GNU Image Manipulation Program
GIMP, a powerful free alternative to Photoshop, with ability of tons of customization and configuration flexibility.
- Download: http://www.gimp.org/
- install as normal
- Portable GIMP setup
- Krita is far better than GIMP in many ways and beyond
- it, at the same time, aims to be a free alternative to Corel Painter and PaintTool SAI
From Photoshop to GIMP
updated 2016.11
- Quick Conclusion for Photo Retouch
- for lack of adjustment layer, it is hurting the fast workflow for non-destructive photo retouch workflow
- it has clone, and basic heal for 2nd layer retouch, but lack of quick spot heal and patch tool may slow down the retouch process a bit
- Quick Conclusion for Graphic Design
- lack of “mask unlinking feature” and “quick multiple layer selection” are slowing the arranging layout process
- same, lack of adjustment layer is quick no no for fast multiple alternation version creation.
- text is not able to keep editable after rotation or scale, and lost vector graphic information, which means big No No for graphic design.
- Quick Conclusion for general usage for image editing
- it has all the essential tools for non-professional graphic user to get the job done.
PS | GIMP | Krita |
---|---|---|
selection | ||
hide selection | ctrl + T | ctrl+H |
Deselect | ctrl+shift + A | ctrl+shift+A |
Layer Operation | ||
ctrl+j | ctrl+c, ctrl+v, ctrl+shift+n | ctrl+j |
lock layer movement | can't, but only limit move active layer | Yes |
lock layer paint,alpha | yes, there is icon on layer panel | Yes |
move multiple layers | can't, but only with layer link or layer group make it like photoshop 7 in 2016 | Yes |
mask | layer menu > mask > add layer mask | Yes |
unlink mask | can't, have to use selection trick to move them independently a pain for a serious tool | Yes |
shape layer | no, you have to path+pixel layer to manually generate for each change | Yes, vector layer |
brush | P key, [] for size change | B key |
dodge, burn | shift+D, ctrl to toggle | NO |
pen | B key, close with ctrl click first point | Yes |
adjustment layer | can't, this is making GIMP a totally useless for serious photo editing, I would rather use a free compositing software than gimp for this missing feature | Yes |
blend mode | yes, lighten, darken, screen, multiply, soft lighten | Yes |
Retouch operation | ||
clone | C key, same functions as PS | Yes, under brush preset |
heal | H key, only source target heal | Yes, clone with right click option : healing |
spot heal | can't, only clone with soft brush basically a auto small patch |
|
patch | can't, only clone with soft brush auto clone a patch from source and blend them |
|
Filter | ||
high pass filter | need install plugin | Yes |
blur, sharp filter | built-in | Yes |
Simple Tasks
- gif creation:
GIMP structure
shortcuts and preference settings
- shortcut config file: data/menurc