This book clearly presents and liberally illustrates the open-source graphics application, with at least one screen shot on every page. The first quarter of the book introduces the application, including its history and how it relates to Linux. There are also sections on how to download and install the latest version, and a rundown of the user interface and GIMP basics.

Experienced users who are already familiar with GIMP will enjoy the review in the introductory sections. Part 3, "GIMP Concepts," dives deeply into the mechanics of GIMP, including manipulation of its more interesting and advanced features. Part 4, "Filters and Script-Fu," explores GIMP's powerful built-in filters and its scripting language, which can be used for almost everything from batch processing to macro execution.

Part V, "Real World Applications," is arguably the book's best section. Real-life issues and techniques are discussed, including working with fonts, capturing screen shots, creating images for the Web, and building images used for tiling.

Any application built on a flavor of the Linux operating system, using X-windows for its interface, can't be all that easy. The book does an excellent job of explaining the workings of GIMP and how it relates to other applications and the host operating system. The writing is clear and complete, and the accompanying CD-ROM is a treasure-trove of goodies, including the GIMP application itself, the GIMP toolkit, over 200 plug-ins, and example scripts.

For any user interested in extracting the most from this flexible application, the GIMP for Linux Bible is a worthy addition to the reference shelf. --Mike Caputo

Product Description
If GIMP can do it, you can do it too… Learn and master GIMP — the powerful, flexible, extensible graphics package for Linux — with the GIMP for Linux Bible. This step-by-step guide covers everything from mastering the basics to working wonders with layers and customizing graphics for the Web. GIMP gurus share their insights and lead you through all the colorful nuances of digital imaging in Linux. Whether you're just beginning or a serious digital artist, you'll quickly learn to make all the powerful features of GIMP work for you! Inside, you'll find complete coverage of GIMP for Linux

• Create icons, buttons, backgrounds, image maps, textures, and more
• Use drop shadows, raised type, glowing images, and blends to create interesting effects
• Discover how to clone, convert, merge, blend, link, and align layers
• Utilize advanced features such as online batch processing and mass production image rendering
• Modify images with GIMP's tiled memory image management system
• Automate processes with Script-Fu, GIMP's full-featured scripting tool
• Maximize the impact of your Web pages with stunning graphics
• See all GIMP can do by exploring the 16 pages of full-color artwork

• GIMP Toolkit (GTK)
• More than 200 GIMP plug-ins
• Applications and script
• Source code and images from the book

Grokking the Gimp is a better choice; it goes through several projects to illustrate useful real-world techniques.


A fair start, but weak where it counts   July 8, 2000
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

As a professional geek, I've ingested countless books covering computer hardware, administration, programming, and software packages. After getting my hands on the GIMP, and a copy of the "GIMP for Linux Bible", I thought I had everything I needed to start exploring the wonders of the GIMP.

Unfortunately, this book was not up to the task. While the first few chapters were adequate for explaining the basics of the GIMP's interface, the discussion of the more complex (and more useful) aspects of the GIMP (such as layers, channels, blending modes, etc.) was thoroughly obscure. After reading and rereading these sections, I became progressively more confused.

The many illustrations, presumably offered to clarify the muddy explanations in the text, are rendered nearly useless by being printed in black and white. Images intended to show differences in various layer operations and blending modes turn out virtually identical without color. After hours of frustration, I gave up and went shopping for another book.

A much better choice for those interested in becoming GIMP gurus is the excellent "Grokking the GIMP" (ISBN: 0735709246, also available here). After merely skimming the sections covering the topics which were incomprehensible in the "GIMP for Linux Bible", all of these concepts became immediately obvious. "Grokking the GIMP" is packed with clear, full-color graphics, which reinforce the straightforward yet thorough coverage of the text. Start your GIMP education here instead, and you'll be glad you did.


A fair start, but weak where it counts   July 8, 2000
 17 out of 17 found this review helpful

As a professional geek, I've ingested countless books covering computer hardware, administration, programming, and software packages. After getting my hands on the GIMP, and a copy of the "GIMP for Linux Bible", I thought I had everything I needed to start exploring the wonders of the GIMP.

Unfortunately, this book was not up to the task. While the first few chapters were adequate for explaining the basics of the GIMP's interface, the discussion of the more complex (and more useful) aspects of the GIMP (such as layers, channels, blending modes, etc.) was thoroughly obscure. After reading and rereading these sections, I became progressively more confused.

The many illustrations, presumably offered to clarify the muddy explanations in the text, are rendered nearly useless by being printed in black and white. Images intended to show differences in various layer operations and blending modes turn out virtually identical without color. After hours of frustration, I gave up and went shopping for another book.

A much better choice for those interested in becoming GIMP gurus is the excellent "Grokking the GIMP" (ISBN: 0735709246, also available here). After merely skimming the sections covering the topics which were incomprehensible in the "GIMP for Linux Bible", all of these concepts became immediately obvious. "Grokking the GIMP" is packed with clear, full-color graphics, which reinforce the straightforward yet thorough coverage of the text. Start your GIMP education here instead, and you'll be glad you did.


Gimp for Linux Bible   March 27, 2000
This book is great. You need some background as to what you are looking for, but if you have the right question this book can answer anything. It givs any level of insight from beginner to expert with examples. Great!