A big hello my fellow 'Gimpers'!

As the title above suggests, I have only just discovered Gimp and from what I can see so far, it does look like a very capable graphics package indeed. I am not a whizz kid on computers (...as evidenced by the number of 'beginner' books that currently infest my study) but as a printmaker using different types of media, the idea of using Gimp to help me construct, size and arrange selected elements that contribute towards the final image is very appealing, given that much of this process is currently performed 'manually' and therefore takes up a lot of my time.

However what I have also noticed as I start my journey, is that my route forward isn't as clear as I had guessed it might be which has prompted my appearance here today. So I'm afraid I will have to apologize to you in advance of my daft questions, though some might get a laugh or two out of them as I make my way up this steep but hopefully not dangerous learning curve

Clear skies and catch you later on the forum,

James

to Gimp Chat, James. Yes, learning Gimp takes time and lots of questions. Ask away. We have a great group here that will do their best to help you.

Welcome to Gimp Chat ASTROMAN. Ask away, there will be someone here that will know the answer.

Thanks guys for such a speedy response - I thought I was going to have to wait all night to be rescued!

Catch you later!

James

Welcome to Gimp Chat ASTROMAN!
I have a mission for you, blast off to Essential GIMP Tutorials and start with the most excellent,
Griatch's Tutorial-Beginning with GIMP for New Users.

For more adventures, Gimp Chat Tutorials Index

Welcome to Gimp Chat.
In my experience the only daft question is the one not asked.

Many thanks for the additional welcomes!

Odinbc, I hear your battle cry and I shall henceforth charge over to those tutorials to do battle there - Sounds like a great resource so here goes!

K1TesseraEna, with regards to the use of the term 'media', I am referring to materials for printing such as zinc plate, Lino and plaster plates from which I create texture and patterns etc that help support the theme of the final image. This production method is very hands on and the results from inking the plates is not always predictable. However, when putting together drawings etc to help formulate the final composition, it is inevitable that certain items need to resized or reversed etc which if done manually take a lot of time to replicate, hence my exploration into a program like Gimp. It seems at this early stage that the use of layering and image manipulation will allow me to perform much of this preparation a lot quicker. The only imaging software that I have ever used is Mac's 'Aperture' for processing digital images from my DSLR camera but that is as far as it goes. There is a lot of software out there including the examples you have given that might be worth a look but for now I thought I would give Gimp a try to see what it can do and if I'm up to the challenge! Gawd help us

Again many thanks everyone for a warm welcome!

James

astroman: welcome to gimp chat ! we've all been at the bottom of that hill, so no need to worry about asking. good thing to read beginner's tutorial first, though, they usually give you the answers before you even ask the questions.

Welcome ASTROMAN/James

Thank you Sallyanne and AnMal for your welcomes too. Yes there appears to be a healthy list of video tutorials to make sense of it all and will watch and digest them before the questions start rolling in - I can feel a couple brewing already.

Clear skies

James

Welcome to GC ASTROMAN. You've come to the right place.