Download raster graphics editor gimp. GIMP is an accessible and feature-rich graphics editor. Advantages and disadvantages

Several programs are popular today. Each of them has different functionality and is accessible to users with different levels of training. There are beginner, advanced and professional level editors. Depending on the purpose, graphic editors can be either completely free or cost several hundred dollars.

Overview and capabilities of the Gimp graphic editor.

The most popular product among graphic editors is Photoshop developed by Adobe. It is designed for professionals and has enormous functionality, which is often not used even by a third. Naturally, the cost of the program is very high and rarely can anyone afford to officially purchase it. Not everyone knows that there is a completely free advanced graphics editor Gimp. Since it is open source and developed by a community of programmers, you can use it completely freely and without any restrictions.

In this article we will tell you in more detail what the Gimp editor is and how it came into being. You will be able to learn about the main functionality of the program, learn how to install it and get basic information on how to work with it correctly.

The graphic editor Gimp was born in 1995. The project does not have an official company responsible for releasing new versions and supporting old ones. These functions are performed by a developer community consisting of a group of volunteers. In the first 10 years of its existence, the project did not have a common idea of ​​what it should be like for the end user. Only in 2005 was a unified standard developed and principles that developers try to follow to this day. The program is completely free and distributed under an open license. This means that if you want, you can become part of the developer community and release your own modifications without violating copyrights.

Many people will see Gimp as a full-fledged replacement for Photoshop, and it’s completely free. And really, why pay a ton of money for Photoshop when you have Gimp for free. Yes, many of the functions are the same as the competitor, and there is also support for its original PSD format, although somewhat limited. The names of the functions and the available tools are also largely the same. But even the Gimp developers themselves do not position their product as a full-fledged alternative to Photoshop. It is rather an independent product with similar functionality and its own audience. However, it is preferred by hobbyists and small organizations that cannot afford to pay a monthly subscription or buy a full Photoshop license.

Gimp Editor Features

The Gimp graphics editor allows you to perform a wide range of operations with various images. It supports a large number of formats, has many pre-installed filters, brushes and templates. If you are not satisfied with the initial functionality, it can be expanded with additional modules. So, what can the program do?

Program installation

There are several popular sites on the Internet where you can download the Gimp graphic editor. However, not all of them are official resources. We recommend using one of two sites: the official project website https://www.gimp.org/ and the official Russian-language resource http://gimp.ru/. In the first case, you will need to click on the Download link, and in the second - “Download”, and then select Gimp from the pop-up menu.

After you download the installation file and save it to your hard drive, install the program.

1. In the installer window that opens, first select the language that is convenient for you. There are 9 of them in total, and if your computer has a Russian-language menu, Russian will be selected by default.
2. To control which components will be installed and select the ones you need, click the “Configure” button in the lower left corner of the installer window.
   
3. A user agreement will immediately pop up, which you must agree to. It is written in English and if you don’t speak English, just click the confirm button, there’s nothing scary written there. Even if you speak English and have read the user agreement completely, if you disagree with something, you have no choice but to agree, otherwise the installation will be aborted.
   
4. In the next window - “Select components” - check the box for the elements that you want to use in your work. If you don't want to spend too much time figuring out which component does what, select "Full installation". If you think that something can be neglected, uncheck that item. In addition, in the pop-up menu you can select several installation packages: full, weighing almost 300 megabytes, or compact - 128 MB. Once selected, click the “Next” button.
   
5. In the next window - “Select file associations” - select the files that you would like to open with the Gimp editor by default. The utility automatically marks several formats native to the program. If you want to use the editor for other files, check the boxes next to them, and then also click the “Next” button.
   
6. In the next window, you will be asked to display the Quick Launch shortcut on your desktop and Quick Launch panel. If you don't need them, uncheck them. To move to the next step, click “Next”.
   
7. In the last window, select the folder where you want to install Gimp. Click the “Install” button and wait until the procedure is completed.
   
8. Launch the program and wait a while until all the necessary program components are loaded.
   

Once the Gimp graphic editor is installed on your computer, you can start working with it. In the next paragraph we will review the program menu. If you are looking for guidance on performing specific tasks, you can find a series of articles dedicated to this on our website.

Working with the program

The program's interface is somewhat unusual and can be difficult for beginners. By default, it consists of three separate windows: a main window with a work area in which you can process an image or create new drawings, as well as two windows in which you can select the tools you need for your work.

It is this arrangement that causes the most discomfort. To switch to a more familiar single-window mode, especially if you've worked at least a little in Photoshop before, in the main program window, go to the "Windows" menu, and then activate the "Single Window Mode" function.

After this, the two windows with tools that were located on the sides of the screen will join the main window and become its elements.

Now let's look at the structure of the Gimp editor's work screen.

To edit the finished image, click “File” - “Open”.

To create a new one, press Ctrl + N or “File” - “Create”.

After completing the changes, save the file in the desired format.

Conclusion

Now you have an idea of ​​what kind of beast this is, the Gimp graphic editor. This is quite an advanced program, and of all its analogues, Photoshop is the closest to it in terms of functionality.

Despite the fact that the audience of products is completely different and free Gimp is unlikely to ever be able to compete with it on equal terms, but for certain situations, especially if you are not going to professionally engage in graphic design, you can easily get by with the capabilities of Gimp. If you still have questions about working with the program, ask them in the comments.

Almost every ordinary Internet user has had to deal with. These programs are designed for processing And viewing digital images, and the raster type of such editors is the most convenient and popular.

Graphic editor Gimp- a shining example of good raster graphic editor. The use of this program, its features, pros and cons will be discussed in this article.

What can Gimp do?

This editor has a fairly large number of functions, which according to their purpose can be divided into 2 types:

• For drawing;
• For working with photographs.

For the first, this program has: many drawing tools, freely scalable brushes, and support for hand dynamics. It should be noted that Gimp also supports graphics tablets, which can greatly facilitate the entire process of work.

To correct photos, there are the following tools: a set for color correction, filters, masks and layers with different types of overlay.

Working with the program

Features of the Gimp graphic editor

The main feature of Gimp is its distribution on the terms GNU General Public License. That is, the program developers, by giving up the rights to it, gave Gimp public property.

This means that anyone can use and distribute Gimp in any country and in any language without breaking the law. By the way, this editor has been translated into several languages ​​for its convenient use, including Gimp in Russian.

Advantages and disadvantages

As mentioned above, the graphic editor under discussion is located in free access and anyone can download Gimp for free. This, perhaps, is the main advantage and it is also impossible not to note the very active development of Gimp, the editor is constantly being improved. Thanks to the raster type, it can reproduce an image of any quality and size.

Talking about cons, you need to remember the fact that if you chose to download Gimp for free rather than pay money for Photoshop, you will have to put up with loss of CMYK color model(Gimp doesn't support it). This raster graphic editor is inferior to Photoshop in its functionality.

What devices does Gimp support?

You can download Gimp for free at computer, tablet And telephone. It runs on many popular operating systems: Windows, Mac, Linux And Android. All listed devices and OS have the option download Gimp in Russian.

Where can I download Gimp?

On our website using the link below you can download Gimp from the official website, however, you won’t be able to download Gimp in Russian from there. To install the Russian interface, you need to additionally download and install the Russifier, which is on the official website.

Conclusion

Gimp is somewhat of a unique editor. If you are not a professional photographer or retoucher and only need such a program for amateur purposes, Gimp is ideal for you. Possessing a fairly wide range of functions and constantly developing, the editor is absolutely free.

GIMP 2.8 is intended for amateur and professional image processing of medium complexity: photo correction, Internet graphics, design work, etc. The program is distributed free of charge, is undemanding of computer resources and has a decent set of functions.

It is closest to the products of the commercial segment and fundamentally improves from version to version.

Possibilities

Most good graphic editors are not cheap at all and require a license. This path is literally ruinous for small organizations or individuals who have the need or desire to work with photographs, design, or simply draw. Basic Point has absolutely insignificant functionality, and cannot be considered a worthy tool. Another thing is GIMP 2.8, which combines free distribution and a decent set of functions:

1. Various tools for processing existing digital images, including intelligent solutions such as perspective correction, retouching, a “healing” brush, various thematic filters, etc. Operations such as improving detail, eliminating visual defects and distortions are quite easy to perform.
2. The ability to process several drawings at once according to a given template. For example, for photographs, this allows you to save a lot of time on standard formatting that does not require human attention.
3. Multi-format. The problem of previous versions has been solved - the program allows you to work with JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF extensions. Previously, only the original format was available, which made life much more difficult.
4. Customizing the interface for a specific person and his tasks.
5. The ability to automate a certain sequence of actions for a number of pictures. Having specified an algorithm, you can apply it as needed.
6. Using a complex structure consisting of layers, each of which is edited independently of the others.

An important advantage is accessibility. You can download the program in Russian on many reliable sites that promote software.

Advantages and disadvantages

The strengths of GIMP 2.8 include:

1. Ability to work both with raster graphics and, to a certain extent, with vector graphics.
2. Simple and intuitive interface. It is made in the tradition of the leaders of specialized paid software and pleasantly pleases with its thoughtfulness and ergonomics.
3. Russification. This saves a lot of time in your work when you don’t have to remember English terms or look for an infrequent command.
4. Very complex built-in filters and image processing methods.
5. Small size.
6. Compatible with all popular operating systems. 32 bit and 64 bit bit depth is allowed.
7. Availability of additional modules that are not included in the basic version. But they are easy to install as needed.

Technically, there are not many disadvantages:

1. It is not a full-fledged replacement for Photoshop, and if you plan to work with graphics as deeply as possible, problems may arise.
2. Limited applicability in printing due to the low supported color depth per channel.

If in doubt, you can always install the program and test it, making your own decision about the advisability of using it.

Conclusion

If professional paid software turns out to be too expensive, and you don’t want to resort to pirated versions, then you can always download GIMP 2.8 for free in Russian.

The lack of practical skills and knowledge should not be scary - all this is acquired quite quickly. There is a lot of educational information and specific examples available on the Internet on how to solve certain typical problems.

Analogues

Once again, it is worth noting that we are not talking about a full replacement of software - it’s just that the user does not always need the most popular graphic platforms with all their capabilities, which only highly qualified designers will appreciate.

Before spending money on Adobe Photoshop or CorelDraw, you should explore the capabilities of GIMP 2.8.

The most popular free analogues - Movavi Photo Editor, PixBuilder, Photoscape, PhotoInstrument, Artweaver - are significantly behind in functionality.

The utility allows you to correct simple images and digital paintings. Unlike the photo editor Adobe Photoshop, the GIMP program takes up little space on your hard drive and is distributed completely free of charge. As soon as the user gets used to the unusual interface of the application, working will become easy and pleasant. This article explains how to use GIMP.

Installing the application

First you need to download the utility and run the installer. GIMP was created for the Windows and MacOS operating systems. The authors invite users to download installers from the official website. To install the application on an Ubuntu system, you need to run the following command: $ sudo apt install gimp. The program is launched from the main menu of the operating system.

Setting the window layout

The user may notice that the utility differs from most similar editors. GIMP interface in Russian. The program window consists of several parts. The side columns contain toolbars and layers.

There is a working window in the center. The panels can be moved if necessary. To return to the usual screen view, select “Single-window mode” from the menu.

Color correction

After installing and configuring the utility, you should return to the question of how to use the GIMP photo editor. The program is used to create digital images from scratch. The application has a large set of tools that allow you to draw original works. Regular users can edit photos, perform color correction and optimize other settings.

To get started, open the image. You won't find automated tools in the Colors section of the menu. The user can manually adjust saturation, contrast, balancing and other parameters.

Applying filters

GIMP allows you to improve the appearance of your images with just one click. By opening the Filters menu, you can add a lens or flash effect, blur the picture, and make corrections. To return the image to its original state after an unsuccessful experiment, you need to click on the cancel button.

The GIMP 2 application supports batch filtering. The selected filter can be applied to several photos at once.

Removing red eye

In order to remove a defect, you need to select an object using the Magic Wand or Lasso tool. Then you should find the “Improvement” item in the “Filter” section. Next, you need to click on the “Red-eye removal” link.

You can use the slider to change the color. All corrections are displayed in a special window. You should move the slider until the eyes take on a natural look.

Correction of deficiencies

Editing photos in the free GIMP is one of the key aspects of photographers' work. Use the healing brush to remove dark spots, highlights on faces, small leaves, and other unwanted objects from images. How to work with this tool?

To correct deficiencies, you need to click on the icon in the shape of a piece of band-aid and indicate the size of the area to be corrected. The area to be painted can be selected using the Ctrl button. Then you should click the left button of the optical mouse on the unnecessary element. The unwanted object will disappear.

Return to previous state

If a computer owner does a lot of experimenting with his photos, he will soon notice that he lacks the number of undo levels in GIMP. How to use the option to increase the amount of memory used? First, go to the “Edit” menu, select the “Options” section and switch to the “Environment” tab. Next, you need to set the values ​​at your discretion.

Image Transformation

This is one of the main functions of the GIMP program. How to use the Transform tool? First you need to go to the “Conversion” section. Here you can find all possible options for transforming a photo. The application allows you to rotate the photo, bend the picture, change the perspective and perform other actions.

Editing layers

If the reader has previously used other complex programs for creating and processing images, then he has already encountered a similar problem.

Work with the image is performed only on a certain layer. This is one of the most important processes in GIMP 2. Each layer contains its own part of the image. If you combine all the elements, you can get a whole image. To make changes, you need to make the layer active.

If this action is not possible, you will not be able to edit part of the image. Switching active layers is done using the Page UP and Page Down keys. The program allows you to complete the details. If the user changes his mind about adding new elements, he can make the layers invisible or delete them.

Working with other tools

The developers offered users a set consisting of classic and non-standard brushes. They also provided the opportunity to create new brush options. To add a tool, you need to open the “Brush” section in the left panel. Using a special slider, you can change the geometric shape of the brush. The result is saved in this section.

Advanced users can use shades of gray. The results are saved in GBR format. Users also have the option of creating wireframe brushes and multi-colored pictures with several levels.

Adding a watermark

To complete the task, you need to select any graphic image and activate the “Text” tool. The selected area will be used as the base layer. Next you need to enter the text. It is recommended to pre-specify the color, size and style of the font.

After setting all the parameters, you need to click on the text layer in the right panel. Use the slider to select the desired opacity level. To install a logo, go to the “File” section, click on the “Open as layers” link and specify the location of the image. Next, you need to select a value for the “Opacity” parameter.

Adding plugins

Free add-ons allow you to expand the functionality of the program. How to use Photoshop filters in GIMP? To do this you need to install the PSPI plugin. You can use the free Focus Blur extension to enhance your background image processing.

The Save For Web plugin is used when saving small images in good quality. To add additional fonts and text settings, you can install the Free Type Text extension.

Export photos

After finishing working with the image, you need to save the result. The user can select the XCF format to export the image. The file saves all information about the layers. Photos exported in XCF format cannot be viewed in other applications.

In order to be able to open saved images in other programs, you need to go to the “File” section. Then you need to select “Export”. Next, you should save the edited version of the photo as PNG or PNG.

conclusions

This article discusses the key points of working with the application. The program has all the necessary tools. The level of complexity of the work performed depends only on the user’s skills.

GIMP is the ultimate multifunctional graphics editor. It supports many photo formats, provides the ability to use tools for processing photos, as well as for creating them. GIMP is an extensible editor, which means that it can be supplemented with auxiliary plugins, sometimes essential for better processing and creation of photographs.

Possibilities

GIMP is a very functional program that offers many possibilities for creating and editing photos, including the following:

1. The program has many drawing tools. There are brushes, pencils, stamps and other tools. All of them are highly customizable.
2. A distinctive feature of the software from other equally popular editors is that GIMP does not limit the number of simultaneously open images. For example, if you need to edit multiple images, you can open more than 10 photos at the same time.
3. Like the popular Photoshop editor, GIMP provides the ability to work with layers.
4. Using this graphic editor, you can create beautiful drawings either using a PC or laptop, or using a drawing tablet.

Advantages and disadvantages

pros

1. The program takes up minimal space on your hard drive.
2. The software is perfect for low-performance 32 bit or 64 bit PCs and laptops.
3. Using the software, you can work on a drawing tablet.
4. There are many plugins and extensions available.
5. GIMP is perfect for people who create logos. There is a whole arsenal of necessary tools for creating beautiful logos for companies, products, and brands.
6. The program provides fine tuning “for you.”
7. For more advanced users who have been working with editors for a long time and quickly edit or create new images, there are a number of hotkeys and combinations that speed up the work, making it faster and more comfortable.
8. And the main advantage of this program is that it is free. Analogues require keys and the purchase of licenses. With GIMP you can forget about spending money and buying licenses or keys. All you need to get started is download GIMP for Windows 7 from our website, go through the easy installation process and get started.

Minuses

Considering that the program is functional, understanding it is quite difficult. Not all people who want to work with graphic editors have the necessary arsenal of knowledge and skills to work with the program. For people who want to actively learn and develop their skills in mastering this program, there are special sites and forums that explain in detail how to properly use the program and configure it to create and edit images. And besides text instructions, you can find many training videos on YouTube. All this will help you master the software as quickly as possible and start working to its full potential.

Important

There are many programs on the Internet designed for creating and editing photographs. Unfortunately, most of them require activation by purchasing a license or special keys. If you need to create and edit images, do not despair and resort to purchasing and acquiring a license. Perhaps you should pay attention to the most popular analogues, which can be found on the Internet, downloaded and activated for free.

Analogues

Each program can be found with analogues, GIMP is no exception. The most popular analogues include:

Download

If you are looking for a good graphics editor with which you will edit and create new images, as well as, for example, draw using a tablet, then pay attention to GIMP. It is functional, but despite this, it is freely available. Every Internet user who wants to learn how to draw on a PC or any other device can download the program in Russian.