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How to read GUM

an introduction

GUM is the complete Gimp user manual. GUM is the most comprehensive source of information available, and covers nearly all aspects of Gimp. It's a user manual, so it will not cover how to write plug-ins to Gimp, however, some basic scripting tutorials have been included. All images in this manual have been created or manipulated with Gimp exclusively, no other software has been used..

GUM is divided into several parts. If you are an experienced graphics artist, you can read the first parts quickly in order to pick up the main differences between Gimp and the programs that you are used to working with.

GUM also covers features which aren't part of the standard Gimp distribution. These features may be found in the unstable distribution or at the plug-in registry. We have covered all available Gimp features up to the 23/3 -98, 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 (a SQL Gimp extension).

Preface

• About Frozenriver and the authors
• Contributions
• Changelog
• How to read GUM

Part one

• What is Gimp is; a brief history of Gimp and Gtk
• Gimp's default short cuts (accelerator keys) and how to reassign them

Gallery

• This is a gallery showing what you can achieve with the powerful resources of Gimp. It also gives an insight into advanced image manipulation.

Part two

• How to get and install Gimp for your system. Troubleshooting.

Part three

• What file format Gimp supports and how to use them. How to open and save files in Gimp
• Personal adjustments
• How to use the different Paint tools.
• How you can use the differentEdit functions in Gimp
• Transformation functions in Gimp
• How to work with Text in Gimp
• How to use the Gradient editor as well as information about Brushes, Palettes and Patterns.

Part four

• A general discussion aboutcolor models. To understand how different modes work in Gimp, you need the information in this chapter.
• How to prepare your Gimp image for prepress
• Color calibration discussion and a simple color calibration of your system

Part five

• In depth discussion about the image menu, which includes color, brightness, curves and other image adjustments. It also covers image conversions like RGB to Indexed as well as image transformations.
• How to use different selection methods
• How modes work in Gimp
• In depth discussion on how to uselayers - the key factor to advanced image manipulation
• Channels; what they are and how to use them

Part six

• This part is about the filter plug-ins available for Gimp, a glimpse of what it's all about
• Different color exchange filters
• How to use the lighting effects in Gimp
• Render fantastic patterns and images in Gimp
• Etc.

Part seven

• Animations in Gimp or how AnimFrames can make it easy to create advanced web animations.

Part eight

• Discussion about theScript-Fu:s that come with Gimp
• Two different angles/tutorials on how to write Script-fu:s and how they can help you automate Gimp tasks.

Part nine

• How fonts works in Gimp and Xwindow, how to install more fonts.
• How to compile plug-ins, make your own make file and how to use the configure script

Appendixes

• Man pages in the Gimp distribution
• Initiation file descriptions as well as description of command line flags
• SIOD reference for those who write Script-Fu
• Links and books that can be useful

Conventions

You'll find four different typing styles besides the normal text in GUM.

We use bold italics to call out very important things and warnings:

Don't do this!

Less important things are emphasized with regular italics:

Well, layers are quite important, so you better learn how to handle them

For important items or issues we use bold text:

choose an appropriate font

For things that you have to execute, file names, commands and code we use Courier instead of Times:

copy the gimprc file to the new location