulation Program, is an open source Photoshop "equivalent."

It isn't as good as Photoshop, according to the experts. One describes it as being about two releases behind Photoshop at any given point.
Some links comparing them:
http://tingilinde.typepad.com/starstuff/2004/05/gimp_vs_photosh.html
http://www.wpdfd.com/editorial/wpd0504review.htm
http://linux.omnipotent.net/article.php?article_id=10869
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/04/30/217225

However, Photoshop costs $700. GIMP can be acquired for free.

If you're on a budget and want photoshop-like capabilities, you might want to check it out.
http://www.gimp.org/

I downloaded it last night and was naughty, staying up late to get started on the top banner for my website. :)

Comments

[chiefted]

All I can say is I love GIMP!

We have Photoshop at work but I will still, transfer the
image to the iBook, work on it there, then transfer it back.

[nathanjw]

I've found GIMP kind of half-assed, personally. Adobe makes a "lite" version of Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, which they sell for $99. Mostly, it seems to leave out features I wasn't using anyway, like color separation for spot printing, so it's a better deal for someone not working professionally in graphic design.

I also find that open-source software is pretty bad about GUIs, or really, human interface generally. For command-line stuff it's pretty okay; we're used to programs being unfriendly, but it hurts GUI programs a lot more.

[sol3.livejournal.com]

I scored a nice trick with photoshop. The upgrade to photoshop cs2 from a previous version of photoshop (not elements or light) is $150. I trolled around craigslist looking for someone selling off their old photoshop discs (in my case, looking for someone who flipped from mac to windows) for cheap - and found someone who sold them for $30. Got that, got photoshop cs2 - et voila - Photoshop CS2, full version, $180 :)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_duncan/]

I got Photoshop 5.5 light edition with a hard drive a few years ago. Makes sense -- throw something in the box that will have you back in the store in a few months to buy another hard drive.

I got Photoshop 7.0 when I acquired my sister's computer. I'm happier with 5.5 (it's much more likely to start, possibly less of a resource hog) but certainly don't describe myself as a photoshop power user.

GIMP is WUV!

[vokzal.livejournal.com]

OK, I'm slightly biased.

[lobotomymonkey.livejournal.com]

And if you want GIMP to look/feel more like Photoshop, there's also GIMPshop (http://plasticbugs.com/index.php?p=241)

[eetmewithtoast.livejournal.com]

Photoshop can be free, too, if you know where to look. GIMP sucks ass, there's just no comparison. :P

[danaeris.livejournal.com]

GIMP is not only free, but it also leaves me with a free conscience. *shrug* ymmv.