Gimp Is A Must Have For Me

I do love Gimp for image manipulation. When creating a graphic for a blog, I find it indispensible.

(now if I only could spell "useless")
Download Gimp
Install it. Standalone is possible but adding scripts and plug-ins is easier if it is installed.
Now go to Gimp’s plug-in registry.

Once there type in “layer effects”, scroll down and download layerfx.scm. Place this file in the “scripts” folder. C:\Users\Your Name\.gimp-2.6\scripts. Reopen Gimp and you will now have a new menu called Script Fu with some nifty stuff, “bevel and emboss” for one.\
Get Liquid Rescale, FX Foundry, G'MIC (awesome), Auto Rotate, arrow script and layerfx.scm if the above method does not work. Layerfx.scm has the scriptfu layers which are very important.
Gimp plugins are .exe files copied to the "plugin" directory. Do Not try install them.
Fonts: Titling (great for poster) fonts can be in sub folders for Gimp. Bazooka for fun flyer.
Gimp will use your Windows fonts but if you want to install additional fonts just for Gimp simply drop the font into Gimp's font folder. Which will be here:C:\Users\"your name"\.gimp-2.6\fonts
A good place to learn a few things is GimpTricks Youtube channel. Unlike many tutorials where you watch them install Gimp, search for a picture and load it, this woman gets to the nitty-gritty right now. ePhotozine is another place for good advice. Another good YouTube site.

Scripts for 2.8
FX Foundry
Normal Map Plugin

Photoshop is fine but bloated for my use. Gimp is free and does everything I need and more. Yes I can place Angelina Jolie's lips on your face.

Arch Text
Adjusting the arch text (I don't like his language but he settles down)
Textures
Python for Gimp is tough to install and I'm still working on it: Actually I gave up for now.
Using Python scripts (find it here) Gimp works fine without it but some functions are missing. Finding the correct files takes some hunting.
Charicature
Obama Hope create just use snipping tool


place screen behind text
copy paste area as new layer
desaturate and brightness and lower contrast -70ist
fill with this color
use these setting on bucket fill
opacity around 50
multiply
Dark blue

r17
g4
b173
drop that layer opacity to 80
create mask and fade by with blend tool

Cartoon technique

• Layer->Duplicate Layer
• Select the new layer, Filters->Edge-Detect->Edge, select Sobel, Amount should be 2.0, andBlack should be checked.
• Invert the edge-mask layer, it’s in Layers->Colors->Invert
• Back in the Layers Dialog, change the Layer Mode to Divide

Play around with Layer mode settings, desaturate the top layer, blur or otherwise mess up the bottom layer.
Or this:
The bulk of the effect is accomplished by creating a duplicate layer and setting its blend mode to "Value", then running the "Colors->Retinex" filter on the duplicate with a Scale of "16" and a Dynamic "0.1"

This works well but remember to use originals to color and saturate. http://herselfswebtools.com/2007/06/7-steps-to-turn-a-photo-into-a-cartoon-using-gimp.html

HDR can be created with http://www.hdrlabs.com/picturenaut/index.html
Watch the tutorial on YouTube Fotolinq here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qroY5QhgTnI
there are 4 videos for HDR.