Best FREE Graphics Program

[djr33]

It may be inexperience with GIMP that makes me dislike it, but I really can't find several options that I use frequently in photoshop.

As an example--

In photoshop, there is a resize too. ...There is on in GIMP too.

In photoshop, if you hold the shift key while resizing, it holds the proportions, so it doesn't distort the image. This is very nice.

GIMP has no such option. Instead, you can guess by dragging then need to go to the numbers and use percents to get it close. Doing this multiple times til it looks right takes a long time and unless you're willing to add in the time it takes to undo this and start the resizing over with each time you get closer (as trial and error is the only way to go with this), you get generation loss on the resizing as well.



And again, remember the PS Elements is only $200, and paint shop pro is only $100 (I think). No need to always jump all the way up to photoshop. But PS is unquestionably the best. The question is just whether it's so crucial to have the best in your individual situation.

As for ebay, look for an older version. I don't much like PS CS (creative suite), the new versions, so I'm quite happy with Photoshop 7, so just look for that. It must be less expensive.

[mburt]

I have paint.net ... I don't use it. Personally I use Photoshop for "picture" editing. For graphics I would use Adobe Pho* ... Oh yeah. Free. Nevermind

[boxxertrumps]

Umm, under the scale dialouge, you can set the exact width you want of one dimension and it automatically sets the other so that the picture isnt messed up...

[djr33]

I'm aware of that, but I would like to be able to use the mouse to change it, rather than the numerical inputs, which are a lot less intuitive. Even though I do graphic work, it's still a pain to decide "oh, that space must be 337 pixels wide".

In photoshop, hold shift, drag the corner, and you're done.

[tech_support]

It isn't, it's a native Windows PE (or at least the installer is).

But you can't install it without installing .net framework 2.0

And I get a 70% discount with my Photoshop

[killerchutney]

PLEASE DON'T SAY PAINT! I DON'T LIKE PAINT!

Does anyone? I hate that aliasy piece of %$£!

Try out photofiltre http://www.photofiltre.com/

Its free, but does not match fireworks or PS.

[Rockonmetal]

I can't remember who, but someone said Paint.Net. VERY VERY GOOD! I LIKE IT! Its very cool. Microsoft should just use this. LOOKS VERY PROFESSIONAL! I LIKE IT VERY VERY VERY VERY MUCH

Just search paint.net on google.
http://www.google.com

[thetestingsite]

Just search paint.net on google.
http://www.google.com

or use the link that ddadmin posted in this post:

Paint.net is awesome. Microsoft should ditch its own Paint program and bundle that with its OSes instead. I love the interface, and it's very intuitive. And of course, can't beat free.

[shachi]

It may be inexperience with GIMP that makes me dislike it, but I really can't find several options that I use frequently in photoshop.

...

In photoshop, if you hold the shift key while resizing, it holds the proportions, so it doesn't distort the image. This is very nice.

GIMP has no such option. Instead, you can guess by dragging then need to go to the numbers and use percents to get it close. Doing this multiple times til it looks right takes a long time and unless you're willing to add in the time it takes to undo this and start the resizing over with each time you get closer (as trial and error is the only way to go with this), you get generation loss on the resizing as well.
...

You must be kidding me. Tell me you are.

You can do almost everything in gimp that you can do in photoshop. You can proportionally resize any image too. You should get a gimp tutorial.

[djr33]

Tell me how to do that, then, WITH THE MOUSE.

I know you can type in numbers, but using the mouse to do that is not possible from what I can tell, making it rather annoying to resize, 'cause typing numbers over and over again to guess how large it should be is quite tiring.