GIMP or Photoshop

[bishopsgarthstockton]

Hi,

 

trying to make a decision. We are updating the art department and im trying to decide if its worth spending almost £2k on photoshop or download GIMP. i know there is not much teaching resources for GIMP as the is for Photoshop.

 

Have you guys got any sugestions :?:

[Midget]

We use both. 1/2 with PS all with GIMP and Paint.NET

[webman]

I recommend Paint.NET, but it needs the .NET Framework 2.

 

We have evaludated GIMP, and while I used it personally all the time, we aren't going to roll it out because the GTK open/save dialog allows restricted users to view all the network and local drives (relative permissions are set on them all, but we'd prefer they didn't see them at all or be able to see their contents).

[CyberNerd]

There are plenty of teaching resources for GIMP - just not the normal stuff (books) that teachers will be looking for. Google will find it, many of the tutorials are also published under a free license - so you can reproduce them (on your intranet) without cost.

Chances are GIMP will meet the needs of the curriculum, but expect resistance from teachers (it's free, therefore crap, and has a stupid name were the most compelling argument against GIMP that teachers at this school could come up with). Students I spoke to preferred GIMP over photoshop, they percieved it as easier to use. If it does the job use the GIMP, added advantage is that the school can give copies to students to use at home, thus encouraging learning.

 

I always had the impression that paint.net was more of a drawing package like inkscape than a photoeditor ?

[bishopsgarthstockton]

Hi,

 

yep i have got Paint.NET on all the machines across the school. Think i will just spend the cash on PS and then they have the choice.

 

Cheers

[SimpleSi]

Although PS and GIMP are fairly equally hostile to new users (GIMP with "strange" file dialogs and multiple windows - yes I know both can be sort of cured using plugins and modified versions) and PS (just &^%^& awkward to do simple stuff) I think users will always want go with the one that looks most "Windows" like - e.g. PS.

 

I'd personally load GIMP and Paint.net and explain how you can save money but YMMV

 

regards

 

Simon

[john]

How about getting Paint Shop Pro instead, we have and ours like it now they are used to it and don't moan about not having Photoshop, or if they really want it, try Photoshop Elements.

[alonebfg]

we use paint.net (free i belive) and also looking at gimp but everyone likes paint.net also paint.net has some cool plugins

[eean]

I'd say Paint.net would not have enough functionality for higher level Art, infact I find it quite limited in places; although, it's great for us (a primary school).

Photoshop can be hard but it is a professional level industry standard product. I know we are all supposed to be teaching transferable skills but, ultimately, what you first spend time on is what you get used to. I learn't how to use Corel Photopaint about 10 years ago and I've never liked anything since. "Experience with Photoshop" is a good thing for a 16 year old to have on their CV. "Experience with GIMP" probably isn't.

[CyberNerd]

"Experience with Photoshop" is a good thing for a 16 year old to have on their CV. "Experience with GIMP" probably isn't.

 

"Experience with a range of modern photo editing applications" is just fine though

[alonebfg]

lol well i am out of the picture as i use fireworks for all my picture art stuff never used nothing else as i got it with studio8 cheap as well £99 on acadmic licenceas i work in a school (at the time i was on a education course)

[mattx]

Whats wrong with MS Paint ?

Just kidding - Photoshop for me I'm afraid - I have somewhere some excellent CBTs for photoshop.

Nothing wrong with the GIMP though. For something thats free I find it amazing.

[tosca925]

I prefer Photoshop, purely from doing training at Manchester Uni years ago i have always stuck with it. I know it can be quite complex to get into but once you do thee is no going back.

 

We have Fireworks and Elements here on all machines and I doubt if they get used outside of Art Dept at all.

[Geoff]

Also consider Gimpshop. Basically the GIMP engine with the interface redone to be friendly and easy to use for Photoshop exiles.

 

http://www.gimpshop.net/

[EvLPhenom]

I am more of a Paintshop Pro type of person tbh, but i have used Photoshop but as SimpleSI said it is a pain the a*#e to do simple things, but never really had the patience to sit down and work out how ti use it properly.

[woody]

Firstly, maybe try out photoshop elements, this may have all you need. We also use Serif Photoplus, looks a little like photoshop and many of the menus are similar, but obviously not quite as powerful. Still does all the stuff you would want though.

[budgester]

Personally I use GIMP, as it's nice to use the same application on Linux and Windows. The same reason I use firefox and gaim.

 

We have GIMP and Photoshop Elements both installed.

 

Then people decide what they want to use.

 

Regards

 

Martin.

[cookie_monster]

GTK open/save dialog allows restricted users to view all the network and local drives

 

I was just about to post about this when i noticed the thread. I've been looking into GIMP on the network as well but once i noticed that it ignored policies to ban the C: drive i was put off.

 

Paint.net 3.8 seems to have most features that we need accross the school, it's certainly as good as Elements 2 which we are looking to replace but i was hoping to avoid paying for PS.

 

 

@ budgester: i'm with you most of the way except GAIM i hate that app i much prefer amsn.

Edited February 15, 2008 by cookie_monster

[Jona]

Great link to Gimpshop Geoff, thanks unfortunatly you got the link wrong it's: http://www.gimpshop.com/

[CyberNerd]

I was just about to post about this when i noticed the thread. I've been looking into GIMP on the network as well but once i noticed that it ignored policies to ban the C: drive i was put off.

 

I used to think like this, but recently I've come around to the idea that there isn't any point in restricting access as long as the permissions are set correctly. I've asked here and in other places and nobody has really come up with any reason why it's bad.

[cookie_monster]

Some apps require writable areas on the C: drive Homestudio is one, these areas are easier to find if students can freely browse the directories. Also it makes it much easier for students to determine what software is running on the box including apps that you would prefer they couldn't see. It just adds another layer of security if they can't freely look around.

[ZeroHour]

I have to say though we gave our students CS3 last summer and they are turning out some amazing stuff. If you give them photoshop then it teaches them the general industrial standard.

[CyberNerd]

Some apps require writable areas on the C: drive Homestudio is one, these areas are easier to find if students can freely browse the directories. Also it makes it much easier for students to determine what software is running on the box including apps that you would prefer they couldn't see. It just adds another layer of security if they can't freely look around.

 

 

Ahh yes, the security by obscurity method.

 

 

If you give them photoshop then it teaches them the general industrial standard.

 

The problem is that we are in the education industry, not the graphic design industry. Teaching a specific application is not training to be 'in industry'.

I think photoshop is too over the top for schools. I agree that if I were a £30k p/a graphic designer, I'd use the best commercial tool available. But for schools the difference in functionality between PS and gimp isn't worth the difference in price, esp taking TCO into consideration.PS now (with CS3) requires much higher system specifications than previous versions, and in the hands of untrained teachers/students can produce horrendously large file sizes. In comparison GIMP can run on much lower spec (I've seen it running reasonable on an eeepc) and some very high quality work can be produced with GIMP.

[ZeroHour]

As schools we should prepare pupils for the real world. I can only see benefits in having years of experience before you go to university/work rather then having to relearn photoshop then. The pupils most effected by this are the ones that really do have a strong interest in design and could very easily go into further education/work with design in mind. I personally would have liked to have been taught photoshop in school as it took time to learn the power within.

Yes cost can be a issue for schools and if its out of your reach its out of your reach but if you can get the budget for it I would go with it as it will only prove to aid the pupils mentioned. You dont need to nessarily buy it for everywhere but at least give the pupils interested in design the best chance to get a head start in their potential future career.

[CyberNerd]

If you take that perspective then you'd be teaching LaTex to your mathematicians and MatLab to your physicists, IMO it's good enough to teach an understanding of the subject and get the grades.