GIMP Quick-Start Guide For UNIX
Ok, I don’t know UNIX. So rather than a quick-start guide, this is more of a list of resources to get you started.
GIMP runs on most UNIX systems using X11 windows environment. In addition to X11 you will need:
“
- GLib 2.16.1 or better
- GTK+ 2.12.1 or better
- babl 0.0.22 or better
- GEGL 0.0.18 or better
- PangoFT2 1.18.0 or better. PangoFT2 is a Pango backend that uses FreeType2
- Fontconfig 2.2.0 or better
”
~GIMP.ORG
According to GIMP.org “If your system can run a graphical web browser, chances are that it can also run GIMP.”
You can download a binary package for your GIMP system from the list at GIMP.org/unix or learn how to compile it yourself from the source code.
I’m no Unix Guru. But since GIMP is a GNU project (an offshoot of UNIX) there is a lot of documentation about how to get started with GIMP if you’re running UNIX. Here are some places to check out if you get stuck.
- I recommend starting at the official GIMP website: http://www.gimp.org/unix/
- Use the search function at http://www.gimpusers.com/ to look for GIMP 2.6 and your flavor of UNIX. If you can’t find what you need, post a question in the forums there. These guys often use a lot of tech speak. If you need them to go slow, just ask.
- Check the discussions in flickr’s GIMP group. This is just one of a few groups, but it’s a good place to start. You can search the discussions too. Make sure to join the group and introduce yourself if you need to ask a new question. There are over 7,000 members, so someone’s bound to have an answer. Discussions and the photo community are just two of the reasons I love flickr.
- While you’re at it, join the Pare and Focus Flickr Group too! Share your before and after photos, shots your proud of, shots you need help with or anything else you like. (Just keep it “G” rated please.)
To get started with GIMP I recommend the Pare and Focus guide for setting up GIMP.