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The GIMP vs. Paint.NET: battle of the free photo programs (continued)
A few downsides to GIMP deal with the set-up of the program. Tutorials are not readily available within the task menu, so you'd need to do some research on the GIMP Web site if you get stuck. You can locate tutorials and other help information at http://www.GIMP.org/tutorials.
As you open new windows to create layers to your photos, you may have to move some things around so that your actual photo is not blocked. Things can become clustered easily when you're working with multiple layers and tool options. Uploading your photos into GIMP proves to be a bit of a hassle as well, as it doesn't automatically recognize JPEGs or other picture files right away like Paint.NET. See Figure B for an example of how GIMP can become clustered.
FIGURE B
 
Notice that the secondary open windows are bulky, and make seeing your image difficult. Roll over picture for a larger image.
Message board research for GIMP shows that users aren't enjoying the interface of the 2.0 versions, as it has some bugs that appear beyond repair. For example, there has been mention of the program freezing up when effects are loading. The overall wait time for loading in general seems to be an issue as well. Some of the effects can take several minutes to apply to your photograph. Patience can be a virtue when working with GIMP.
Considering all of that, the GIMP is still a pretty great program to use for your photo doctoring needs. You can't beat the price, and there are ample choices for you to pick from to enhance your pictures. You'll need a little time and patience to research and tinker around with the program until you understand how to properly use it. You can download this free program at http://www.GIMP.org. Take a look at Figure C to see a completed beginner's project using GIMP.
FIGURE C
 
This picture has the cartooning effect, soft filter, glow feature and text included. This pretty easy to do for a first timer, although the computer froze up when I tried to save the file. Roll over picture for a larger image.
OUR RATING: 4 of 5
This product was great, but could have been a bit more user-friendly. Note that normally our review standards would require a product that froze or crashed to be rated no more than a 2 on our 1 to 5 scale. But because this program is free, we're forgiving the crash since, well, you're getting a lot more than you paid for with this program.
Paint.NET.
Paint.NET is a fantastic, free piece of software that can help you achieve amazing results with your photography. It recently made PC World's Top 100 Products of 2007. Similar to the set-up of GIMP, you'll have tons of editing options, filters, text effects and lenses to use to your advantage.
"It's much easier to use than GIMP."
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A difference between this program and GIMP is the overall layout. It's much easier to use than GIMP. When you want to load your photo into the program, it automatically knows where to find your pictures. It also doesn't prompt you to convert your picture files into a specialized file form, unlike the GIMP. You can download this open source program at http://www.getpaint.net. Look at Figure D and compare the layout to GIMP's.
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