Image manipulation is one of the key application areas that needs to be
addressed for open source tools to become the mainstream desktop
environment. I'm currently funding a number of different open source
projects, and am considering funding work on the GIMP or CinePaint.
I've had some discussions with Robin Rowe on the CinePaint front, and
would also like to hear from the GIMP community, to help me figure out
what the most effective strategy will be.
My goals are:
- to help open source tools reach the point where they compete with
Adobe Photoshop for professional use. I understand that the GIMP is a
fantastic tool already, as is CinePaint, and that both have some
features which are better than any commercial tool, but it's also clear
that they both need considerable further work before they become a "no
brainer" choice for any professional
- to create capacity in these tools for high end digital photography,
cinematography and printing
- to integrate with the best and latest in open source desktop
environments, to comply with user interface guidelines and to perform
well in usability and discoverability
- there is no goal number 4
I've asked Robin if he will allow me to publish our correspondence to
date, on which I'd very much like your feedback and commentary.
Regardless of whether we do that, I'd like to hear from the GIMP
developers and community.
- Is the GIMP a good platform to build on to try to achieve these goals?
- What functionality would need to be added to the GIMP to challenge
Photoshop?
- How would the GIMP team use funding that was made available to them
to achieve these goals?
- Why would the GIMP be a better project to support than CinePaint (for
the purpose of attaining these specific goals)?
- What impact could funding have in terms of specific deliverables and
timeframes?
If this isn't the best forum for this message please accept my apologies
and point me to the right place. Thanks for the work you have done in
producing an exceptional tool. I'm no image editing expert but I can
appreciate the polish and effort required to create and maintain a
project such as the GIMP.
Thanks,
Mark
--
Try Debian GNU/Linux. Software freedom for the bold, at www.debian.org
http://www.markshuttleworth.com/
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