Gimp

Gimp is a graphic environment meant for creation and edition of raster graphics. This application was designed within of framework of GNU Project. This program, the official mascot of which is a coyote named Wilber, is an outstanding example that an application that runs on a free license does not have to necessarily fall much behind its commercial competitors. Gimp offers a simple toolbar for standard operations on digital graphic, as well as a more advanced environment for designers and graphic artists who deal with presentations and advertising, as well as for photographers and DTP graphic artists. The less advanced users, who have a minimum knowledge on graphic edition, can, for example, make some simple changes to the size or resolution of graphic files, as well as copy, cut and paste parts of and whole images, and many more. When it comes to colors, light or focus – those also can be easily changed by beginning users.

There are many courses, guides and handbooks on the graphic edition with the use of Gimp – this fact allows us to quickly acquire the necessary knowledge in this field and to enjoy the many possibilities offered by this amazing application. Gimp is able to handle numerous types of graphic files, simultaneously allowing for the conversion of files across formats. What can discourage a beginning user is that the interface differs drastically from those of any other application of this kind. However, we will quickly learn that the possibility to run several screens and virtual desktops at once makes this program truly ingenious and full of surprising – and highly functional - solutions. The interface is diversified and displayed in several windows, which makes it possible to shuffle the elements of the interface between the screens and virtual desktops.

To use Gimp, we will have to learn to use all three mouse buttons – because each of them has its specific function. Another interesting thing is that we can, if we only know how, program this application further on, to increase its functionality. This solution will not be found in any other software of this kind. To program this application, we can use our own macros written in dedicated language Scheme, as well as in such languages as Perl, Tcl, or Ruby, or with the use of scripts in Python.