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Gimp?

post #1 of 11
9/12/11 at 7:09am
Thread Starter 
I was wondering who all uses Gimp and why it's better than PSP? Is it because it makes nicer backgrounds and such? Or is there another reason? I have PSP 7 and PSP X and I make my own graphics using them. And Photoshop. Do I need Gimp?

I was trying to make a banner for somebody and when I finally got the image down below 30,000 kb, it looked terrible. I made it in PSP.

Is Gimp better for banners than PSP?
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post #2 of 11
9/12/11 at 12:04pm
There's an old thread where Gimp is discussed. I had it on my old laptop, but never used it because I found it too complicated/never found a good tutorial. I use PSP X, and have Paint.net.
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post #3 of 11
9/12/11 at 12:18pm
GIMP is free so you can download it just to test it out and see if you like it...
I have it, and the only reason I use it is because I don't want to pay for Photoshop. If I had Photoshop, I don't think I'd use GIMP

I used it for all of my siggies, and I also make banners, like I made this banner with it for my blog
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post #4 of 11
9/12/11 at 12:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Winchester View Post

I was trying to make a banner for somebody and when I finally got the image down below 30,000 kb, it looked terrible. I made it in PSP.
Gimp isn't better than PSP, but it is free.

I use PSP for my graphics and sig making and don't have a problem with resolution from over compressing.

When you are saving your image, how do you do about it? The best way is to do:

File
Export
jpg Optimizer

Then use the dial to increase or decrease the compression of the image . You can view in the preview window the result of the dialed compression. The lower the number, the less compressed. The higher the number the more compressed.

When you have achieved the right file size that you want, save the image.

However, if you find that you have to dial up the value so high that you are losing resolution, then you might want to cancel that operation and do this before trying to save it again:

1. Go back to the image;
2. Selections / Select all
3. Selections / Modify = 2 or 3 pixels
4. Image
5. Crop to selection Ithat will reduce your image by 2 or 3 pixels on each side without distoring the pixels by resizing.

Try exporting the jpg again.

If you follow those tips you will never have problems with overly compressed graphic saves again.

If you use Photoshop, you can do the above but when you save, you use the "save for web" option because there is no "export jpg".
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post #5 of 11
9/12/11 at 5:05pm
Thread Starter 
Well, that explains that! I was trying to save it as a .gif and then using Export as Gif Optimizer. I saved a copy of the original banner as a .jpg, then Export as Jpg Optimer. It was around 29,000 kb and it still looks good.

Thank you so much for the tips! I'm a novice at banner making....I make them for myself, but that's about it, largely because mine are simply not as good as what I see here. You guys are amazing. And the work you do is beautiful.

ut0pia, love the banner for your blog....very pretty!

I'll check out the Gimp tut....thank you! I did download Gimp, but it looks rather complicated.
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post #6 of 11
9/12/11 at 9:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Winchester View Post
Well, that explains that! I was trying to save it as a .gif and then using Export as Gif Optimizer. I saved a copy of the original banner as a .jpg, then Export as Jpg Optimer. It was around 29,000 kb and it still looks good.
Don't save the image as a .jpg and then export as a .jpg. You end up with double the compression.

Save the file as a .pspimage file. That is PSP's raw format and doesn't have any image loss of any kind. Then export as a .jpg. That way you only get the compression you want by using the dials.

Quote:
Thank you so much for the tips! I'm a novice at banner making....I make them for myself, but that's about it, largely because mine are simply not as good as what I see here. You guys are amazing. And the work you do is beautiful.
I wish I had some of the first banners I ever made to show you! LOL

We all have to start somewhere and practice does make perfect.

What I found helped me learn not only the PSP interface, but all so many different techniques was by searching around the internet for PSP tutorials. I didn't care what the tutorial was making, all I cared about was the steps it took me through showing me how to achieve different things. Over time I learned so much from doing tutorial after tutorial after tutorial. At first I did every tutorials I could get my hands on. Then in time as I learned things, I got more picky and only did tutorials that had effects and techniques that I didn't know how to do.

So Google "PSP Tutorials" or "Paint Shop Pro Tutorials" and go for it!!

I also have some tutorials on my website in the tutorials section. One good one to learn is "Collage", that's taking bits and pieces from various images and blending them together to make a whole new image. Which is basically what making signatures is doing.

http://www.lofty-designs.net
.
.
.
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post #7 of 11
9/13/11 at 3:35am
I wish I still had PSP. I lost it when I had to reformat my computer due to a virus. My friend had let me borrow her copy but now she doesn't live in state anymore so I have to make due with my art program OpenCanvas4.5e+ Its a great program but its not meant for photoshopping. I made my signature with OpenCanvas so it does a decent job but you have to improvise alot because it doesn't have alot of the tools PSP has. I have an Wacom tablet so it makes things easier but still not as easy as using PSP.
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post #8 of 11
9/13/11 at 4:45am
Thread Starter 
Natalie_ca, thank you for your advice....very worthwhile and I appreciate it.

I started out with PSP 5 years and years ago. Went to 7, then 8 (hated 8) and now I have X. (Not real crazy about X either, to be honest. I really like working in 7 the best.) I've done a lot of graphics for bithdays and other special days for another board that I post on, but not so much for banners. You're right, practice makes perfect.

TheMBCat, I do like your signature. That's too bad about you losing your PSP. I think I'd be heartbroken.
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post #9 of 11
9/13/11 at 6:42am
It made me sad when I lost it. The only thing I really hate about using opencanvas is that when I cut my subject, in this sig's case, Chacho, out of the original pictures, its nearly impossible to get a smooth line unless you have a ridiculously steady hand.
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post #10 of 11
9/13/11 at 11:15am
Have you looked for free PSP downloads? Corel has offered various versions for free; some are trial versions, while others are full but old versions. It's worthwhile checking around.
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post #11 of 11
12/2/11 at 3:14pm

I used free GIMP for windows....

 today for my decorate the Christmas Tree thread.

http://www.gimp.org/

Click the download, try it out, if you don't like it, just delete it.

 

I might have to see if I can find a free PSP to try but so far GIMP has been enough for my simple needs. 

 

 

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