GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is is an open source, freeware, cross-platform graphic processing software, includes almost all the required functions of image editing. Since originated and popular from Linux system, GIMP is also known as Photoshop under Linux.
GIMP not only has lightweight size and the handy, customizable interface, but also has the comparable functions and capacities of graphic processing (such as Photo Enhancement and Digital Retouching) with the celebrated Adobe Photoshop. It supports a variety of image formats (from common image files like JPEG, JFIF, GIF, PNG, TIFF to special use formats such as multi-resolution and multi-color-depth Windows icon files) and build in various image processing tools (brush, pencil, sprayer, clone, and so on)
Another important feature of GIMP is that it supports the vast majority of Photoshop plug-ins. To say the least, any work that can be finished using Photoshop also can be done with GIMP.
Compare GIMP with Photoshop
| Feature | Adobe Photoshop | GIMP |
| Function | Full | Comparable |
| Price | $29.99 per month | TOTALLY FREE |
| Size | 770 MB | 87 MB |
| Performance |
Take up lots of system resources |
Much Lower |
| Running Speed |
Very Slow |
Much Faster |
| Operaion |
Familiar but not easy indeed |
Almost the same but lightweight and customizable interface |
| Hardware Requirement | Very High | Much Lower and wider |
| Platform | Mac, Windows |
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Related Links
- GIMP User Online Manual
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Books about GIMP
- All tutorial from official for GIMP
Download URLs
| Version | For Linux | For Windows | For Max OS X |
| v2.8.x |  |
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