August 2007 ~ Gimphoto - Free Photoshop Alternative Download Photo Editor

Site Design Progress

This site got a new front banner and a new color schemes.
Site design has already improved a lot, just left a couple little things that needs to be done.

Gimphoto package progress nicely, already fix many errors and testing it under Windows 2000 and Windows XP SP2, seems work nicely.

I still must write Features page and upload some images for Screenshots section of this sites, after that pages finished, Gimphoto will be release.

Developer

For you that interested to build your own Gimphoto version, you can download Gimphoto source code and follow the detailed instructions for build it.

This page will be always updated to refine the build instructions.

Gimphoto is GIMP modification that only modify menu structure and disable icon on menu for faster menu rendering, so Gimphoto modification only on user interaction aspect and no modification toward functions then Gimphoto is 100% GIMP compatible.

All scripts and plugins source modification ONLY for adjusting it with Gimphoto new menu structure and NO functions is altered.

Gimphoto package is not as simple as compiling modified GIMP, that only a half step that should be done before we added more scripts, more plugins, new brushset, new gradientset, and many more additional steps for creating installer.

For now i only give instructions for compiling Gimphoto, because i need more time to upload 20+ modified scripts and plugins with detailed info for compile it and also with install instructions.

1. Download Gimphoto 1.4.3 source code from this link (tested under Windows and Linux)
Gimphoto 1.4.3 Source Code
for user that need MD5:
Gimphoto 1.4.3 Source Code - MD5

2. Prepare all files that needed for development environment just like if you will compile GIMP 2.4 under Windows or Linux. For Linux user the best distro to build Gimphoto is Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron.

for LINUX user, follow this link:
http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/compile-gimp23-with-ubuntu.html

for WINDOWS user, follow this link:
http://www.gimptalk.com/forum/compiling-gimp-2-3-x-for-windows-t8606.html

3. Extract Gimphoto source file to folder and go to that folder.

4. Compile Gimphoto with command:

for LINUX user:
# ./configure --disable-debug --disable-python --prefix=/usr/share/gimphoto
# make
# sudo make install

for WINDOWS user:
# ./configure --disable-debug --disable-print --disable-python
# make
# sudo make install

5. If you done compilation successfully then Gimphoto is half ready.

for LINUX user:
- Run Nautilus
- Find file: /usr/share/gimphoto/gimp-2.3 => RENAME it to => gimphoto
- Run gimphoto with double-click it.

for WINDOWS user:
- Run Explorer
- Find file: C:\Msys\1.0\local\bin\gimp-2.3.exe >RENAME> gimphoto.exe
- Run gimphoto.exe with double-click it.

6. Gimphoto will be running, but there is many missing menu items that because we need more steps to preparing the script, plugins, brushset and gradientset to be included with Gimphoto.

7. So stay tune with this page for more update on preparing additional resources for Gimphoto and creating package installer for Gimphoto.

Who

Hi, I am Ek kian, i live at Surabaya, Indonesia.

I know that at my country software piracy is at the worst level, pirated software is used everywhere from education to professional field.

I tried my best effort to use legal software, but our salary is not enough to buy legal software (for OS software equal 1 month salary and even cad software equal 2 years salary (O.o) so many people chose not to buy the software)

I only can afford the OS software but for application i search open source or freeware solution to replace the propietary expensive software.

I teach web design and multimedia at local college and university, so i use image editing application extensively. At campus i use Photoshop but at home i can't afford Photoshop, so i search free alternative as photoshop replacement and then I found GIMP but after using it a year, i feel that when using GIMP i'm not comfortable as i use Photoshop, and i heard about Gimpshop.

Gimpshop bring new menu structure that mimic photoshop menu even the menu naming convention is translated to exactly like photoshop. After tried using Gimpshop i feel more enjoy using GIMP but Gimpshop still using GIMP 2.2, old stable version that lack many features that already have by GIMP 2.3 development version, so i decided to try my self to modify menu structure GIMP 2.3 to mimic Gimpshop menu.

When modifying GIMP 2.3.14 menu structure i realize that naming convention that GIMP 2.3 have is already similar with Photoshop 7, only a couple menu that different and GIMP 2.3 new naming convention is easy to remember and logically match with the menu functions.

After modifying menu structure to more exactly mimic Gimpshop, there is many lack of features that built-in at GIMP but that functions already have solution as GIMP plugins. So i install the plugin and create new submenu for that plugin at menu structure (ex: Save for Web, Batch Process, CMYK Separation, Photoshop plugin support, etc)

I also modify brush set, install more professional look gradient set, and add another additional resources to bring more out of the box experience for GIMP... and then Gimphoto is born :)

I hope my effort can reduces software piracy and also bring more enjoyable image editing application that free for all.

BIG THANKS to GIMP developer team and Gimpshop creator. \(^___^)/

Best wishes and happiness for everyone,
Ek kian

Suggest

Give us your critics, suggestions, examples, resources that can improve Gimphoto. We love to hear it from you.

Use comment system to submit your suggestions.

Bugs

Report Gimphoto bugs here. Use comment to submit the report.

Screenshots

Gimphoto 1.4.3 running with Gimpad 1.1 under Windows
(click image for larger size)

Gimphoto 1.4.3 running under Linux Mint 4 Daryna
(click image for larger size)

Gimpad 1.1 for Windows Splash Screen

GimPhoto 1.4.3 Splash Screen

Gimphoto 1.4.3 for Windows and Linux Splash Screen

GimPhoto 1.4 Splash Screen

Gimphoto 1.4 for Windows Splash Screen

GimPhoto 1.0 Splash Screen

Gimphoto 1.0 for Windows Splash Screen

Downloads

This is OLD Download Page

Windows

Linux

Portable

GIMPHOTO 1.4.3 SOURCE CODE for Developers
GimPhoto is released under GNU GPL 2.0 then click link below for more information:
GimPhoto Developer Page

RELEASE HISTORY
If you need older version of GimPhoto or want to know about GimPhoto release history then just follow this link:
GimPhoto 2008 Downloads Page
GimPhoto 2007 Downloads Page

Features

Gimphoto 24.1
- Gimphoto 1.4.3 repackage
- New Installer compatible with Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
- New Installer is Portable (no more problems with UAC permission)
- Gimpad version 1.2 included (new) - faster, lighter, compatible with Win 8 and Win 8.1

Gimphoto 1.4.3
- based on Gimp 2.4.3 stable version.
- all GimPhoto 1.4 and 1.0 great features.
- NEW special menu for Photographic related functions under Menu > Photos
- NEW 100+ Web 2.0 gradient set for easier and ready to use gradient.
- NEW Vista Gray GTK Themes for better looking and more compatible interface.
- NEW GimPad 1.1 that will make Gimphoto scattered window to single MDI ala PS.

Gimphoto 1.4
- based on Gimp 2.4 stable version.
- all Gimphoto 1.0 great features.
- NEW 100+ brush set (beautiful brush set for artist)
- additional plugin for texturing (normal map, kaleidoscope, etc)
- so many plugins for photography (high pass, photofx, refocus, exposure, ir, etc)
- additional utilities Power Menu for Always on Top window

Gimphoto 1.0
Gimphoto using latest development version of GIMP 2.3.19.
GIMP 2.3.19 bring more features than old stable version GIMP 2.2, new features of GIMP 2.3.19 such as:
- Color Management
- New and better selection tool functions
- Plugin and filter live preview
- Desktop color picker
- Enhanced text tool
- Dynamic brushes
- Performance improvement
- New better menu naming convention

for complete new features list go to Gimpusers.com
for further information about GIMP go to http://www.gimp.org

PROGRAM USER INTERFACE
Gimphoto using Clearlooks GTK Engines (http://clearlooks.sourceforge.net/) which bring flat smooth modern looks.
Clearlooks GTK engines is use by RedHat and Ubuntu to bring modern professional look to their desktop environment.
I found Clearlooks lib for Windows from GTKRadiant package - Thanks GTKRadiant team! :)

Default GTK engine is look bad under Windows 2000 but bring original Windows look and feel under Windows XP.
Compare screenshot below for Default GTK engine vs Clearlooks:
default vs clearlooks

For GTK Theme, Gimphoto using T-ish theme by Toni Milovan.
T-ish theme bring more professional look and feel for GIMP under Windows.

Gimphoto also include tools to change GTK2 Themes under Windows (made by Tor Lillqvist)
This will bring more excitement to GIMP user because they now can change their GIMP UI themes easily.
More themes can be downloaded from http://www.gnome-look.org and I plan a tutorial about howto change Gimphoto themes.
default vs clearlooks

Gimphoto using GIMP Original Menu Naming Convention.
Gimphoto NOT CHANGE the menu naming convention, Gimphoto only change menu structure.
So this mean that GIMP tutorials is still usable and Photoshop tutorials is also do-able :)

default vs clearlooks

New Modified Right-Click Menu - most useful tools is ready in this popup menu.

default vs clearlooks

ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Gimphoto already installed many useful plugins to fill many missing features at GIMP, such as:

- Save for Web
using Save for Web plugin by Aurimas Juska at http://registry.gimp.org/plugin?id=8799

default vs clearlooks

- Batch Process
using David's Batch Process plugin http://members.ozemail.com.au/~hodsond/dbp.html

default vs clearlooks

- CMYK Separation
using Separate+ plugin by Yoshinori Yamakawa (improvement from Separate plugin by Alastair M. Robinson) at http://cue.yellowmagic.info/softwares/separate.html

default vs clearlooks

- Layer Style
using LayerEffects script http://registry.gimp.org/plugin?id=6988

default vs clearlooks

- Photoshop plugin support (8bf)
using PSPI plugin by Tor Lillqvist at http://www.gimp.org/~tml/gimp/win32/pspi.html

default vs clearlooks

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Gimphoto already included with new brush set and additional gradient set, in the future this will be expanded
with additional best and useful brush packages, gradients, patterns and tutorials howto create and using it.

- Modified Default Brush Set
modified default brush set, more complete set useful brush, this will be expanded in the future.

default vs clearlooks

- Modified Default Gradients
more tight selection of useful included gradients.

- Additional Web 2.0 Gradients
great 30 new additional gradients to create button, symbol or graphics for Web 2.0 design style. This gradients set from Dezinerfolio converted to GIMP by Gimp-Tutorials

default vs clearlooks

ADDITIONAL IDEAS
If YOU have more IDEA or SUGGESTION for Gimphoto, SHOUT IT OUT! :) I love to hear it and use it to improve Gimphoto, so submit your opinion directly at SUGGEST section.

Hope Gimphoto can bring happiness to everyone...like i have enjoy develop and using this app :)

About

Gimphoto is application software for photo and image editor.
Gimphoto is based on Gimp (GNU Image Manipulation Program).
Gimphoto is released under GPL.

Gimphoto is a GIMP modification with new menu, additional plugins and resources to bring the best GIMP experience to Photoshop users.

Why was this program created?
Many GIMP users have discussed how GIMP must be improve in many areas before it can be used as free Photoshop alternative (even with earlier versions of Photoshop - 5.5 or 6). Area that must be improved are:

- Features
Color Management, CMYK Separation, 16 bit Mode, Batch Process, Layer Adjustment, Styles, Action.

- User Interface
Menu Structure, Menu Priority, Shortcuts, Toolbox and Dialog design, Windowing System (too many big buttons and white spaces).

- Lack of Resources
More useful brushset, More useful gradients, More useful pattern, More useful plugin (tight selection of plugins, only include commonly used and high quality plugins because loading brushset, gradients and plugins takes time).

GIMP must be useful out of the box without further customization by user.

Many of these features have been added to the GIMP 2.3 development series and many plugins have been developed to extend GIMP capabilities but these plugins are spread all over the internet and must be installed manually to get the best GIMP experience.

I have tried my best to compose those components (GIMP latest version, best plugins, and best resources) into a single package that will provide an out of the box experience for GIMP.

so I bring to you... Gimphoto.

The Gimphoto 1.0 and 1.4 modification process is done at binary level so it is only available for Windows and there is no source code, for more understand about the Gimphoto modification process then read
http://www.gimphoto.com/2007/12/gimphoto-process.html

but since Gimphoto 1.4.3 modification process is done at source code level so Gimphoto 1.4.3 also released its source code and Gimphoto 1.4.3 is available for Windows and Linux.

caution: I'm really sorry about my bad grammar all over this site, due to the fact that English is not my mother language. I tried my best but...I was really bad at english grammar lessons in school :P so if you have tips or tricks to improve my grammar send to ekkians at gmail dot com, i would really appreciate it :) Thank you!

update:
06 Dec 2008 - grammar fix by Jeff Jones.

New Themes

First this site use Minima theme and now we update the look of Gimphoto site using AndreasO2 theme made by great desainer Andreas Viklund, which converted to Blogger themes by GeckoandFly.

Blogger navigation bar also hidden using script from Derya site's

This modification make this site look more polished than before :)

But design for this site is not finished yet, there is still modification for colors, links, sidebar contents, so many works still has to be done.

4 Comments

GIMP 2.4.0-rc1 released

GIMP.org has been finished development cycle 2.3, so the last development version is 2.3.19. GIMP.org already release a first release candidate for next stable version 2.4.

Changes in GIMP 2.4.0-rc1
======================
- further improvement to the Print plug-in
- completed the color management functionality for 2.4
- store JPEG setting with the image and use them when saving as JPEG
- further improved the rectangle tools, in particular handling of the fixed aspect ratio
- added color profile selector widget
- further improved the display quality for zoomed-out views

Gimphoto will still use version 2.3.19 because from the beginning Gimphoto is developed using 2.3.14 and there is menu structure change at 2.4 so that will make modification that already made at Gimphoto must be change a lot.

But don't worry after first release of Gimphoto, I will try to catch up with the latest stable Gimp for next version Gimphoto that will be use Gimp 2.4, hope at that time Gimp 2.4.0 is already released.