InformIT: Red Hat Linux 7 Unleashed

Using the GIMP

The GIMP client is a sophisticated image editor on par with many expensive commercial graphics software clients. Fortunately for Linux users, the GIMP is distributed under the GNU General Public License, and will remain a highly regarded testament to the power of Open Source software and the prowess of Open Source programmers. When you use the GIMP, you'll have a powerful image editor at your beck and call!

The client, which requires a running X session, is started by clicking a KDE or GNOME desktop menu item, or by typing the command name on the command line of a terminal window like this:


   # gimp &

When you run the GIMP for the first time, after you press Enter, you'll see a series of dialogs asking you to confirm creation of a .gimp-1.1 directory in your home directory, along with installation of necessary initialization, preference, configuration, and software tools. You'll then see a floating toolbox and Tip of the Day, as shown in Figure 8.6.

Figure 8.6 The GIMP provides a tip when it first starts.

To open an existing image, click the File menu on the main floating toolbox, or press Ctrl+O. A dialog will appear, as shown in Figure 8.7.

If you click an image name, then click the Preview button, a thumbnail of the image will appear in the preview window (as shown in Figure 8.7). Select the desired image, then click OK to load the image. The image will be displayed in a separate floating window. If you right-click on the image window, you'll see a pop-up series of hierarchical menus you can use to manipulate the image (as shown in Figure 8.8). Used in combination with the GIMP toolbox, you'll find that the GIMP can provide nearly all the tools, effects, and techniques required of a modern computer image editor!

The GIMP features 86 types of brushes, 168 different patterns, nearly 40 color palettes, nearly 100 scripts, and more than 200 plug-ins that can be used to manipulate or create images. This client is, without a doubt, one of the most sophisticated and capable image clients available for Linux. Although Red Hat strives to include the very latest stable version of the GIMP with each distribution, you can find out more about this program and download additional patterns, palettes, brushes, gradients, scripts, and fonts by browsing to http://www.gimp.org.

Figure 8.7 Use the GIMP's file dialog to open an existing image.

Figure 8.8 The GIMP has many menus of tools, effects, and editing actions you can use during image sessions.

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