Slashdot Mirror
MacGimp Reviewed, Available For Easy Download
Kelly McNeill writes "Now that a native X Window system (X11) comes as standard equipment on OS X Panther, osViews' Kelly McNeill thought that now might be the right time to review the latest (stable) version of of the GNU Image Manipulation Program -- version 1.2.5. Gimp reviews in the past have typically either been written from a non-technical perspective -- authored by graphic artists or by software developers -- having little understanding of the needs of graphic designers. Kelly McNeill is a self-proclaimed tech geek and a working graphic artist, which makes the review all the more interesting." And Durin_Deathless writes "A new open source company, Archei LLC , is sponsoring free downloads of MacGIMP. You can download here(1)(officially) or here(2) (no personal info needed). You could also use Fink to get GIMP, but if GIMP is all want, here you go."
From the article:
>After thinking about it however, I realized that these
>complaints were mis-directed. Clipboard data is not an
>application-specific function. Therefore, the problem is
>not something specific to The Gimp, but rather to X11.
That it isn't GIMP's problem doesn't keep it from being, well, a problem with GIMP.
Integrate Keynote and LaTeX
The 1.2 series is so crusty feeling compared to 1.3. Really, 1.3 is like a whole new GIMP.
The thing to realize is that a lot of the things missing from Photoshop that are easier in other programs are the things that Photoshop users have learned to work around while still remaining in Photoshop, frequently ignoring upgrades to stay with a version familiar to them.
Photoshop is a lot like Autocad - once you get used to it functioning a certain way and have customized it, there's no need to upgrade just because Adobe says so. An upgrade may add some new features, but if you've learned quick workarounds, why bother?
The same with Gimp - I'm familiar with Photoshop, I know how to get the things done I need to do - why bother switching programs? The extra frustration that comes with learning a new way of doing the same old things doesn't justify the change.
To celebrate the occasion of my 1000th post, I will post no more forever on Slashdot. Goodbye.
1. So port GTK to native MacOSX. Too much effort? Then it's effort or a waste of memory. I choose to "waste" memory.
2. GTK doesn't look like anything. You have issues with the default theme. Go get a nice Aqua theme and enjoy your gooey colors.
3. You're right, file management in GTK apps does suck. GTK2 (which GIMP 1.3 uses) will be fixing this real soon now(tm).
I want my Cowboyneal
Slightly cleaner instructions (should work for more people):
/opt/local/bin
.cshrc/.bashrc:
/opt/local/bin/gimp $@
1. Don't use Find, but open:
% open
2. Use GetInfo as described to change ownership to current user
3. Select "Open With" info tab, "Choose Other", find X11, click "Always Open With This" button
4. Double click gimp to ensure it works (you'll have to go through Gimp setup).
5. Quit Gimp and X11
6. Change ownership back to system.
7. Drag gimp icon into dock - no need to make an alias
8. if you want to be able to open gimp from the shell, add this to your
alias gimp open