Photoshop holding you back from going opensource?

So you're thinking about moving to Linux but you just hate to give up the good photo editing program you're using. Well let me tell you about Gimp (GNU Image Manipulation Program). GIMP is written and developed under X11 but basically the same code also runs on MS Windows and Mac OS X.

It's easy to use, it has all the functions of Photoshop and best of all -it's Free!

Gimp's current version 2.6 is a streamline of the old software and the expected changes for version 2.8 seem even better. It's customizable user interface makes it ideal for people who want things to look a certain way. You can change anything from icon size to recoloring widgits and with the docking feature you can move things into tabs or leave them spaced out to your preference. It also has a full screen mode if you prefer to get the most from your workspace.

Some of the more notable features of Gimp 2.6 is the reworked photo enhancing capabilities, digital retouching and available hardware support. The user is able to save files in everything from the common .JPG, .TIFF and .GIF but also more specialized file formats such as multi-resolution and multi-color-depth Windows icon files. The architecture allows to extend GIMP's format capabilities with a plug-in. You can find some rare format support in the handy GIMP plugin registry. Because Gimp features a transparent virtual file system, it is possible to load and save files to from remote locations using protocols such as FTP, HTTP or even SMB (MS Windows shares) and SFTP/SSH. To save disk space, any format can be saved with an archive extension such as ZIP, GZ or BZ2 and GIMP will automatically compress the file without you needing to do any extra steps!

Not only will Gimp allow you to manipulate and edit pre-existing images, but you can also create new images from a set group of templates or you can get advanced and specify your own image size (by inches, pixels, millimeters, points, picas and more) to adjusting the size based on the X/Y scale and customizing your color format (RGB, Greyscale, etc). Once you've got a blank image box to work with, you can create layers with text or your own images.

One of the most appealing features of the gimp is that it works across almost any operating system you might be on, so once you learn it you have a very versatile tool you can use anywhere, a short list of places the gimp works is almost any linux, unix, or bsd with a GUI, Any version of windows newer than XP, and MacOS X.

Gimp also provides a handy Help Menu with direct links to just about everything you could want to help you learn the program including the incredibly useful plug in registry, documentation, tutorials, and more advanced features and easy to read How-tos.