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Review:The Artists' Guide to the GIMP
User Manual
The GIMP has been hailed as an open source alternative to such commercial image manipulation "killer apps" as Adobe Photoshop. However, there are obvious areas where the GIMP falls short. For example, it does not come with a commercial quality printed user manual.
Now GIMP aficionados have an option: Michael Hammel has written what amounts to a user manual for the GIMP. It is "meant to be a reference guide for non-technical users -- people who want to use the GIMP to do real work."
Topic Coverage
The book covers release 1.0 of the GNU Image Manipulation Program. The first half covers GIMP features and functionality. The second half contains many examples of filters and script-fu effects applied to images.
The book does not cover GIMP development, particularly plug-ins and scripting. However, the author does mention that these are potential topics for revised editions.
The introductory chapters cover such basics as graphics formats, colour models, resolution, and so forth. The author also briefly covers SANE, Ghostscript, the GFig plug-in, the gimprc file, and fonts.
Explanatory Style
The author adopts a relatively informal explanatory style which I found easy and enjoyable to read, while not detracting from the topic at hand. It is clear that the author understands what he is writing about, and also how to communicate with the casual reader.
He offers tips throughout the text, from effective settings for specific dialogs to how to scan three-dimensional objects. He's also at ease enough to criticize aspects of the application where deserved, such as inconsistent dialogs or awkward interfaces. This honesty reassures the reader that he's on her side.
The author points out where GIMP and Photoshop are alike and differ, which will be a boon to readers with experience with the latter.
Tutorial Approach
Many of the chapters conclude with a tutorial summarizing the material covered: 16 pages in all. They are easy enough to follow and serve to reinforce the concepts learned.
Frequently the author employs a "how-to" approach when describing a feature. For example, he uses an image of a skyline to demonstrate how guides can help select buildings. He enumerates the steps you might take to correct a scanned image.
Book and CD-ROM
The book is printed on glossy paper in full colour. This is important, as many of the images illustrate subtle graphic effects. For example, an image may be a slightly brightened or blurred version of another.
I'm not sure how well the book would stand up to everyday use. My copy developed a cracked spine, so it's possible to lose a page or two if the reader is not careful.
The CD-ROM contains the software, although I'm sure most will acquire later versions from the net. It also includes the book's tutorials, images, and more images from the author's collection, as well as documentation, resources, and links.
There are plenty of tables of shortcuts and modifiers, but strangely no quick reference card (an obvious added value).
Drawbacks
The book as one or two minor drawbacks. Generally, there are a couple of places where the text could have been improved.
Some extended explanations (e.g., crop tool) are very confusing. The reader is hard put to make progress without the application running in front of her. Admittedly, part of the blame for this lies with the application itself.
The author references some Linux Journal covers, yet does not provide their images for illustration.
Summary
I've seen industry award-winning commercial user manuals, and this book is in that league. If you're looking for a simple user manual for the GIMP, this is it.
If you're looking for a more advanced manual or reference, you might be a little bit disappointed. There are still stones left un-turned.
If you're looking for an art book, again you might be disappointed. It isn't a text on graphic design, although there are tips throughout.
It's a user manual for the GIMP.
You can pick it up at Amazon.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface
1. Introduction
2. GIMP Basics
3. GIMP Windows
4. The Toolbox
5. Selections
6. Layers and Channels
7. Colors and Text
8. Drawing and Painting
9. Using Transforms
10. Gradients
11. Scanning, Printing, and Print Media
Part 2: Filters and Script-Fu Effects
12. Artistic
13. Blur
14. Colors
15. Distorts
16. Edge-Detect and Combine
17. Enhance
18. Glass Effects
19. Light Effects
20. Map and Miscellaneous
21. Noise
22. Render
23. Script-Fu
Glossary
Appendix A: The gimprc File
Appendix B: Keyboard Shortcuts
Appendix C: Adding Fonts to Your System
Index
About the CD-ROM
How diffrent is this book from the HTML user manual that's downloadable from the gimp site? My wife is trying to learn GIMP, and she thinks the User Manual sucks... (I learned to use it by just messing with it for over a year now, haven't read a single thing from either).
Gimp/2 requires XFree86 for OS/2.
Timur Tabi
Remove "nospam_" from email address
Lack of professionalism is an SSC hallmark! I cringe at some of the things that I see in LJ. They've become slicker, (IE, they don't look as much like a user group newsletter as they used to) also somewhat more professional over the years, but still are lacking.
The last issue printed a snapshot of the OS Sucks/rules O'meter! Sure thats a cool net think, but looks appallingly tacky in print..
They printed a review of the GIMP book even though they published it, and the book author is a major LJ contributor, thankfully he didn't write the review himself.
They tend to fill the whole magazine with articles of narrow interest. IE, a "Linux in Manufacturing" issue, or what-not. Sure an article here and there on the subject is good, but don't fill the whole issue with them.
I notice that there is now another Linux magazine on the market (forget the name, saw it at Barnes and Noble. Maybe I'll switch when my sub. runs out.
Of all the comments I've ever posted, this is definately one of them