GIMP for Linux Bible

If GIMP can do it, you can do it too… Learn and master GIMP — the powerful, flexible, extensible graphics package for Linux — with the GIMP for Linux^® Bible. This step-by-step guide covers everything from mastering the basics to working wonders with layers and customizing graphics for the Web. GIMP gurus share their insights and lead you through all the colorful nuances of digital imaging in Linux. Whether you're just beginning or a serious digital artist, you'll quickly learn to make all the powerful features of GIMP work for you! Inside, you'll find complete coverage of GIMP for Linux

• Create icons, buttons, backgrounds, image maps, textures, and more
• Use drop shadows, raised type, glowing images, and blends to create interesting effects
• Discover how to clone, convert, merge, blend, link, and align layers
• Utilize advanced features such as online batch processing and mass production image rendering
• Modify images with GIMP's tiled memory image management system
• Automate processes with Script-Fu, GIMP's full-featured scripting tool
• Maximize the impact of your Web pages with stunning graphics
• See all GIMP can do by exploring the 16 pages of full-color artwork

• GIMP Toolkit (GTK)
• More than 200 GIMP plug-ins
• Applications and script
• Source code and images from the book

The remarkable growth of Linux as a computer operating system has no doubt been fueled in part by applications like the GIMP. GIMP for Linux Bible clearly illustrates how this flexible, powerful, and free graphics-editing application takes advantage of a robust host environment like Linux.

This book clearly presents and liberally illustrates the open-source graphics application, with at least one screen shot on every page. The first quarter of the book introduces the application, including its history and how it relates to Linux. There are also sections on how to download and install the latest version, and a rundown of the user interface and GIMP basics.

Experienced users who are already familiar with GIMP will enjoy the review in the introductory sections. Part 3, "GIMP Concepts," dives deeply into the mechanics of GIMP, including manipulation of its more interesting and advanced features. Part 4, "Filters and Script-Fu," explores GIMP's powerful built-in filters and its scripting language, which can be used for almost everything from batch processing to macro execution.

Part V, "Real World Applications," is arguably the book's best section. Real-life issues and techniques are discussed, including working with fonts, capturing screen shots, creating images for the Web, and building images used for tiling.

Any application built on a flavor of the Linux operating system, using X-windows for its interface, can't be all that easy. The book does an excellent job of explaining the workings of GIMP and how it relates to other applications and the host operating system. The writing is clear and complete, and the accompanying CD-ROM is a treasure-trove of goodies, including the GIMP application itself, the GIMP toolkit, over 200 plug-ins, and example scripts.

For any user interested in extracting the most from this flexible application, the GIMP for Linux Bible is a worthy addition to the reference shelf. --Mike Caputo