CNET Editors' review
GIMP Portable provides users with several tools for touching up and altering photos. Users who are able to overcome its hectic and disjointed layout will discover a serviceable, though uninspiring, program.
Users will be immediately confused and frustrated by this program's interface. Where most photo retouching programs have all the tools on one screen, this program opens three separate screens: one for the photo and two for toolboxes. Fortunately, once users organize the boxes to their liking, they will find a generous amount of flexibility with the tools. Users who remain confused can leaf through the online Help manual for further instruction. Creating an image and editing an existing one proves to be very similar to other programs. Users need only to select a specific tool and apply it to the picture, much like Microsoft Paint and Photoshop. We were not overwhelmed with the quality of the results, but felt that with enough practice users could produce excellent work.
The program is ripe with added features, including filters, layers, and a huge color wheel. While the features complemented the tools well, they were nothing users would not see on similar programs. Combining a confusing interface with merely average functionality leaves us thinking users should only download this freeware if they absolutely do not want to pay for something else.
Publisher's Description
From Gimp.org:
Portable GIMP is the popular the GIMP for Windows image editor packaged as a portable app, so you can take your images with you and do your editing on the go. GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a freely distributed piece of software suitable for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring. It is a powerful piece of software with capabilities not found in any other free software product. It can be used as a simple paint program, an expert-quality photo-retouching program, an online batch-processing system, a mass production image renderer, or an image-format converter. GIMP is modular, expandable, and extensible. It is designed to be augmented with plug-ins and extensions to do just about anything.
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All versions:
3.9 starsout of 21 votes
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Current version:
4.0 starsout of 2 votes
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My rating:
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"Like a free version of Photoshop"
Version: GIMP Portable 2.6.11 Rev 3
Pros
*Free
*Take It with you, no install required
*Photo Retouching
*Transparencies
*Layers
*Adjustment Layers
*Layer Operations (Overlay, screen, multiply, many many more)
*Brushes, Pens, Lines, Curves
*History Pane with History
*Batch Resize, WatermarksCons
*Unsuitable for someone who is not capable of learning a new feature rich application.
Summary
I really cannot say anything bad about this application. You can replace the layouts to actually mimic Photoshop, google "GIMP Photoshop Layout for GIMP Portable".
I also like the fact that you can go File -> Create -> Logos -> Starscape type a bit of text and job done! Well maybe depending on what the job is for, but the point is that for a novice user, it doesn't get any simpler than File -> Create -> Logos. the script engine allows you to take this concept to the extreme and build your entire web theme / application theme portfolio of images algorithmically in Script-Fu.
The built in tools and filters for GIMP are extremely flexible, offering much the same flexibility found in Photoshop. I have used GIMP for many projects, eg. Creating an iPhone App style icon. I have always recommended it to co-workers and friends. It may take a little time to get use to, but so does Photoshop .. and for free you cannot go wrong! -
"Well featured portable image editor."
Version: GIMP Portable 2.6.11 Rev 3
Pros
Wide variety of plugins available. Portable version integrates easily with the PortableApps.com control panel.
Cons
Very slow to load on a slow machine or one with less than a gigabyte of RAM available. Confusing conglomeration of tool bars for the newcomer.
Summary
Since I am not a regular at using any graphics programs I was looking for something portable and easy to use. It is portable enough, but can be a bit confusing to use. Searching through the help files provides some relief, but the help files also mention or show earlier iterations of the GIMP so a user is not confident they are getting the correct answer desired.
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