Photoshop Elements or GIMP?

[Vurginian]

I've been using Photoshop Elements for a few years. I wouldn't say I know it but I've learned my way around. I'm trying to get better at skinning and just came across GIMP.

My question to those more qualified than me are which is better? I know my way around Elements pretty well but always seem to be stopped by something and can never finish a skin because of it. Is GIMP better? Is it easier to learn for someone who is self taught?

Thanks!

[turnipkiller]

Hi Vurginian,

I can't vouch for having used Elements, but I can say quite confidently that you can achieve excellent results with Gimp, on par with Photoshop et al.

The only thing I've really ever heard from people used to the Adobe programs, is that the interface is kind of screwy to them. (I found it to be the other way around when I tried Photoshop lol ).

There are plenty of tutorials for Gimp, and tons of community support and community made plugins and filters as well. If you're getting stuck because Elements isn't able to do something, I would try the switch. (Free is good. )

[Vurginian]

Problem I have at the moment is a HUGE loss of quality when I convert to indexed color to save as a bmp. I can't find much here on the site about saving. I know the process, but when I convert it blows all the quality away.

Help?

[Vurginian]

Here is my problem. You can see the pixels. It looks awsome until i convert to indexed color then it degrades and I get this in the game.

[adlabs6]

You should take a look at using BRIGHT to do color conversion. Do a search in our tutorials section, and the forums. Lots of help there.

We also have a Photoshop plugin for BRIGHT in the downloads section, but I've never tested it with GIMP. I'll have to do that.

[Vurginian]

Thanks, I'll have a look at it. I've seen it around. I thought it was for something different. Sound's like what I need!

[Vurginian]

Hi guys,
Its probably a snake about to bite me.....but I cant find the download for bright. Can someone direct me to a link? I googled it but found version 1.6. The download link was broken. It was the only one I found too.

Thanks!

[Serval]

Here you go
http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/foru...ile-bright-35/

And a tutorial (don't mind that another program like PSP is used, just make sure you save your BMP as a 24 bit BMP file and you'll be fine)
http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/foru...ng-bright-832/

[Vurginian]

Thanks Serval,
I found the thing last night 2 minutes after my post! I new it was right in front of me someplace!!!

It worked great. Problem gone!

[adlabs6]

Ah, glad it solved the problem!