I see a lot of requests for help with shrinking pics and other such things. I occasionally throw a hint in there but of course, not everybody sees it. So I figured I'd start a new thread here for it. Mods, if this comes out as useful as I hope it does, could one of you "sticky" it?
There is a free image-manipulation program out there, that you can use on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It's called the GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program). It will let you shrink, expand, flip over, trim, covert formats, etc to any image you have. It will also let you do funny things like turn the boob-headlights on (Kelli, you are so inspirational.) or scribble on the pic, or write words on it, or touch up the zits.
So here's how you get it:
Now that you have it, start it up. It will ask you some questions the first time, for which is it safe to just say "ok" all the time.
GIMP is not particularly simple to use, but then, neither is any image-manipulation program - it does a lot. If you can figure out how to use things like Excel or Outlook, you can figure out GIMP. (Hint: very many things can be done by right-clicking on the pic once you have it open.) If you're playing around, of course, you might want to make a copy of the pic in case you goof it up
In general, I'm always happy to GIMP-pimp. I know a lot of other (legal) free software too, for many purposes - just ask me! (There's even a free MS Office replacement out there, and it's good.)
There is a free image-manipulation program out there, that you can use on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It's called the GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program). It will let you shrink, expand, flip over, trim, covert formats, etc to any image you have. It will also let you do funny things like turn the boob-headlights on (Kelli, you are so inspirational.) or scribble on the pic, or write words on it, or touch up the zits.
So here's how you get it:
- Windows: Go here. Download the GTK+ package and install it. GTK+ is just a helper (library) that GIMP uses - it doesn't do anything on its own, but GIMP doesn't work without it. Second, get the GIMP for Windows package and install it. Optionally, you can grab the other packages - one of them has all the help files and could be useful. Now you can run it from your Start menu just like anything else.
- Mac: Go here. Download the .dmg file that goes with your OS X version, open it, and put it in your Applications folder. Now you can just run it.
- Linux: It's probably already installed. If not, you should be able to get a version that's packaged by your distribution.
Now that you have it, start it up. It will ask you some questions the first time, for which is it safe to just say "ok" all the time.
GIMP is not particularly simple to use, but then, neither is any image-manipulation program - it does a lot. If you can figure out how to use things like Excel or Outlook, you can figure out GIMP. (Hint: very many things can be done by right-clicking on the pic once you have it open.) If you're playing around, of course, you might want to make a copy of the pic in case you goof it up
In general, I'm always happy to GIMP-pimp. I know a lot of other (legal) free software too, for many purposes - just ask me! (There's even a free MS Office replacement out there, and it's good.)
