Gimp is a cross-platform image editing software or tool available for Windows, Linux, macOS, and more operating systems. It is open-source and free software, so you can change its source code and distribute modified software. It does not care what you are if you are a graphic designer, video editor, photographer, illustrator, or scientist GIMP provided you sophisticated tools to get your job done.
Apr 10, 2020 Gimp is a well-known free graphic design software that is free & open-source for users. The remarkable features of Gimp allow the users to edit raster images quickly & effectively. Designers can also create artworks from scratch. Aug 19, 2020 GIMP is a fantastic image retoucher, but you can also create more advanced projects like animation, graphic design, and video implementation. This is just a testament to GIMP’s exceptional staying power and versatility. GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a freely distributed piece of software suitable for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring. How to create 3-D logos from flat images using GIMP and Blender. Creating a three-dimensional version of a logo or corporate image can be a rather complicated endeavor, but we’re going to show you how. First of all, although there are countless paid design tools out there, you can always turn to free software to do projects like this one.
High-Quality Photo Manipulation
To do high-quality photo manipulations, GIMP provides you all tools you needed. It works beyond your imagination.
Original Artwork Creation
It provides you flexibility and artistic power so that you can transform images into a truly unique and advance creation.
Graphic Design ElementsMaking
It is wisely used for producing or creating graphical icons, graphical design elements, and user interface components.
GIMP is an excellent open-source photo editing program
It has a list of tools for the user to edit their photos. It has plenty of brushes (all of them are customizable), filters, auto image-enhancement tools, and compatibility for a wide range of pre-installed plugins, as well as more available for download. It also allows you to add filters. Gimp was built in Python, making it so flexible to use. They built it very adaptable because most of the users want to build their own photo editor. With this, you can add or remove any wanted and unwanted tool. All of this within the user-interface.
How to Use GIMP
GIMP is a package that works a lot more than Adobe Photoshop. But the main difference is, it is 100% free!
Step1: Installing GIMP
Download the latest version of the GNU image manipulation program. Open the downloaded file and select your preferred language. Run the installer, if you want to install it in the default folder then click on install. To change any install setting select customize and wait until the installation process gets finished.
Step2: Starting GIMP
Now open the installed program. At the start, it will load some necessary data files. When it finishes loading, several windows will appear on your screen. To start the blank page, click the file menu at the center and open a new file. Then, create a new image window will open, will ask you what size you will prefer, you can enter it manually or select preformatted sizes from the dropdown. Click ok when you have done selecting an image.
Step3: Cropping Image
Open an image you wish to crop, right-click on the image, and select a tool to transform tools then crop. You can also adjust the crop box by pixel, use the tool option at the bottom of the toolbox. Once all the adjustments have been made, click the center of the image to crop the image. It will automatically delete all unnecessary elements.
Step4: Flipping and Rotating Image
For flipping, select the image, then in tool option you can check the checkbox option you can choose between flip-type (horizontal or verticle). To perform rotation right click on image select tool->transform tools-> rotate. Then select whether you desire to rotate 90° clockwise, counterclockwise, or 180°.
Step5: Mastering Other Basics
Change the size of the image: Right-click on the image. Select an image from the menu, then click on scale image. The Scale Image window will open, and you can alter the size of the image. Enter value for the height or width and the image will adjust accordingly.
Draw straight line: Pick a drawing tool, such as Pencil or Airbrush. Click on the image to create a starting point for your line. Hold the Shift key and pass your mouse to where you want your endpoint.
Add text to an image: Press “T” on your keyboard and click where you want to insert text. This will open the text toolbox you can start typing immediately.
What is great about GIMP?
It has a wide range of features, in a lot of ways you can touch up your photos. Features like color adjustment tools, gradients, layer masks, filters, customizable brushes, Bezier curves plus an animation package. You can also use channel mixer to create professional-quality black and white photographs. The retouching features are very useful to edit photographs professionally.
There is another special reason why GIMP is very popular. Because it provides an open-source code. It is available to everyone so, anyone can create their version of GIMP. You can create a better-advanced version of the GNU image manipulation program but yes! off-course it needs codding skills.
GIMP was initially developed for Linux but developers have expanded programs for use on Mac and Windows. For windows, you need Windows 7 or newer.
How does GIMP compare with other photo editors?
There are other different software you could compare GIMP to, including DxO Optics Pro, Corel PaintShop Pro, Capture One, and Adobe Photoshop. Although Adobe Photoshop is best like gold and GIMP deserves to compare it with the best. Adobe has a few different editors you can work with. There is not only the famous ‘Adobe Photoshop’ but also Adobe Photoshop Elements, and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.
The simple answer is if you want to go with the premium version then adobe is best for you. And if you are searching for free with the same quality then GIMP is the best option for you.
How would you summarize GNU Image Manipulation Program?
It is free to download and use. It has excellent functionality and a habitual user interface. From pre-installed plugins to color adjustment tools, retouching photos, and layer masks, you can do most of the things with this free version. Apple macbook software update 2018. If you don’t like anything about it you can change it.
Is downloading GIMP safe?
It is a free open-source graphics editing program and is not inherently unsafe. If you found any warning by your system at the time of installation then you should uninstall it immediately and download it from another source.
Do professionals use Gimp?
Yes, professionals use GIMP as it provides the same quality features as adobe Photoshop does.
How to remove background in GIMP?
The work of this tool is the same as the magic wand tool of photoshop. There are some simple steps you need to follow:
- At first, you need to open your image.
- Go to the layer of the image, right-click on it and select Add Alpha channel. If you choose this channel after removing the background, you will get a transparent background.
- Then, select the Fuzzy Selection Tool and simply click on the background and hit delete.
How to make a gif in GIMP?
Creating a GIF with GIMP photo editing is a straightforward and quick process.
- Create a new file in your GNU Image Manipulation Program with selecting height and width.
- Open each frame of animation as a new layer. Hold shift while selecting multiple image frames. Click open when you finish selecting.
- Add frame rates in milliseconds to each layer of the image frame, by the default frame rate of 10 frames (100ms) per second.
How to install brushes in GIMP?
Installing brushes is as simple as finding your favourite Brushes online and paste them into brushes folder.
STEP1: Find the brush pack online and download it. To begin to find a brush pack like this Powder Explosion pack.
STEP2: locate the brushes folder and drag brush kit into Program files->GIMP->Share->Gimp->2.0->Brushes folder.
STEP3: Refresh your brushes in your GNU Image Manipulation program.
How to install fonts in gimp?
Installing new fonts to your GIMP photo editing tool is a straightforward process. Especially when you are using a windows machine:
- Find the font you want to install from the Web.
- Download and extract the font
- Double click on OTF file and install fonts.
- Find + Use your new fonts in GIMP.
What is a layer in GIMP?
Layers are features which are used in advance image editing software like GIMP. Layers are like a stack of images, one on top of the another.
You can open an image, and add another image on top of it, move it around, resize/transform it, erase parts of it, add layer masks, etc.
What is the best way to mastering GIMP?
To master GIMP, there are several MOOC sites which you can try. Some MOOC sites offer free courses, or some offer both free and paid internships. For Video Tutorials, you can try UDEMY and Alison.com.
Else, you can go through the official GNU Image Manipulation tutorials step by step to becoming master of GIMP photo editing tool.
When we booted up our video game consoles back in 2011, we were introduced to a living world. Lush foliage, gritty characters, and amazing weather effects. We are treated to a lengthy sequence in which the player-character is held a prisoner in the back of a wagon through treacherously dangerous mountain passes.
Waterfalls, rockslides, and woodland creatures were all present, pulling you into the dense world. Of course, I am talking about Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The RPG brought presentation and graphics to a new level and really kicked off gaming in the 2010s in style.
Bethesda has mastered the graphical arts of their games, really harnessing the software they use to bring you into their beautiful, imaginative worlds. How do they do it? How do they seem to work a special kind of magic that bewitches our senses and fully immerses whoever plays their game?
12 Best Software for Graphic Designers
More importantly than their physics and engine, they create beautiful textures in the game to literally paint a picture for us gamers to ogle at. I personally love to be able to play a game, go to its options settings, and crank up textures to ‘ultra’.
In the Total War franchise, I love to see the intricacies of a warrior’s armor, the blood, and gore splattered on their weapons, and the overall chaos of the battlefield that the creators have put into the game.
Think of games like the Banner Saga, in which the background and characters are beautifully drawn and meticulously animated. The developers spent hours working on them through graphic design software.
A unique blend of early Disney-esque backgrounds and old school animation features, graphic designers can really up their game with practice and vision.
Related:Master’s in Animation Education Pathway
Although it is a beautiful thing to just stay ignorant and imagine it, there is actually a very simple answer: a great gaming engine and quality graphic design software.
Graphic Design Software
A big part of our lives is created by graphic design. The ads we see, the products we love, and signs all around us are created by graphic design.
There are so many passionate designers around the world that want to harness powerful software to create and share. Well, lucky for them, I have compiled a little list for them.
Okay, I have rambled So, what is the best graphic design software? Is it possible to design something of the same caliber as Skyrim? Hold on there, cowpoke. Let’s start with the basics. Here is a list of 5 of the best graphic design software products you can create within 2020.
1. Adobe Illustrator
If you are design literate at all, you know the name Adobe. Adobe Illustrator was launched in January 1987 for Apple computers. It has been in production ever since. That is 32 years, folks. Not only that, but it is constantly updated, with its most recent one being a month ago.
This is the first software for graphic designers to go to. It is the gold standard.
So what makes Adobe Illustrator great, being trusted by hundreds of thousands of artists? Here are some pros and cons for you to mull over.
Pros:
Gimp Graphics Software
- Great user interface:
I cannot stress this advantage. The great user interface is the bare bones expectation for a great program. Think about some of the worst user interfaces around. Isn’t it a real pain to get around some of your favorite apps or games?
GTA IV springs to mind, where the weapon wheel is poorly designed, where you can end up being riddled with bullets if you try to change weapons for too long. ANYWAY: Adobe Illustrator has a great user interface that won’t get you stuck in the muck and mire of complicated menus.
- In-panel editing
- Great scalability
- Accessibility on other platforms:
Although it started its life on Apple computers, you can now use it on nearly every computer platform, so there is no excuse not to use it
Cons:
- Learning Curve:
This might be a little frustrating for some. Although you can create great projects, it will take some time to get better at it. But if you are determined to get better and make the best project you can, this is just a hiccup in your journey.
- Large Computer Space:
Make sure your computer has enough space because this baby takes up a large amount of space on your computer.
Pricing:
Adobe Illustrator is currently on sale for a hefty two options:
- $239.88 a year for the Illustrator Single App
- $599.88 a year for Creative Cloud Apps, Illustrator + all Adobe creative apps
The license for Illustrator is an in-house proprietary license. This means that it is closed source software, controlled by the company, namely Adobe. This includes patent rights, copyrights, and makes the Adobe Suite of graphic design into intellectual property, (IP).
2. Adobe Photoshop
No surprise here: Adobe is a quality suite of programs for your computer. Like Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop is well known in the graphics software world. We all know great quality images o all over the internet with Photoshop’s fingerprint all over it.
Used by graphic designers, advertisers, and even students, Photoshop is synonymous with photo editing software.
Released not long after Illustrator, in 1990, Photoshop was also originally designed exclusively for Apple Macintosh computers by two brothers, Thomas and John Knoll at the University of Michigan. Here are some pros and cons for the storied program.
Pros:
- State of the art:
As with its contemporaries in Adobe, Photoshop is constantly updated with the best current build of software constantly. This caters to both new users and veteran users.
- Great graphics:
Right in the program, you are able to design beautiful graphics. Few other programs can say the same. This is a godsend for those who deal in advertising, as it creates aspects of that field in a heartbeat.
Need a flyer made? Fear not, because not only can you create quick projects, but also harness great graphics to enhance them, making the most creative projects possible.
- Speed:
Quick, quick, quick. This is a great mantra to use when using the program. Everything that Photoshop can create is able to be created rather quickly. If you are a veteran user, you can harness this program and make great projects with unsettling ease.
Watch colors, pictures, and editing unfolds around you as you master what Adobe has to offer.
Cons:
- Learning Curve:
Yep, much like Adobe Illustrator, the learning curve of Photoshop can be a little much for those users out there who are not exactly familiar with the suite of programs.
I remember opening Photoshop myself back in the day, only to be examining the user interface with a confusion, almost like I was staring at hieroglyphics or cuneiform.
To be fair, I had no experience with editing and graphics software. It isn’t something where you learn by trial and error; you should look at the many tutorials online.
- The price:
The pricing of Adobe programs can be extremely steep, especially for users who aren’t exactly well-versed in the programs. If you are simply dabbling in the program, it could be daunting to fork over hundreds of dollars for a shot at creating graphics.
Photoshop also utilizes the proprietary license that Adobe Illustrator uses. Adobe camera raw software. Again, this means that it is a closed source, not available for free editing by other users of the community. Adobe controls everything about it.
Pricing:
- Photoshop Single App $239.88 a year
- Creative Cloud Photography Plan (20 GB) Photoshop + Lightroom $119.88 a year
- Creative Cloud All Apps Photoshop + all Adobe creative apps $599.88 a year
3. GIMP
Ah, GIMP. I spent many hours on this cool little program. For newer users for graphics and photo editing, GIMP serves as a nice introduction to graphic designing.
As I said before, I sat in front of Photoshop confused by its very presence. This wasn’t the case with GIMP. With GIMP, it was a quick and easy download online, followed by an easier user interface.
Developed by Spencer Kimball and Peter Mattis in 1996, GIMP, (GNU Image Manipulation Program), has been a great alternative software to the expensive suite of Adobe programs. It has a great interface that is a little less intimidating for those rookies starting out on their first projects.
They also have great tutorials online for those just starting, so it is welcoming software as well. Its slogan should be ‘Designers Welcome’. Hey guys, I will collect my royalty check now. The license GIMP uses is the GNU General Public License, (GPLv3+).
Pros:
- Pricing:
There is none! As opposed to the steeper price of Adobe products, GIMP is completely open and free. This is without a doubt the best FREE graphic designing program available on the market today.
- Accessibility:
GIMP is a great program for small or medium-sized businesses trying to create some great graphics, brochures, or web sites for their companies.
Cons:
- Not as innovative:
Download music recording software. Since it is free, GIMP might not contain the same quality updates as something like Illustrator or Photoshop.
This might be off-putting to more experienced graphic designers, as they will probably be looking for something that really ups the ante in the creative department.
As much of a con as this may be, the ease in which anyone can download the program, I believe, offsets this aspect.
Pricing:
This program is completely and utterly FREE! That’s right, my artistic friends, GIMP can give you many great features and other aspects for no money at all. This is being an artist on a budget; something I think we can all appreciate.
4. Canva
At first, I thought this was a typo: shouldn’t it be Canvas? Nope, it is something all its own: Canva. Canva is a great little program released in 2012 that allows users to easily create more complex art projects in a manner of minutes.
It was created by Melanie Perkins, an Australian-based designer. Creating a website has never been so easy going into 2020. This program allows for wide accessibility for both veterans of graphic design as well as greenhorns.
You could even use it on a tablet! I really dig the ease of which Canva can be used. It can primarily be used, like other programs, for any size business to create the best-looking websites for visitors to see.
That is so important: there is nothing worse than accessing a company’s website and seeing it looking like a blind mouse designed it back in 1998 on GeoCities. It is perfect for creating advertisements as well.
Pros:
- Drag and Drop:
This is so crucial, especially for newer designers. Powerful drag and drop features are what fuels Canva into what it does best. Users can seamlessly drag and drop and edit layers with ease that users may even prefer over Adobe products.
- Good Features:
Canva has a host of great features that it shares with some of the premier best graphic designing software. It has a great set of templates to ease the use, getting you started on projects where you may come upon a creative block in your designing process.
There is a great support system for Canva as well, so if you are ever stuck in a tricky design, or if something goes wrong with the program itself, there is someone just a call away. This priority for customers is reassuring.
Cons:
- The versions:
The difference between the bare-bones program for free and that of the subscription really makes the user need to use the $12.95 subscription to actually accomplish your projects with ease.
Pricing:
- This is a good ‘in-between’ for users who don’t want to drop a fortune on software like the Adobe Suite but want to kick up their experiences more so than what GIMP may have to offer.
- It has a free trial so you can go for a test run.
- The base program, simply Canva, is free as well. It includes a lot of features, however, not all of them are included in the full version. A certain feature, namely folders for your designs, is limited to 2 in this version.
- Canva for Work is a reasonable $12.95 a month.
This version allows you to have unlimited folders for anything your heart desires. It gives you unfettered access to many other features, like over 8,000 templates for the great beginning design.
Learn to Use Graphic Design Tools
5. Inkscape
I love Inkscape. It was released back in 2003. This is a great option for those with a handy stylus and a keen sense of what they want to draw and create.
Not only that, but it also prides itself on its ease of access for many platforms. With its strong vector creation, it clears the way for any designer to make a number of things with ease.
Graphic Design Software Free
It uses the GNU Public License, (GPLv3+), which allows for every derivative work within the program to be released under the terms of the license. GIMP also utilizes this license.
Pros:
- Vector Creation:
This is the crux of the program. It is so easy to create vectors, which in turn opens the way for creating stunning visuals with ease and style.
- Open Source:
This software is free and open-source. Like GIMP, it allows users of any experience level to create, share, and edit anything for free. This is essential for those designers who are hesitant to jump into the deep end of high-end graphic design software.
Cons:
- Possibly Buggy:
for a con, this is small potatoes. Some users have complained that earlier versions were a little buggy: possible crashing, a laggy interface. With the current releases, problems like have eased up a lot.
Pricing:
- FREE!
That’s right, folks, it is free. As I said, it is open source and free to use by everyone. With its license, the only stipulation is that works under it also are licensed by it.
Gimp Graphic Design Software Free
6. Sumopaint
In the spirit of diving right into it, let’s start with a program that works right in your web browser! Sumopaintis both a painting application and an image editor, and like we said it works right in your browser. You don’t have to download anything. You can if you want to, but you don’t have to.
Gimp Free Software
You can create an account with Sumopaint for easier access to your work. You can upload images from your computer into the program to edit them. It has brushstroke options, pencils, a standard color picker, and a light, familiar-feeling interface. Yeah, and it’s free.
7. SVG-Edit
Looking for another browser-based, totally free program? How about a vector image editor? SVG-Edit is a handy little browser-based program that lets you do exactly what its name suggests: edit an SVG file. Of course, you can also quickly generate a new SVG file, too.
The program is browser-based, so whether you’re loading an image into the program or whipping up something new, you can access it from any modern browser.
8. Serif DrawPlus
OK, we are out of the browser software now, but it’s still free! You can download a free version of Serif DrawPlushere. Wait until you hear some of these features! So Serif DrawPlus supports the creation of web graphics and animations. Whether it’s banner ads or rollover-graphic web-buttons, you can embed them with HTML no problem.
The program also offers a good array of painting “techniques:” charcoal, pastel, watercolor, and even spray-brushes let you augment photos or create something from scratch.
DrawPlus also lets you add a touch of 3D to your drawings; you can apply surface effects and lighting effects to make your creation come to life.
9. Daz 3D
Are you guys ready for a cool one? Guess what, it’s still free. It’s a 3D content creation tool. It’s called Daz 3D. You can pose, animate, morph, and render models, all in 3D. Humans, animals, props, vehicles, it’s all there for you to animate or create.
Daz 3D boasts ease of use to all skill levels, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been animating for years. Daz Studios offers some even more powerful software, but the price starts jumping up drastically. It’s also available for both Mac and Windows.
10. Alchemy
Alchemy is a very neat program. It’s kind of like brainstorming software. There isn’t an undo button. There isn’t much editing functionality, and there’s minimal selecting functionality too. According to the Alchemy site, “interaction focuses instead on the output of a great number of good, bad, strange, and beautiful shapes.”
In a field where it can be hard to let something go as “finished,” losing a lot of that control and only moving forward with the creation is liberating and refreshing. It’s free!
11. Blender
Remember that open source code we mentioned earlier? Time to bring it out! Blender is an open-source 3D modeling software that lets you go hog wild without breaking the piggy bank (as in it’s free). It’s available for Mac, Windows, and Linux.
With Blender, you have the power to do photorealistic rendering, fast rigging, sculpting (with 20 different brush types), and even game creation. Blender has a full game engine included right in the software. Not bad for a totally free, open-source program.
12. Pixlr
Pixlr is an app available for iOS and Android. It is a free photo editor, replete with all the right tricks: red-eye removal, teeth whitening, not to mention hundreds of overlays, filters, and effects. Plus, it lets you post things right to social media.
It might not be a tool you add to your professional arsenal, but doing a little free-editing on your phone to make sure your social media profiles are looking good isn’t going to hurt you!
Gimp Software Review
Never fear, designers! There is a slew of graphic design software for you to explore, create, and publish for all to see. This was barely scratching the surface when it comes to the different avenues and options you have for whatever you need as a designer.
Gimp Graphics Editor
While this is just a few programs, I believe that these are the kings of graphic design software that will dominate 2020 and possibly even further. What will the year bring in terms of great graphic design capabilities? I am not sure, but I sure am excited to find out. Happy designing!
Image Source: (Newatlas, Engadget, Extremetech, Stackexchange, Sumopaint, Softonic, Blender)