User Guide

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION 15
• File formats supported include PostScript, JPEG, GIF, PNG, XPM, TIFF, TGA,
MPEG, PCX, BMP and many others.
• Selection tools including rectangular, elliptical, free, fuzzy, paths, and intelligent
scissors.
• Plug-ins that allow for the easy addition of new functions, new file formats, and
new effects filters.
1.1.2 Platform Support
The GIMP is probably most known for its use on the GNU/Linux platform, but there
are many platforms that GIMP can run on. GIMP is known to work on GNU/LINUX,
MICROSOFT WINDOWS 95, 98, NT4 AND 2000, OPENBSD, NETBSD, FREEBSD, SO-
LARIS, SUNOS, AIX, HP-UX, TRU64, DIGITAL UNIX, OSF/1, IRIX, OS/2 and BEOS.
Porting GIMP to other platforms is possible only due to source code availability.
1.1.3 About the Help System
The GIMP help system will provide you with the necessary information on how to use
all the functions GIMP provides. It will do so in a short effective way best described
as an extended quick reference. The difference between the GIMP help system and a
pure quick reference is that the help system will describe how to use the functions in a
productive manner as well as their functionality. How to Use the Help System
The built-in GIMP help browser has three notebook tabs: the one that help pages
are displayed in, the contents tab showing a structured list of help items, and the index
which shows an list of all chapters and keywords in the help system. The advantage of
the built-in help browser is that you can easily navigate the help system and display the
help text in the main tab. However, if you prefer, you can use choose NETSCAPE NAV-
IGATOR in thePreferences Dialog from which you can also access all parts of the help
system. If you are using GIMP in MICROSOFT WINDOWS, your default Internet browser
will be used which is usually either Netscape NAVIGATOR or Microsoft INTERNET EX-
PLORER. What to Expect of the Help System
Besides the description of the functionality of the functions in The GIMP, you will
also find descriptions of how to organize your work with GIMP, how to configure it,
various tips and tricks, a quick reference page of short cuts and modifier keys, and
much more.
1.2 What Can GIMP Do For Me?
The GIMP is a very powerful application which has many uses.
1.2.1 Image Editing
GIMP’s main use is for the creation and editing of bitmap images. This ranges from the
touching up of digital photographs to the creation of digital art or the authoring of logos.
The word “bitmap” means that GIMP is mainly designed to work on images that are