Customer Reviews

Gimp 2 for Photographers: Image Editing with Open Source Software

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

GIMP 2 for Photographers provides essential help-by-example in the use of the many advanced GIMP tools. It does not claim to be a complete manual, and does not address the paint and art creation aspects of the GIMP. It does an outstanding job demonstrating its use in the advanced photo editing procedures that are normally well beyond the capability of common photo editors, such as the ones bundled with camera software.

The GIMP is often included in desktop Linux distributions. A CD included with the book contains recent versions of the GIMP for Linux, Windows and OS X. It also contains practice images for use with the examples in the book.

After an introductory chapter, the book presents chapters covering correcting and touching up images, using masks and layers - painting, filling, and color tools, and working with black-and-white and color images. A typical exercise describes how to improve a scanned image. The initial image is tilted and needs to be righted, using the angle tool to measure the degree of tilt to be corrected. A moiré effect is removed with the Gaussian blur tool, the levels and curves tools are used to correct the tonality, and contrast is increased for better definition. The different options available for these tools are briefly discussed. Another example shows how to restore an old, faded and scratched picture using various cloning and healing tools.

The use of layers and masks is shown to modify an originally dull landscape photo. The colorless sky is replaced with a blue sky with natural-looking color gradient and some light clouds and a setting sun low in the sky is added. The text tool is then used to convert the image to an Easter card.

Some of the examples towards the end of the book are getting complex enough to go beyond the scope of ordinary photo editing but serve to demonstrate some of the most sophisticated tools available in the GIMP.

I highly recommend this book as an excellent and essential guide to using the GIMP. Adobe's Photoshop Elements 5 may have more bells and whistles, but the GIMP will let you do most of the same editing steps for free. Of course, Linux users don't have a choice and are fortunate to have this powerful editor available.

This book is a tutorial. As it states right at the beginning of the introduction, it is not a reference guide, but is

"designed to facilitate your entry into the world of digital image editing with the help of the GIMP...You will learn the fundamentals of digital editing, familiarize yourself with common image editing tools and their functions, and acquire a working knowledge of the GIMP 2 program."

And that is exactly what it does. The tutorial style is almost like being in a classroom. The steps are explained, then set out in detail, starting with pixels, color, resolution, and file formats. Towards the end of the book there is less explanation, as the exercises build on what has already been learned and focus on new ways to use the tools.

This really is not a beginner book. It assumes a certain amount of knowledge about computers, cameras and scanners. But you don't have to be an expert in any of those areas. In fact, although the book discusses importing RAW formats and scanning images, the actual editing exercises are done with images included on the CD which comes with the book. Also included on the CD is the entire book in PDF format, copies of what the exercise images should look like after the editing exercises, the GIMP program for Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux (with source files), plugins for the program, and a copy of Irfanview, a free image viewer and conversion tool (for Windows).

Although intended for all formats, the book presents material from a Windows-centric perspective. I worked through the exercises on a Mac, however, and had no problems, thanks to the GIMP having virtually the same interface across platforms.

As seems to be the case with all books, this one is not without a few flaws. There were many typos, although few of them really serious. It would be better if there was an errata page (having marked them all in the book, I could probably put up one myself at this point). Some of the tools could use more explanation. I wish the beautiful, color screenshots were bigger. But my biggest surprise was the book itself: I don't think I've ever had a cover on a brand new book start separating from the book after only one week.

I have been using the GIMP for a couple years already, but there was a lot in the book that was new for me. In fact, I wish I'd read the book a few weeks earlier: it would have saved me a lot of time on a Christmas project! Despite the flaws, and even with the defective cover, I'd recommend it. It will give you more than a working knowledge of the GIMP.

If you are doing digital photography, and these days, who isn't, then chances are you will be in need of an image editing program. If you have the money, you can spend around $600 for a copy of Photoshop or, for less functionality, you can get Photoshop Elements for about $100. But what if you are just starting out, or on a tight budget, or you work in a Linux environment? You can get GIMP 2 For Photographers, which contains both a beginners' manual for GIMP 2 as well as the GIMP 2 software on an enclosed CD. You just may find that you do not need any other product

This book began as materials that the author has used and refined in his workshops and classes.

For beginners just getting into image editing, as well as those who are starting to work with GIMP 2, GIMP 2 For Photographers is an excellent addition to your library. It will get you up to speed in no time and lay the framework for your future success.

GIMP 2 for Photographers from rockynook books comes with a pretty useful CD that includes a PDF of the book, some Finished Images, Sample Images and Programs (GhostScript, and GIMP for MSOX and Windows), and if you are anything like me and would REALLY like Adobe Photoshop but want to see exactly how much you can do with the free (and very good) GIMP, is a book you should consider purchasing.

In fact to be totally accurate I use GimpShop as well.

First, the blurb on the book:

"Image editing has become a key element in the photographic workflow. Image editing tools, most notably Photoshop, are usually sophisticated and deep applications - and are fairly expensive. The only open source tool in this market is the GIMP, which has developed into a powerful, multiplatform system running on Linux, as well as OS X and Windows. This book has evolved from the classroom materials which the author developed and taught in courses and workshops on image editing with the GIMP. It covers the basics of image editing and guides the reader through the functions and tools of the GIMP from simple adjustments to more advanced techniques of working with layers and masks. The more important editing functions are presented in individual workshops. Moreover, the book covers the stitching of panoramic images and preparation of high-quality black and white images."

Second, my views:

This certainly isn't a reference book. It is a well constructed tutorial which makes good use of the sample on the enclosed CD to take you through a number of exercises to develop your skills and your confidence. Made up of five (5) chapters:

* Basics
* Using the GIMP: Correcting and Touching Up Your Images
* Using Masks and Layers - Painting, Filling and Color Tools
* Working with Black-and-White and Color Images
* Appendix

I found that it struck a good balance between generic tasks i.e. layering, creating and editing a path, cropping and clipping etc., with some good GIMP specific tasks i.e. Typing in the GIMP, artistically manipulating shadows. The one thing that it proves without doubt is that "managing" your digital photography isn't a skill that you will learn overnight. It is complicated, frustrating and time consuming, but as the book proves it is possible.

Will I buy Photoshop? Possibly - but not for a year. This book has given me enough skill and confidence to explore and practice with GIMP for at least that long.

About the author: Klaus Goelker is an architect and photographer who lives and works in Munich, Germany. He also teaches courses on image editing at a local art school. He chose GIMP to teach this class because it was free and yet powerful enough to do serious photographic image editing.

Target Group: Photographers, Designers, Illustrators
[...]

I found this book a good start for beginners but not sufficient to address the need of intermediate or advanced image editors. Well written but poorly binded.

Author Klaus Goelker has nicely covered the features of this complex application with this tutorial guidebook. It is printed in full color throughout, including headings, keywords in the text and filenames. The book also lists a number of web sites where additional software add-ins to the GIMP can be obtained. The book comes with a CD-ROM which has the GIMP 2 software, as well as all the sample images.

Why don't more Windows and Mac people use The GIMP (GNU (GNU's Not UNIX) Image Manipulation Program)? Is the name too confusing? Is the cost (free) too reasonable? Are they opposed to Open Source, collaborative projects where the Internet community work together to achieve excellence? Maybe they don't trust software they don't have to pay for (I have heard this comment made more than once). Or, more likely, the lack of nifty books to guide one through learning the features of the application have held people back. Here is a book that covers all the basic and not so basic techniques of the GIMP digital darkroom.

So, what did I like best about the book?
The instructions were clear, concise and accurate.
An abundance of screen shots nicely supplemented the text.
A wide range of skills and techniques were covered in just 177 pages.
The CD included everything I needed to get started.

The Gimp has evolved over the years, with pieces tacked on here and there to add features that help it keep pace with Photoshop (at a much lower "price.") Originally a program written by propeller-heads for propeller-heads, the program has actually become useful for photographers who don't have a computer-programming bent. Even so, the interface can be confusing, and that's where this excellent book comes in. It helps you sort out all the features of The Gimp so you can get up and running and actually use this program. Then, it shows you what you need to know to move into more advanced image editing. Highly recommended.

The Gimp is a very powerful program for image manipulation. This publication presents the information needed to get started using The Gimp. It includes a cd with the program and related material on it.The information is useful,up to date, and is presented in an easy to use format. I highly recommend both the book and the program. I can not imagine needing to buy an expensive program while this one is free. The program allows you to manipulate images using layers just like any expensive program. I did not give the book 5 stars because it is very poorly bound. I think I am going to break out the three hole punch and put it in a notebook. It is falling apart.I still recommend it, the information is great,the program is top shelf.If you are into digital photography, you will love this program. The book will get you started using it.

The book is very complete and actually teaches things I didn't even know I wanted to know, without over complicating the subject matter.

Only problem is that the book was originally written in German and then translated into English. You can tell this when reading it (not quite Engrish, but there are some syntax issues) but it doesn't effect the information being communicated. If you are fluent in German, I suggest seeking out the original German version of this book.