________________________________
From: Girvin R. Herr <girvin.herr@sbcglobal.net>
To: Kracked_P_P---webmaster <webmaster@krackedpress.com>
Cc: LibreO - Users Global <users@global.libreoffice.org>
Sent: Saturday, 8 June 2013, 19:36
Subject: Re: [libreoffice-users] GIMP - was: CNET is claiming the best free MSO alternative is
not LO
Kracked_P_P---webmaster wrote:
On 06/07/2013 03:50 PM, Girvin R. Herr wrote:
Kracked_P_P---webmaster wrote:
<snip>
I need to relearn the interface for Paint Shop Pro X5, when I used
version 5 since the XP days. But since I can not get v5 to install
on Win7 Home Premium that my laptop has, I had to upgrade it and
relearn the new interface. Same with PSP 5 or X5 vs. GIMP. The
time it takes to relearn how to do the things that comes very easily
to me with the old interface, well it is very frustrating to say the
least and has taken 2 to 5 times longer to do the things I want/need
to do.
Ahh! The Gimp. Great program and I do have some use for it.
However, learning it has a _steep_ learning curve for me and,
frankly, sitting at the screen and reading the online manual is not
what I would prefer using my limited time for. There are several
"learning" books out there, but which one is the best one I need to
learn The Gimp? That is my problem with it. Once or twice I fiddled
with it and got it to do somewhat what I wanted, but it wasn't very
intuitive and I feel it could do so much more for me. If I could
just get a good book on it and sit down and play with it...
Girvin Herr
<snip>
Yes GIMP has a steep learning curve. As for learning curves, ever try
to use Photoshop?
No.
Now that has a steep learning curve if you have not dealt with such a
package before. PSP5 was so easy to use and learn, plus it had
everything I wanted or needed for my work.
Also GIMP does not have all of the "filters" that I had with Paint
Shop Pro 5 [or the new X5].
If there was an easier and/or better graphics program that I could use
with Ubuntu 12.05, then I would give it a try.
Sometimes the books I have seen in the stores, or online, seem to be
written by and for the graphic artist, and not those of us who need it
for the more simple things, like repairing old photos or dealing with
simple pixel-based graphics.
Right on! That's all I need it for. A while back I tried to add arrow
lines to a photo as an experiment to document where components were on a
project. I couldn't get The Gimp to do it, though I was sure it could.
In The Gimp, I could add the lines, but since it was not a vector (two
end points), I could not move those lines if I needed to squeeze in
another line beside it, unless I erased each and every pixel. I ended
up using LO Draw, which is a vector drawing program, not a bitmap
drawing program like The Gimp! It did a fine job and I was even able to
add an underlying, slightly wider white line to enhance the readability
of the black line over dark photo imagery. How many Gimp books must I
buy and dispose of before I get one that is basic enough for me (i.e.
"Gimp for Dummies?")
for all [most] vector-based graphics, I use Inkscape. I have not
really sat down and learned Draw for these things, yet. I am so use
to Corel Draw 11, Inkscape is similar enough to use, is I am using
Ubuntu. I have Corel Draw 11 on a Win7 laptop.
I am very familiar with LO Draw. I use it a lot to draw diagrams in
technical manuals. Draw does have some quirks, but it is fairly easy to
use and productive. I am still learning things about it, such as
freezing areas by putting them on a separate layer and making it
unchangeable (unselectable?). That is required to allow inner objects
to be selected without selecting a larger outer object. I generally use
it as an embedded object in a Writer document, which has even more
quirks. For some reason, the embedded Draw is a subset of the
stand-alone Draw. For instance, zoom is not supported in the embedded
version, so it gets difficult sometimes to work on a small object or
grid. I have also found some quirks about scaling and adjusting
locations in the embedded version. It can get really squirrelly
sometimes. For example, if I try to enlarge the drawing in the embedded
Draw by dragging the tags, nothing will happen. Then all of a sudden,
the drawing will greatly enlarge, clipping the edges, and I cannot get
it back to full extents again. As I said, squirrelly. I discovered the
adjustments in the object frame properties to be helpful there.
I just wish I really had the time to sit down and "play" with the
packages, GIMP, Draw, and others, with a good book of instructions to
help walk me through the processes.
Ahh! There's the rub. I have the same problem. I usually start
reading up on something to address a need, get distracted by something
of higher priority, and then never get back to the book. Sometimes the
original need goes away and it isn't so bad. Other times, I just don't
get back to the problem. For example, I started reading up on Java a
few months ago in order to learn enough about it to fix some non-fatal
bugs in a database Report Generator (RG) I am using instead of the LO
Base Oracle Report Builder (ORB), which I find too buggy to use. I got
into chapter 2, got torn away from it by other priorities, and now that
book is still on my coffee table gathering dust. I have no idea when I
will ever get back to it. Probably when I next use the RG and get
irritated with the bugs.
Girvin Herr
--
To unsubscribe e-mail to: users+unsubscribe@global.libreoffice.org
Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/
Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette
List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/
All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted