Bring out the GIMP

Finding a good graphics program can be both difficult and expensive. There are many options for working with photographic images, but if you need other graphics for websites and presentations, you have the low end with MS Paint (free with Windows) or the high end with Photoshop ($649).

Personally, I prefer to use Macromedia’s (now Adobe) Fireworks ($299) for web graphics. It works well for GIF and PNG formats, is vector-based, and has some smooth anti-aliasing. Fireworks is fairly expensive however, and not readily available on every machine.

I have found a pretty good alternative that is both cheap (free) and portable. The program is called GIMP. The name is a complex acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program, where GNU is a recursive acronym for GNU is Not Unix.

I have yet to explore all of GIMP’s features, but it works for what I need when I am without my favorites. I can create logos, resize images, and export as almost any format. There are your basic drawing tools, selection options, color palettes, and views. For the more advanced needs, layers are supported, and there are many cool filters and scripts.

You’re only as good as your tools, and they’re only good if you have them. If your favorite software is only installed on your computer, then you are at quite a loss when anywhere else. The concept of portable software means that a zero-install version can be loaded on a CD, USB drive, or even an iPod so that you can take it with you. GIMP comes in a portable version, and is available here.

If you need to work with graphics, I suggest you add GIMP to your toolbox.

Add comment August 1st, 2006