Anyone who has dabbled probably need in web design, use an image editing software at one time or another. For many it might seem that if there is only one or two ways. The first option is an expensive program called Adobe Photoshop, which costs about $ 300, and a few others, such as Paint Shop Pro, and Pixelmator from $ 50 to $ 100 However, there are two other powerful options that are completely free.
Gimp
Although the name might evoke thoughts of Quentin Tarantino fiction A “Pulp”, Gimp stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program (GNU Free Software License System). The best feature is its price Gimp … free. This open-source software is a powerful alternative to Adobe Photoshop with the ability of the layered images graphics design.
He has an extensive library of plug-in, is growing steadily and offers new features for graphic image manipulation. A developer or user can use a plug-in, take a picture like a painting made of velvet. You can then download these plug-ins and use them freely in your version of Gimp.
GIMP also supports Adobe Photoshop brushes. It is a powerful tool in the application, subject to the rule and make it easy to add images to your powerful work. Brushes can around the theme gardens, the Japanese characters, cars imaging Goth, or almost anything you can imagine. They are a flexible and powerful your logos or images from the site level instead.
Find this program http://www.gimp.org.
Inkscape
Another powerful, free program for creating images is Inkscape. Unlike Gimp, which is a program for raster image manipulation, is a vector drawing program Inkscape program. Although GIMP for editing photos in jpg designed, PNG or GIF and best-handling photo-realistic images, vector graphics, Inkscape is great for icons, logos and cartoons.
Vector graphics programs are based on construction, color and forms of manipulation. Raster programs like Gimp are pixel-based, which means that if you run resize the image to a larger or smaller, you run the risk of the fidelity of the image. Programs such as Inkscape and expensive cousins (Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw) are ideal if you logos that can be represented in many dimensions to be created.
Most clip art, not the photo function is using a kind of vector-drawing program. Inkscape uses Scalable Vector Graphic file extension (. SVG), which is the open standard means that your artwork will be easily transferred to other programs and be usable.
Find this program inkscape.org.
Is open source for everyone?
Course! It’s free! That is the question. There are disadvantages of using these applications. Although you can find hundreds of books on how to use Adobe Photoshop, you will not find one to handle Gimp and Inkscape.
Some people like to buy books to learn, but I say it is actually a disadvantage because you are back on a $ 30 – $ 50 dollars per pound.
There are many video tutorials on You Tube, one can learn to use the programs and very competent. For the investment you make, it’s time, not money.
If you have a program that will help you pictures for your site, is mandatory, but can not afford a copy of Adobe Photoshop – it would be wise to open a look at these two sources of graphics programs to Amazing.
