Working with GIMP: Can it Get the Job Done?
As a professional image-maker in the NYC advertising market since 1990, I’ve had experience with various photo-editing software. Given GIMP’s improvements, I set out to assess its capabilities, focusing on several key aspects that are essential in my line of work.
Object Selection & Masking
GIMP has several tools designed for object selection and masking. I found "Select by Color" and "Fuzzy Select" tools useful, but had some issues with the "Background Select" tool. It proved challenging to duplicate selections and perform complex selections efficiently.
Channels
GIMP’s Channel view is not compatible with my working style, displaying channels in colored overlays instead of grayscale. To work around this, I copied and pasted the R, G, and B channels onto new layers or alpha channels and viewed them in grayscale.
Floating Layers
GIMP’s "Cut and Float" command creates a new layer, making it invisible until I press "Create new layer." I encountered issues with invisible floating layers, which hindered my workflow. I would like to see these layers displayed temporarily.
Non-Destructive Editing (NDE)
GIMP includes some NDE controls, with more planned for future updates. However, NDE is crucial for me; I save frequent backups and store them at the bottom of my Layers panel to ensure flexibility during editing.
Windows Open/Save Issues
The open and save dialogs in Windows have significant drawbacks, lacking critical features such as directory path navigation and thumbnail view.
THE BOTTOM LINE
While GIMP can get some tasks done efficiently, its kludgy interfaces and limitations pose challenges. With some adjustments to my workflow and patience, I can complete certain projects on GIMP, albeit with some discomfort. However, for complex work, I often find myself desiring more professional-grade tools found in Photoshop.
