Linked by Eugenia Loli-Queru on Wed 1st Oct 2008 22:28 UTC
The GIMP Project has released GIMP 2.6.0. Among some UI-based changes and additional fixes, it comes the long promised integration of the GEGL library. The promise of 16 bit per-pixel non-destructive editing goes back to 2002, but it's at last here. This means that GIMP is now ready for prosumer (and in some cases even professional) photographer's usage, and this can only be big news and a big win for the F/OSS movement. GEGL will also help in future releases with proper support of CMYK. UPDATE: I guess things are not as good as the release notes want us to think. GEGL was turned "on" in the Color menu as per instructions, but I still got a no-support message for high depth TIFF pictures. If GIMP can't read existing 16bpp pictures, the feature I earlier gave them so much credit for, is useless.
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Member since:2005-06-29
GIMP is a great program, but it's not a Photoshop replacement and probably never will be. That's not what it's meant to be, though most of its users wish it were. It does more than most other free editors out there, and I personally think it is superior to PSP, but for a pro photographer it will eventually fall short of their needs.
For amateur photographers and other users though, it's just what the doctor ordered: Free, highly functional and as you said, highly expandable.
RE[2]: Who needs Photoshop?!
by msundman on Thu 2nd Oct 2008 03:09
in reply to "RE: Who needs Photoshop?!"
Member since:2005-07-06
GIMP is a great program, but it's not a Photoshop replacement and probably never will be.
Actually, if GIMP would support the whole arsenal of features in GEGL it would become much more powerful than Photoshop in many areas. Unfortunately getting there takes quite some time because the lack of full-time GIMP developers.
RE[2]: Who needs Photoshop?!
by fithisux on Fri 3rd Oct 2008 09:20
in reply to "RE: Who needs Photoshop?!"
Member since:2006-01-22
Member since:2005-08-02
This looks so awesome. I don't know why people pay money for Adobe Photoshop. From what I've seen of GIMP, it can do everything that Photoshop can - and it can easily be extended via scripts. I think with the 16bit support - it's going to give Photoshop a run for it's money. I know a lot of artist who won't switch to Linux because they don't have Photoshop on Linux. Maybe this will change their mind.
GIMP is fine for creating items that are only going to be viewed on the web or are not in color.
But as soon as you go to print in color? It doesn't matter if its inkjet, laser, or offset press, it's got to be shifted to a CMYK color profile, or "miscolored" RGB with an understanding to how the colors will shift or it won't print the desired colors.
Clients (and creators) care very much about the color accuracy.
For example, where I work we have an Official Shade of Scarlet that must be used on publications. We have a hex code for the web, a Pantone number for the printer, a CMYK profile for the printer and graphic artists, and an RGB profile to use in Word. The RGB color looks maroon on screen, but prints the Official Shade of Scarlet on the model and brand of color laser printer we have in our building. But if you try printing it on another printer? There's no gurantee of correct color due to how that printer model handles RGB --> CMYK.
And if you print out and distribute something that's not the Official Shade of Scarlet (because, Scarlet, Crimson, they're both reds, so what's the big deal?) and get caught? Be prepared for several irate phone calls from the people in the Big Chairs.
Without proper CMYK support, GIMP is a wicked keen toy, not a professional level tool.
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Member since:
2006-05-14
This looks so awesome. I don't know why people pay money for Adobe Photoshop. From what I've seen of GIMP, it can do everything that Photoshop can - and it can easily be extended via scripts. I think with the 16bit support - it's going to give Photoshop a run for it's money. I know a lot of artist who won't switch to Linux because they don't have Photoshop on Linux. Maybe this will change their mind.