Photo-edit on a budget

         Oh Adobe's Photoshop, one of the miracle programs of the late 20^th century. Few even realize how much this application impacts and alters our perception and vision in our constant day-to-day lives. One can't see a photo in an advertisement anymore without it having gone through Photoshop first. Billboards, commercials, movie posters, Internet ads, and even video games all gain assistance from Photoshop.

         And you too can learn this professional program and use it for many variously applications, be it hobby or professional. But what if you cant afford the price? At nearly 700 bucks, few of us small guys CAN afford this miracle program. So what can you use now if you want to 'shop your dog's head onto your little sister?

         Open source offers the answer in a wonderful program by the name of GIMP (or for you old schoolers “The GIMP”). The Gnu Image Manipulation Program, or GIMP, works very similarly to photoshop, offering you the ability to composite photographs together into a new artistic, humorous, or professional image. And that's only the beginning. Much like it's Adobe counterpart, GIMP limits you very little.

         Want to make new icons for the files on your computer? Do it in GIMP.

         Make textures in the video game you're currently making? GIMP allows that freedom.

         And so much more. What's that you ask? The price? Why my good friend, its simple.

         GIMP is an open source program and follows a specific philosophy. Its Free: Free as in beer, and free as in freedom. Thats right. If you know coding, you can get the code the makes up the program, and alter it, making it work better for you. Or perhaps you need a tool to behave a different way, or need a new one all together. Make it and share it for others, many others already do just that.

         If you have been holding back on doing those silly or hobby artist images because of the cost of other well known programs, don't. Download GIMP from here, and set yourself free!