Beginning GIMP: From Novice to Professional

by Akkana Peck

Book by Peck, Akkana

Genres: Reference, Computers, Nonfiction, Software, Art, Computer Science

552 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Osamuyi Okpame · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best book on GIMP with hands on project guide to follow up with.

[Craig Cecil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sooner or later you eventually learn that you need some basic proficiency with a graphics tool if you are going to play in this web-based world. Whether compressing images for optimal appearance versus file size, correcting red eye on family pictures, or constructing a collage of screenshots, you need to know the basics of image editing, resizing, cropping, etc. And you need to learn about layers. Layers will save you. Layers will set you free. So, I decided that after using PaintShop Pro for a decade, it was time to learn something that was ubiquitous across platforms, something that would last, ala Emacs for images. For better or worse, I chose the open-source GIMP program. And there are things you can do with GIMP that you can do with few other graphics software, such as program it with the built-in Python and Lisp languages. This book lives up to its subtitle: From Novice to Professional. While I may not be a professional after reading through the entire book, I am certainly a novice no longer. Recommended.

[Maria Gebhardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a tool to help people who want to use free, downloadable software to edit images. The book includes a thorough explanation of GIMP. Chapter two is dedicated to improving digital photos, and is written in text that can be understood by beginning and experienced users. Peck also explains layers, drawing and selection tools. She further provides detailed explanations of erasing and touch up tools such as dodging, burning, and the clone tool. The book even covers elements such as filters and effects, the differences of RGB and CMY (CMYK) colors, and working with grayscale.

"Beginning GIMP" offers an assortment of advanced tricks, allowing users to create new design elements in their work. The book includes step-by-step exercises with full-color photos enhancing the ability to learn. It also offers a helpful summary of each chapter at the end of the book.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great resource for using GIMP. It covers a wide variety of topics, including all of the specialized filters. If you know nothing about photo editing this is a great place to start, and it's also good if you need a reference manual to look up specific functions. It's a little outdated (it was released when version 2.6 was in beta, and currently version 2.8 is the stable release), however it is still useful since all of the features are still there - some things got moved around, but that's about it.

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This the perfect book for anyone getting into using the GNU Image Manipulation Program. Full of information to help you get a better feel for the UI and every tool. also has "tricks and tips". a must read for any digital artist using this program. written by a source code contributer, was a plus. It gave me a strong sense that she was very knowledgeable about what she was talking about. Very up to date. Based on GIMP 2.4

[Seth Kenlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great manual on the Gnu Image Manipulation Program (a Free Software version of programs like Photoshop). This covers a lot of tricks that you will be able to use in most any Photo manipulation program, so the noob can learn a lot from this, but it's also a good brush-up on how things you might know how to do in Photoshop but are not clear on how to do it in GIMP.

All in all, this is a great place to start if you are trying to learn photo manipulating, or the GIMP specifically.

[David]

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