What's New

2006-09-02

Due to popular request, I have decided to make a limited number of binary clock kits available for sale. They should be available for sale sometime in October 2006. Contact me if you plan to order a binary clock kit, and I will reserve one for you.

2006-06-01

I have added a gallery of binary clocks to my tutorial on how to build a binary clock. If you have built a binary clock, please contact me to send me a picture!

General GIMP Info

  1. What is the GIMP?

    The GIMP is an image editing program similar to Adobe Photoshop (GIMP is free software, though).

  2. Where can I get the GIMP?

    The GIMP comes with most Linux distributions, but it is also available for Windows. Mac users should visit the MacGIMP project for information on obtaining the GIMP. The source code distribution is available at gimp.org.

  3. What is GimpFAQ.org?

    The GIMP is very powerful and flexible, but it can also be very intimidating to new users who may only want to use it to edit their digital pictures. GimpFAQ.org is a place to share photo editing techniques and help answer some frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the GIMP and digital photography. This site is not affiliated with gimp.org or any other organization or company named herein.

  4. How do I use the GIMP?

    There are many resources for help on using the GIMP.

  5. How do I crop a picture to a fixed aspect ratio (like 4x6)?

    GIMPguru.org has an article on Cropping with an Aspect Ratio in the GIMP.

  6. How do I create Aqua-like buttons?

    A few years ago, I developed my own technique for creating pretty candy Mac-like buttons in the GIMP. However, I found a fantastic GIMP script to create Aqua-style buttons.

Digital Photography Tips

  1. How do I choose the right digital camera?

    This is no single answer to this question. The right camera for you may not be the right camera for someone else. Your individual needs and wants will control which camera is right for you. Do you want a simple point-and-shoot camera, or do you want to have more control over camera settings? Do you want a small camera that you can bring with you everywhere you go? Is a zoom lens important to you? Most importantly, what is your budget? FotoFects has an article on choosing the right digital camera that offers some helpful advice. DPReview has reviews for most digital cameras and a very helpful feature search. Steve's Digicams also has many reviews online.

  2. How can I take better pictures?

    By following a few simple rules for proper composition, anyone can take good pictures. Chuck Gardner has an excellent online photo class that gives Guidelines for Good Composition. Also, The Luminous Landscape has a wealth of invaluable articles about photography. One example of the articles there is Expose to the Right.

    There are things you can do before you take the picture to ensure that you get the best possible photo prints. These are explained in Dan's Data Photo Tutorial. The article focuses on taking good product shots of computer components, but the ideas carry over to regular snapshots as well. The article is long, but it can summarized as:

    • Use a tripod when possible.
    • Use lots of indirect, diffuse light. (Remember that the lights go behind the camera, not behind the subject!)
    • Learn the settings on your camera and how they affect your pictures. In particular, learn to set the white balance on your camera.
    • Frame the subject properly.

    Following these steps can help you avoid work in the editing step. If you use enough light, then improving the tonal range and increasing the brightness will be unnecessary. With the correct white balance, you will not have to correct color casts. If you use diffuse (as opposed to direct) light, you will not have to reduce excessive contrast. If you frame the subject properly, you may not have to crop your picture to center the subject.

    Above all else, though, practice! Digital photography is not like film photography. With film photography, you pay for every picture you take. (Even if the lab buys back pictures you do not like, you still had to pay for the film.) With digital photography, if a picture is blurry, too dark, or if you simply do not like it, delete it and take another.

  3. What is the Rule of Thirds?

    The Rule of Thirds is a guideline to help compose pictures. Chuck Gardner has a short description of the Rule of Thirds. BetterPhoto.com has a few examples of pictures composed using the Rule of Thirds.

  4. How can I take better portraits?

    Chuck Gardner has lots of information on taking portraits. The Zeltsman Approach to Traditional Classic Portraiture is also an excellent guide to portrait photography.

Editing Photos In The GIMP

  1. How do I edit my digital photos with the GIMP?

    There are many techniques for digital photo editing. However, the following basic steps should give good results.

    1. Rotate the picture, if necessary
    2. Crop the picture
    3. Improve tonal range
    4. Remove color cast
    5. Increase brightness
    6. Reduce excessive contrast

  2. How can I add "pop" to dull photos?

    Try using Local Contrast Enhancement. (See our Tutorials section for a GIMP script to automate this.) Another interesting technique was posted to the DPReview forums.