GIMP 2.8 for Photographers: Image Editing with Open Source Software Paperback – June 3, 2013

I've used GIMP for a few years at a basic level, mostly relying upon information on the web to get me by. This book addressed many of the features I never quite understood enough to use to their potential. I expect it will help me take my image editing skills to the next level. But it just misses getting five stars from me.I've used Linux exclusively at home for several years and appreciate the philosophy of solving problems yourself. But the learning curve can be steep. Of all the free and open source software I've used I was least comfortable with GIMP. I attribute this to my knowledge of the processes of image editing being fairly low.This book does a pretty good job of relating issues in images to their causes and to solutions in GIMP. It also helps explain the differences of tools in GIMP that appear to have the same function, but don't exactly (e.g., the Sharpen Filter vs. the Unsharp Mask Filter). For that I'll give it four stars.On the other hand it didn't quite have as much useful content as I'd hoped. The first 70 pages were things I'd already learned through the web or the help pages (e.g., installing GIMP, opening and saving different file types). My interest waned further when I noticed the first image editing example in the book discusses how to remove the moire pattern that results from scanning a photo in a newspaper. How does that fit with the "For Photographers" line in the title? Also the book is heavy on screen shots and has quite a bit of white space.What's left is good, but doesn't go into a lot of depth or take it to a more advanced level. I'd hoped that given the title the author would talk through the thinking about how he expects to use GIMP while using the camera, similar to the way a film photographer thinks about how to process the film in the darkroom while making exposures. Unfortunately there's not much of that in the book. So I can't quite give it five stars. But overall I'm glad I have it on my bookshelf.

GIMP 2.8 for Photographers, by Klaus Goelker, is a book I needed. I have been a photographer for a long time and only in recent times decided to sell some of my photos. I needed to learn all I can about the GIMP program because that’s what I currently use on my images.When I looked around for books describing the GIMP functions, I found very few. I didn’t need an advanced book. I’m more of a beginner when it comes to altering images in any way, but I am still able to use the GIMP program to a degree. What I found in this book is exactly what suits my needs to understand all the qualities and functions of this great program. If I learn all there is to know about GIMP and need something more, then I’ll find another book, or maybe someone will update the information found here.This is a huge and heavy volume that comes with a CD/DVD and well worth the cost. I already have GIMP on my PC so have not used the disk. Too, I have not read the entire book because of its in depth coverage of all the functions. But what I’m learning is amazing and helping me just the way I was looking for, and that is exciting! I would recommend this book not only for beginners but to those more advanced who need to more fully understand the functions provided. I’m totally happy with this mega-book.

Even though the book is for an earlier version of GIMP, it is still a valuable reference and tutorial guide for many of us who use GIMP occasionally with no intent to master all its capabilities. Although I've used GIMP for a decade or more, I learned several important techniques within hours of reading a few sections of the book.

Because GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Package) is free and open source software, one must look carefully at the books available about it. Many are outdated, covering earlier versions. GIMP 2.8 is the current version and the book even includes a disc with the software for multiple platforms (Linux, Windows, MacOS). The book itself looks like a college textbook because that's what it is. The author, Klaus Goelker, uses it to teach courses on GIMP. In the introduction, Goelker specifically states the book is a learning guide and not a quick reference book. It is designed to enable the reader to master the software by working through the tutorials contained within it. If you're looking for quick tips and tricks, this may not be the book for you. If detailed, guided tutorials with hands-on learning exercises fit well with your learning style, then you will find this book to be a valuable self-teaching tool.

I agree with the other reviews - this book contains a lot of information that is available online and in the GIMP help/documentation. I purchased this for my 60+ mother who has recently gotten back into photography, transitioning from film to digital. She likes that the book is in front of her instead of on the computer, she says it is more convenient. As someone who is not familiar with technology, she found the book to be very helpful in helping her edit her digital images.That being said, if you can read a computer screen and know a bit about computers and know how to find information on the Internet, this book is NOT for you and you will be disappointed!

Digital photographers who want to progress beyond the scope of simple computer software for digital editing to that of highly advanced software should read this book; it describes simply and clearly in "tutorial-style" how to use the best known open source, multi-platform digital editing programme "GIMP". Many sample photographs are provided on the attached DVD for use in following the tutorials. The disk also contains the GIMP software and various extensions to it. Be aware, however, that as with all advanced software there is a "steep learning curve" so even with this book it will take a determined effort to become modestly proficient. Even so, I am sure that the book will be worthwhile.

Great stuff. Will provide what I need without the expense of Photoshop. Clear lucid explanations that fulfill my requirements. Cannot praise this highly enough. It couldn't be better for someone who isn't too good at having to cope with complex instructions. Thank you.

Didn't expect this to be a huge big complicated book! I thought it was going to be a cd after reading reviews about it on the internet not what I expected

Having read this informative book about Gimp it explains in detail how this software works and it is a powerful programme indeed. Well worth the twenty pounds that I paid for the book (it includes a cd of the free software).

This is an excellent book. When I first started reading it I thought it was a bit basic but the more I read the more detailed it becomes and I've learnt all manner of small but incredibly useful tips. Best buy of my year.