kitcar Loc: Liverpool.Merseyside. UK

Though having been download on several MS programmes over the years my ancient PS7 software (disc) is refusing to run on my new lap top/MS 8.
Budget dictating, I have been cruising the free editing software & downloading a few, finding them pretty infantile, after what I have been spoilt with & used to.
I have been keeping away from Gimp on account of the long learning curve stated on various posts. I'm asking – has Gimp a cloning ability & the facility to select & move to another page? Trusting to UH Gurus.​

Leitz Loc: Solms

This won't answer your question, of course, but the cartoon icons were too offensive for me, and I immediately dumped it.

kitcar Loc: Liverpool.Merseyside. UK

Would you please advise me what was offensive & I will try to not to offend.

Leitz Loc: Solms

Oh, it was nothing you did! Some of my files were displayed with a cartoon-like icon, so a folder looked like a Sesame Street toy computer screen. Gimp does appear to be a good program, though, as others here occasionally recommend it. You are sure to have your question answered once people in the states start waking up for the day.

A.J.R. Loc: Devon, UK

I use Photoshop CC but about 18 months ago I did a demonstration for our local photographic group on using GIMP. Although I had not used it before, after a short time getting use to the different icons, for the basic - cropping, colour correction, contrast control, Brightness etc, I found it similar to Photoshop.
I also showed the group 2 examples of quite complicated cloning. One with Photoshop 7 the other with GIMP, the results being as good with GIMP as with Photoshop. It was also just as easy to clone with GIMP as Photoshop.
This was however using GIMP for the basis and I must admit that I wouldn't swap Photoshop for GIMP although I think it is very good.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I used GIMP for several years. It was pretty capable although at the time I was just learning to use that kind of editing program. I never got hightly proficient with it because (1) I didn't spend enough time looking at tutorials and trying to absorb them and (2) at the time I was working full time and didn't really do much with photography.

After a few years I found there were a few things I couldn't do in GIMP so I tried Photoshop. Found PS to have a lot more capability and better tutorials. The two interfaces were different enough that I had to go through another learning curve for PS, but it took less time. That could have been because I had already learned some things from GIMP that would transfer to PS. There was maybe a year during which I would try to do things in PS and then do the same thing in GIMP which I was more familiar with. After that year I switched to PS pretty exclusively. I found it easier to work with and learn new things.

I can't say whether it's just me or whether that would be true for everyone.

I can't say I was a fan of the icon, but there are ways to change an icon.

tropics68 Loc: Georgia

From a rookies's viewpoint Gimp seems to be a pretty strong program. It does have a "clone tool" although it seems to operate a little differently that the one in PS elements 11. I play with Gimp when I am bored and the learning curve does seem steep. But for us blue collar guys that do not earn a living in photography, it has one huge advantage over Photoshop. It is 100% FREE! If you haven't already, download a copy along with the users manual. Won't cost a thing and you might become a Gimp Wizard someday. :thumbup:

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

I'm surprised no one ever seems to mention Paint.net. I has a Clone Stamp tool with blending functions. It's free. It closely resembles PS in layout and function (although without the newer bells and whistles) and has a rich toolbox.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Long learning curve for people with short attention spans and/or learning disabilities. People who give up on software if they fail to produce results within the first few minutes.

Picdude Loc: Ohio

Not exactly sure what you mean by select and move to another page, but GIMP does have cloning ability and the Resynthesizer plug-in emulates Photoshop's Content aware fill.

Like DirtFarmer, I haven't used GIMP for several years. The last version I used was V2.6, and V2.8 has since come out with improvements. There are several plug-ins written specifically for GIMP, and many plug-ins for Photoshop will work as well. If you have been using Elements 7 for all this time, you should find GIMP a cost effective up-grade. While there will definitely be some operational differences, many of the tools in GIMP are similar enough to Photoshop that you should be able to locate and use them without too many headaches.

UHH member Shakey has written several tutorials for GIMP that can be found here at the following link:

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-156310-1.html

You may also want to peruse some of the suggested free software that UHH members are using from the following list:

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-168252-1.html

Hope you find something that fits your needs soon.

troy.drewry Loc: Clearwater, FL

In my opinion Photoshop Elements has a lot more features and better documentation/ help forums.

Also PS Elements is on sale for $39 at Costco for a while.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

GIMP is a powerful image editor. The only annoying thing I found with it is the menu structure. It will do most of what the basics of PS will do.
--Bob

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

If you've been used to what Photoshop can achieve, I believe Gimp would be your best choice instead... very comparable.

wolfd Loc: Vancouver, Canada

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

GIMP has the functionality you need.

The long learning curve is because it is a very capable program. Plus you are used to a different user interface. The same would apply to virtually any other full featured image editor if you already knew GIMP and tried to move to another editor.

Do not expect to become an expert quickly with any editor worth using.