GIMP or GNU Image Manipulation Program is an open source image editing application offered for free to anyone under the GNU General Public License.
This software offers Graphic Designers a viable and free alternative to Adobe Photoshop, the industry standard software for image editing.
One of the strong features of Adobe Photoshop is the Plug-ins system that allows users to install further pieces of software that add more functionality. This allows users to add features that aren't available in the base version of the software and fortunately for GIMP users, GIMP also has a system for installing Plug-ins. In fact, some Photoshop Plug-ins can be used in GIMP.
Finding GIMP Plug-ins
The first port of call for anyone looking for GIMP Plug-ins is the GIMP Plugin Registry. This site has a large list of Plug-ins which can be browsed or searched through by keyword and many entries have images showing the effects that can be achieved.
A quick and easy way to get hold of many of the most popular GIMP Plug-ins is to take advantage of the single download of 100 Plug-ins that is offered by GIMP FX Foundry. Many more can be found by using your favourite search engine.
Installing and Using GIMP Plug-ins
Depending on the operating system, there are various ways to install Plug-ins and some of these can require more than basic computer knowledge. Downloaded Plug-ins should include instructions, usually in a text file called 'INSTALL' or 'README'. There is also information on GIMP's own site under documentation which offers more advice.
Once correctly installed and GIMP has been restarted, Plug-ins appear under the Xtns menu. It should be noted that some Plug-ins will only work with certain types of images, depending on the color space used.
Using Photoshop Plug-ins in GIMP
Linux and Windows users can benefit from a GIMP Plug-in called PSPI which can be downloaded from Tor Lillqvist's website (www.gimp.org/~tml/gimp/win32/pspi.html). When installed following the instructions on his site, this allows many, but not all, Plug-ins that have been designed and built for Adobe Photoshop to be installed and used in GIMP.
In most cases there will already be a direct equivalent available for GIMP, but in those cases where there isn't, PSPI may make all the difference. Unfortunately there isn't currently an option available for GIMP users on OS X.
For Graphic Designers operating on a limited budget, GIMP combined with the large range of free Plug-ins that are available across the web is a powerful free design tool.
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