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Abo ut Thi s B ookAUTHORSKARIN KYLANDERKarin is a designer and illustrator, and also an architect with a Master’s degree in Architecture from theChalmers University of Technology. She has been working with graphic design and art since 1985.Computer aided design caught her interest in the late 1980s. At first, she worked with Macs and PCsusing programs like Photoshop, PageMaker, Corel DRAW and Illustrator. In 1996, she entered theUNIX arena, and in 1997, she started using Gimp for image manipulation and graphic design. She nowuses Gimp on a daily basis.Most of Karin’s work focuses on publications, posters and exhibition displays. If you’d like to see samples of her work, you have only to leaf through the Gallery chapter in this book.OLOF S. KYLANDEROlof is a UNIX and network system administrator. He received his formal computer education at theChalmers University of Technology. He has been into computers since the early 1980s. UNIX caught hisattention in 1993, and he has been configuring various UNIX systems and networks ever since.Olof currently works for the UNIX/Network consulting company Sigma-nbit in Gothenburg, and ispresently occupied with configuring Solaris servers for Ericsson. He also has experience with other systems such as Mac, Windows, NT, Citrix and Novell. His specialties are thin clients and X Window System configuration, as well as Internet technologies. He is the author of the more technical parts of thisbook.The Gimp User’s Manualxix

About This BookFROZENRIVERFrozenriver, Karin’s company, deals with digital design in various fields as well as providing training indigital image manipulation. The company specializes in different kinds of informational material, suchas technical documentation/reports, brochures, magazines and exhibitions. Web design is also an upand-coming service. Frozenriver can provide the entire range from a full advertisement concept to a leaflet at the local mall. Frozenriver can also provide support for Gimp users (along with other image manipulating programs such as Photoshop) in the form of training courses and advice by email.If you wish to contact Frozenriver, please visit our website at http://www.frozenriver.nu ormail us at karin@frozenriver.com.Or even better, contact us directly:FrozenriverKarin KylanderN.Dragspelsg 12S-421 43 V.FRÖLUNDASWEDENPhone: 46 (0)31 47 43 56Fax: 46 (0)31 49 48 33GIMP CONTRIBUTIONSFirst, we’d like to thank the many Gimp developers:Spencer Kimball, Peter Mattis, Federico Mena, Zach Beane, Adrian Linkns, Miguel de Icaza, Tom Bech,Sven Neumann, Albert Cahalan, Adam D. Moss, Torsten Martinsen, Tristan Tarrant, Andreas Beck,David Mosberger, Gordon Matzigkeit, Peter Kirchgessner, Eric L. Hernes, Francisco Bustamante,Thorsten Schnier, Jochen Friedrich, Tim Newsome, Christoph Hoegl, Xavier Bouchoux, Owen Taylor,Andy Thomas, Ray Lehtiniemi, Marcelo Malheiros, Miles O’Neal, Chris Laas, Daniel Risacher, GerdKnorr, Michel Taylor, Ole Steinfatt, Michael Sweet, Eiichi Takamori, Tracy Scott, Gordon Matzigkeit,Andrew Kieschnick, Alexander Schulz, Thomas Noel, Robert L.Cross, Kevin Turner, Sean Cier, NickLamb, Kim-Minh Kaplan, Matthias Cramer, Lauri Alanko, Tim Newsome, Bucky LaDieu, ScottGoehring, Morten Eriksen, Raphael Quinet, Daniel Skarda, Daniel Dunbar, Jens Ch. Restemeier, MarcLehmann, Scott Draves, Alessandro Baldoni, Michael Schubart, Dan Risache, Josh MacDonald,Eduardo Perez, Daniel Cotting, Nathan Summers, John Beale, Marc Bless, John Breen, Brent Burton,Jim Geuther, Pavel Grinfeld, Matthias Greim, Jan Hubicka, Shuji Narazaki, Stephen Robert Norris, TimRowley, Christoph Hoegl, Wolfgang Hofer, Shawn Amundson, Edward Blevins, Roberto Boyd, SimonBudig, Seth Burgess, Ed Connell, Jay Cox, Andreas Dilger, Austin Donnelly, Misha Dynin, LarryEwing, Nick Fetchak, David Forsyth, Heilco Goller, Michael Hammel, Simon Jones, Tim Janik, TuomasKuosmanen, Karl LaRocca, Jens Lautenbacher, Laramie Leavitt, Elliott Lee, Ralph Levien, AdrianLikins, Tor Lillqvist, Ingo Luetkebohle, Ed Mackey, Vidar Madsen, Ian Main, Michael Natterer, ErikNygren, Tomas Ogren, Jay Painter, Asbjorn Pettersen, Mike Phillips, Mike Schaeffer, James Robinson,Manish Singh, Ian Tester, James Wang, Kris Wehner, Matthew Wilson and all of you we have forgotten(if we’ve forgotten you, please write to karin@frozenriver.com to let us know).xxThe Gimp User’s Manual

C o n t r i b u t o r s To T h i s B o o kCONTRIBUTORS TO THIS BOOKWe’d also like to give credit to everyone that came up with suggestions, tips, constructive criticism, contributions, etc: Dov Grobgeld (Author of “A Tutorial For Perl Gimp Users”)Mike Terry (Author of “Black Belt School Of Script-Fu”)John Sigerson (PDF file format of GUM version 0.5 to 0.9)Aristidi Yannick (French translation)Yasuhiro Shirasaki (Leader of the Japanese translation team)Mark Probst (Documentation)Peter Uray (Documentation)Petri Alanko (Documentation)Ole Steinfatt (Documentation)Michal Gomulinski (Documentation)George J. Carret (Documentation)PhotoDisc (For their kind donation of high-quality images for this book project)Thom van Os (Images in Selective Gaussian Blur)Eric Galluzzo and Christopher Macgowan (Proofreading)Nicholas Lamb (Tip about selections)Michael Kaiser (Correction layers)Cristoph Hogeld (Contrib correction)Marco SchmidtAdrian LinksAdam D. Moss (Tips about animation filters and psd)Tom Bech (Tips & lesson about light effects and map objects)Nathan Carl Summers (Tips & lesson about scissors)Wolfgang Hofer (Tips about animframe)Markku Verkkoniemi (Tip in Pre-Press about image delivery)Matt Chisholm (Found a bug in the font install chapter)and anyone that we’ve forgotten (please write to karin@frozenriver.com and let us know!)The Gimp User’s Manualxxi

About This BookHOW TO READ THIS BOOKGIMP: The Official Handbook is the complete Gimp user’s manual. It is the most comprehensive sourceof Gimp information available, covering nearly all aspects of this complex application. It’s a user manual, so it will not cover “nuts and bolts” topics such as how to write Gimp plug-ins; however, some basicscripting tutorials have been included. All images in this manual have been created or manipulated usingGimp — no other software has been used.GIMP: The Official Handbook is divided into several parts. If you are an experienced graphics artist, youcan read the first parts quickly in order to pick up the main differences between Gimp and the programsyou are used to working with.This book also covers features that aren’t part of the standard Gimp distribution. These features can befound in the developer’s version, or at the Plug-in Registry. We have covered all available Gimp featuresup to August 1999, with the exception of how to use pressure-sensitive drawing tablets, Gimp Perl scripting extensions, Dumpwindow, xmorph (a Gimpified version of the xmorph program) and HaruspexX (aSQL Gimp extension).Part I What is Gimp; a brief history of Gimp and GTK Gimp’s default shortcuts (accelerator keys) and how to reassign them A gallery showing what you can achieve with the powerful resources of Gimp and providing someinsight into advanced image manipulation.Part II How to get and install Gimp for your system and troubleshooting Migrating from Photoshop to GimpPart III What file formats Gimp supports and how to use them; how to open and save files in GimpPersonal adjustmentsHow to use the different paint toolsHow you can use the different edit functionsTransformation functionsHow to work with textHow to use the Gradient Editor as well as information about brushes, palettes and patternsPart IV A general discussion about color models (to understand how different modes work in Gimp, you needthe information in this chapter) How to prepare your Gimp image for pre-press Calibration discussion and a simple calibration of your systemxxiiThe Gimp User’s Manual

H o w To R e a d T h i s B o o k Scanning, discussion of scanner types and what to buy. Installation of Sane (Gimp’s scanner interface) and usage of Sane within GimpPart V In-depth discussion about the image menu, which includes color, brightness, curves and other imageadjustments (also covers image conversions like RGB to Indexed, as well as image transformations) How to use different selection methodsHow modes work in GimpIn-depth discussion on how to use layers — the key factor to advanced image manipulationChannels: What they are and how to use themPart VI The filter plug-ins available for Gimp; a glimpse of what they’re all aboutDifferent color exchange filtersHow to use the lighting effectsHow to render fantastic patterns and imagesPart VII Animations, or how AnimFrames can make it easy to create advanced web animations Xinput, usage and installation of Wacom tablets in Linux (XFree86)Part VIII Discussion about the Script-Fus that come with Gimp Two different angles/tutorials on how to write Script-Fus and how they can help you automate GimptasksPart IX Discussion about the Perl-Fus that come with Gimp Two different angles/tutorials on how to write Perl-Fus and how they can help you automate GimptasksPart X How fonts works in Gimp and the X Window System; how to install more fonts How to compile plug-ins, make your own make file and use the configure scriptPart XI Man pages in the Gimp distributionInitiation file descriptions as well as description of command line flagsSIOD reference for those who write Script-Fu scriptsLinks and books that can be usefulThe Gimp User’s Manualxxiii

About This BookCONVENTIONSYou’ll find four different typing styles besides the normal text in the GUM.Bold is used the first time important concepts, items or topics are introduced. This can, for example, bewords you’ll see onscreen in Gimp — pull-down menu titles, dialog titles, options — but it can also beused in more general terms such as: color theory, font manager or halftone pattern.Italics to emphasize important points. Bold italics for warnings.Courier for describing the path to Gimp menu commands, programs you’ll need to execute within aterminal window, file names and code.SYMBOLSNot A Standard Part Of The Gimp DistributionThis is the Swedish version of thecrossing traffic sign. In this case, itmeans that you have a crossroadsin front of you; either you installthe documented feature, or youignore the passage in question.This symbol will appear when a function or filter is not part of thestandard distribution of Gimp. This means that you have to downloadit and probably compile it yourself. The primary source of extra functions and plug-ins are http://registry.gimp.org or ftp://ftp.gimp.org/pub/gimp. If you bought the printed version ofthis book, the non-standard plug-ins and functions, as well as the standard ones, have been included both as binaries and source code on theenclosed CD.Warning!You had better look out when yousee this warning sign!Look out for this symbol. Its purpose is to catch your attention, so youwon’t miss passages of vital importance or essential warnings. Forexample, don’t do this or your system will crash, or some otherunpleasantness will happen!Beware Of Bugs!Install at your own risk, you maybe in for a bumpy ride.This sign indicates that a filter or function is still in development stage,and that it may suffer from bug problems. Install or use functionsmarked with this symbol at your own risk.TutorialWe lead the way. Follow us for aNext to this sign, you’ll find an example or a tutorial, helping you tounderstand the described function.guided tour.TipRead the information carefully;this is stuff you need to know!xxivThis sign indicates useful tips or advice on how to use a certain function, or that a passage describing important subjects will follow.The Gimp User’s Manual

PA R TAbout Gimp ABOUT GIMP AND GIMP HISTORYSHORTCUTS AND DYNAMIC KEY BINDINGSI

C H A P T E RWhat Is Gimp?A quick description of Gimp.1

What Is Gimp?ABOUT THE GIMPFrom the “About the Gimp” website at http://www.gimp.org/, we quotethe following:Gimp is an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program. Gimp is a freely distributed piece of software suitable for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring.It is an extremely capable piece of software with many capabilities. It can be usedas a simple paint program, an expert quality photo retouching program, an onlinebatch processing system, a mass production image renderer, an image format converter and more.Gimp is expandable and extensible. It is designed to be augmented with plug-insand extensions to do just about anything. The advanced scripting interface allowseverything to be easily scripted, from the simplest task to the most complex imagemanipulation procedures.FEATURES AND CAPABILITIESThis is only a brief list of Gimp features: Full suite of painting tools including brushes, a pencil, an airbrush,cloning, etc. Tile-based memory management so image size is limited only byavailable disk space Sub-pixel sampling for all paint tools for high-quality anti-aliasing Full Alpha channel support Layers and channels A procedural database for calling internal Gimp functions from externalprograms, such as Script-Fu Advanced scripting capabilities Multiple undo/redo (limited only by disk space) Transformation tools including rotate, scale, shear and flip File formats supported include GIF, JPEG, PNG, XPM, TIFF, TGA,MPEG, PS, PDF, PCX, BMP and many others Load, display, convert and save to many file formats Selection tools including rectangle, ellipse, free, fuzzy, bezier andintelligent Plug-ins that allow for the easy addition of new file formats and new effectfilters2The Gimp User’s Manual

Chapter 1AUTHORSThe Gimp was written by Peter Mattis and Spencer Kimball. Many other developers have contributed plug-ins and thousands have provided support and testing.Gimp releases are currently being orchestrated by Manish Singh.End quote (we couldn’t have said it better ourselves).WHAT WE CAN SAY ABOUT GIMPFirst, we want to congratulate Peter Mattis, Spencer Kimball and all of the otherdevelopers of this lovely program. The “About The Gimp” section is only the tipof the iceberg. Gimp is capable of everything from advanced image manipulationto basic drawing. Many of its features are inspired by Photoshop and other imagemanipulation programs.Karin, who is an architect and designer and a former Photoshop user in both Macand Windows environments, can only say this:Compared to Photoshop, Gimp has it all (and even more if you don’tbuy third-party Photoshop plug-ins). Most of the features in Gimp aremore flexible and powerful once you get to know them. The great thing isthat Gimp supports the PSD file format and Filter Factory files, so youcan easily switch from Photoshop to Gimp. Simply, it’s a heck of a program and it comes loaded with a sack of plug-ins. So GO AND GET IT!!You will not be disappointed, and, well, it’s not wrong that it is free.Karin Kylander & Olof S. KylanderGIMP HISTORY0.54We’ll quote a bit more, this time from Peter Mattis and Spencer Kimball, the original creators of Gimp, in their announcement of Gimp 0.54:The Gimp arose from the ashes of a hideously crafted cs164 (compilers)class project. The setting: early morning. We were both weary from lackof sleep and the terrible strain of programming a compiler in LISP. Thelimits of our patience had long been exceeded, and yet still the damheld.And then it happened. Common LISP messily dumped core when itcould not allocate the 17 MB it needed to generate a parser for a simplegrammar using yacc. An unbelieving moment passed, there was oneshared look of disgust, and then our project was vapor. We had to writesomething.ANYTHING.useful. Something in C. Something that didnot rely on nested lists to represent a bitmap. Thus, the Gimp was born.The Gimp User’s Manual3

What Is Gimp?Like the phoenix, glorious, new life sprung out of the burnt remnants ofLISP and yacc. Ideas went flying, decisions were made, the Gimp beganto take form.An image manipulation program was the consensus. A program thatwould at the very least lessen the necessity of using commercial software under ‘Windoze’ or on the ‘Macintoy.’ A program that would provide the features missing from the other X painting and imaging tools. Aprogram that would help maintain the long tradition of excellent andfree UNIX applications.Six months later, we’ve reached an early beta stage. We want to releasen

The cover is a bit differernt in this pdf file. The version in this file is made by Karin Kylander. About This Book .xix. Authors xix Gimp Contributions xx Contributors To This Book xxi . Gimp For Photoshop Users .55. Why Should I Use Gimp When I Have Photoshop? 56 Migrating To Gimp 59 Some Final Notes 70. PART III. Basic Functions .