The GIMP
What is the GIMP
GIMP is an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed program for such tasks as photo retouching & image composition and image authoring.
(Figure 1: GIMP can now export your paths to SVG)
It can be used as a simple paint program, an expert quality photo retouching program, an online batch processing system, a mass production image renderer or an image format converter.
GIMP is expandable and extensible. It is designed to be augmented with plug-ins and extensions which allow access to its capabilties via a number of languages. The advanced scripting interface allows everything from the simplest task to the most complex image manipulation procedures to be easily scripted.
(Figure 2: showing GIMP on the Mac OS X operating system)
GIMP is written and developed primarily on GNU/Linux and runs best under X11 on UNIX platforms. It is also available for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X.
Features
The software comes with lots of features, some are newly implemented and available with the 2.0 Release. A short list over the most interesting features are:
a full suite of tools for painting and image manipulation
preview of brush outline while you're drawing (Fig. 3)
customizable interface using a drag-and-drop dockable dialog system
advanced scripting capabilities (Scheme, Python, Perl)
over 100 plug-ins already available
fullscreen mode and view filters
much, much more!
(Figure 3: Preview of a brush outline)
The GIMP at GUADEC
GIMP related talks at GUADEC
Programming a GIMP Plug-in
Dave Neary
Dave Neary's been hanging around free software for about 6 years. He started off as a leech, and then decided to turn into a leechee sometime around 1999, when he started working on the GIMP. His main interest in the GIMP is revitalising the relationship betweek the user and developer communities. He has also helped out a little now and again on other things, and is listed as a co-author of gnect.
He is currently living and working in Lyon, France.
Custon widgets in GtkCairo
Oyvind Kolas
Oyvind (with a Norwegian O/) is working on an application called Bauxite, which uses a node-based data structure similar to gegl. This application is both a standalone video editor and a comprehensive test bed of Gegl's node structrues.
Oyvind is also working on the next generation XCF format.
His primary interests in the GIMP are vector imaging and graph compositing.
Other graphics talks at GUADEC
Typography and graphic design for programmers Liam Quin
The future of rendering in GNOME Owen Taylor
GStreamer Internals Benjamin Otte
Digital Photography in a GNOME Environment Hubert Figuiere
GIMP conference activities
The GIMP Developers Conference, also known as GIMPCon, is a gathering of ![[WWW]](/wiki/modern/img/moin-www.png){kind=small}
GIMP and GEGL developers from all over the World. It is a vital opportunity for the GIMP developers to meet each other and discuss the direction which the software will take over the coming years.
There have been two GIMP Conferences previously, both in Berlin, and both graciously hosted by the CCC (the Chaos Computer Club), a much nicer bunch of guys than their name suggests.
Last year's GIMP Conference was a sub-event of the CCCC (the Chaos Communications Club Camp), a camping trip with broadband and laptops. During the camp, we discussed ways we could make the GIMP better both technically and as a community, which led up to the 2.0 release at the end of March.
At this year's conference we will discuss, among other things,
What we expect from a replacement for the PDB (Procedural Database)
How we will integrate Gegl into the GIMP
Managing plug-in distribution
The GIMP's organisation
Who will come?
Dave Neary
Oyvind Kolas
Daniel Egger
Jakub Steiner
Henrik Brix Andersen
Roman Joost
Other GIMP activities during the conference
Two of our resident graphics designers, Jakub Steiner (jimmac) and Tuomas Kuosmanninnen (tigert) are giving a user-day GIMP demonstration on Wednesday. Last year, jimmac presented a series of tutorials on basic GIMP techniques to a crowd of over 100 people, and held them captivated for nearly 3 hours. This is not to be missed.