Sent: 2010-08-30 23:50:41 UTC (over 1 year ago)

From: Nick

Am I stupid or What?

permalink

I've only been using computers for about 25 years, and gimping along with Gimp
for about 6 months, so why do I have to get help every time I try to do
something in this program? It seems to me that it is one of the most
unfriendly and unintuitive command layouts I've ever encountered. It's driving
me nuts. I can't seem to do ANYTHING without Youtube or Forum help. Maybe I
should just head to the iceflow with my last pile of firewood...sigh.

--
Nick C. (via www.gimpusers.com)
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Sent: 2010-08-31 00:55:49 UTC (over 1 year ago)

From: Elwin Estle

Am I stupid or What?

permalink

Perhaps if you just played around without any specific goal in mind?  Just pick a command and see what it does, then move on to another one, combine a couple and see where that takes you.

The main things with Gimp are, IMHO, learning to work with layers, selections, masking and channels.  Once you get a "gut feel" for what to do with these, then you can start stringing things together to get the effects you want.

--- On Mon, 8/30/10, Nick C. wrote:

From: Nick C.
Subject: [Gimp-user] Am I stupid or What?
To: gimp-user@lists.XCF.Berkeley.EDU
Date: Monday, August 30, 2010, 5:50 PM

I've only been using computers for about 25 years, and gimping along with Gimp
for about 6 months, so why do I have to get help every time I try to do
something in this program? It seems to me that it is one of the most
unfriendly and unintuitive command layouts I've ever encountered. It's driving
me nuts. I can't seem to do ANYTHING without Youtube or Forum help. Maybe I
should just head to the iceflow with my last pile of firewood...sigh.

--
Nick C. (via www.gimpusers.com)
_______________________________________________
Gimp-user mailing list
Gimp-user@lists.XCF.Berkeley.EDU
https://lists.XCF.Berkeley.EDU/mailman/listinfo/gimp-user

Sent: 2010-08-31 01:24:45 UTC (over 1 year ago)

From: <walton@12on14.com>

Am I stupid or What?

permalink

Nick,

I started dabbling with digital graphics before Photoshop, and my first
PS was 4.0. So some 15 years later, using PS seems very simple and
intuitive to me. But I have taught PS, and I know it isn't.

I got GIMP when it was 1.3 (that's the earliest on this computer). GIMP
seemed clunky compared to PS, but that's what I call the light switch
syndrome: in someone else's house you reach for the light switch on the
wrong wall, you know how to use a light switch you just can't find it.

I think GIMP is much like that compared to PS. But if you've never used
any graphics program before, you have three things to learn, regardless
of the program: the concepts (layers, channels, masks, selections etc.),
the tools (the tool box and the toll box options), the process.

I have started, woefully unfinished, a book GIMP. The PDF of it is free,
take a look:
http://oneoffpressbooks.com/pages/gimp.htm
any feedback on the book, would be welcome.

Walton

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [Gimp-user] Am I stupid or What?
From: "Nick C."
Date: Mon, August 30, 2010 2:50 pm
To: gimp-user@lists.XCF.Berkeley.EDU

I've only been using computers for about 25 years, and gimping along
with Gimp
for about 6 months, so why do I have to get help every time I try to do
something in this program? It seems to me that it is one of the most
unfriendly and unintuitive command layouts I've ever encountered. It's
driving
me nuts. I can't seem to do ANYTHING without Youtube or Forum help.
Maybe I
should just head to the iceflow with my last pile of firewood...sigh.

--
Nick C. (via www.gimpusers.com)
_______________________________________________
Gimp-user mailing list
Gimp-user@lists.XCF.Berkeley.EDU
https://lists.XCF.Berkeley.EDU/mailman/listinfo/gimp-user

Sent: 2010-08-31 01:59:35 UTC (over 1 year ago)

From: Stefan Maerz

Am I stupid or What?

permalink

> I've only been using computers for about 25 years, and gimping along with
> Gimp
> for about 6 months, so why do I have to get help every time I try to do
> something in this program? It seems to me that it is one of the most
> unfriendly and unintuitive command layouts I've ever encountered.

I found gimp to be a really intuitive program. After a tutorial or two I
found that I was able to start manipulating things on my own. That being
said, sometimes I found it difficult, for some unexplained reason.

My advise would be to just keep chuggin away at it. Gimp does have a steep
learning curve, however once you get atop it is really smooth sailing.

BTW, I stopped doing tutorials altogether after 2 or 3. I am not really
patient enough to do them, so I started experimenting on my own. Over time
my proficiency has increased as I figure things out.

I'm not going to necessarily advise you to use other software, but from
experience Photo Shop and Paint shop Pro have a similar interface as gimp in
terms of complexity. You might try out something like paint.net, as it is
simpler, however I think it is strictly for windows.

Stefan Maerz

Sent: 2010-08-31 07:47:00 UTC (over 1 year ago)

From: Noel Stoutenburg

Am I stupid or What?

permalink

Nick C. wrote:

> why do I have to get help every time I try to do
> something in this program? It seems to me that it is one of the most
> unfriendly and unintuitive command layouts I've ever encountered.

My history is similar to yours, except that I've got more experience
with GIMP than you claim. I, too, found the UI to be complex, and
difficult to use and understand. What made the program much more useful
for me was getting a copy of Akkana Peck's book, Beginning Gimp / From
Novice to Professional, published by APress. About USD 50, but if you're
serious about learning GIMP, it's hard to think of a better way to spend
the money.

ns

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Sent: 2010-08-31 08:07:51 UTC (over 1 year ago)

From: Vincent Ardern

Am I stupid or What?

permalink

> Nick C. wrote:
>
> > why do I have to get help every time I try to do
> > something in this program? It seems to me that it is one of the most
> > unfriendly and unintuitive command layouts I've ever encountered.
>

I first learnt how to Photoshop when it was taught in my school (for a web
design course) a few years ago. After using PS, GIMP was really easy to get
used to. However, for anyone who wasn't proficient with PS prior to using
GIMP, I imagine it would be a steep learning curve. On the other hand, most
people can not just pick up Photoshop quickly either (to an acceptable
standard). Overall, I think GIMP is on par with, if not easier to learn than
other image editing software.

Regards,
Vincent

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Sent: 2010-08-31 08:42:36 UTC (over 1 year ago)

From: Ofnuts

Am I stupid or What?

permalink

On 30/08/2010 23:50, Nick C. wrote:
> I've only been using computers for about 25 years, and gimping along with Gimp
> for about 6 months, so why do I have to get help every time I try to do
> something in this program? It seems to me that it is one of the most
> unfriendly and unintuitive command layouts I've ever encountered. It's driving
> me nuts. I can't seem to do ANYTHING without Youtube or Forum help. Maybe I
> should just head to the iceflow with my last pile of firewood...sigh.

There are two ways Gimp (or any program wit equivalent functionality)
can be difficult to get proficient with:

- the basic principles: layers, selections, masks, channels... unless
someone comes up with novel ideas about mlage processing architecture,
Gimp (and others including PS) is stuck with it.

- how tools are accessed (tools or filter, menu hierarchy...). There is
a modicum of arbitrary choices here. The current setup is the result of
a slow evolution maybe not the best for anyone, but the worst for noone.

This said, Gimp is more like a toolbox. It contains lots of tools, but
no plans for a rocket.
--
Bertrand