[.ca] Gimp Pocket Reference (ISBN 1565927311)

From Amazon.co.uk:
The GNU Image manipulation program, or GIMP to its friends, is an open source image-editing application for Unix and Linux operating systems. It is supplied with many Linux implementations and you can also download it from the Web. Sven Neumann has been using the GIMP since 1997, and his GIMP Pocket Reference is a simple-structured guide to everything the GIMP has to offer, starting out with the tools and interface, moving through the menus and finishing with a table of supported file formats. It is a useful quick reference for those times when what should be obvious isn't, or as an introduction to the GIMP's feature set. Occasionally, Neumann goes beyond mere functional description and provides more detailed explanation of techniques like selection, layers and channels. There is also a short overview of colour models, and drawing and layer models. The GIMP Pocket Reference won't tell you how to set up a scanner or graphics tablet to work with GIMP, or how to go about scripting, retouching or compositing. If you are looking for information on configuration, scripting and practical hands-on advice then you need one of the more comprehensive manuals, such as GIMP User's Manual. But if you can't remember how to select the ink tool brush, or add an alpha channel this handy little reference provides a direct and low-cost route to the answer. --Ken McMahon

The GIMP's friendly Manual:
O'Reilly's GIMP Pocket Reference by Sven Neumann, a main developer of the program, explains features of the GNU (General) Image Manipulation Program. This guide informs designers working in a Linux/Unix or Windows environment with a powerful and complex image manipulation tool. The GIMP, a free Open Source image editor and a design application that approximates Photoshop in terms of functionality and power, runs on most *nix platforms. The software is included with many Linux distros, and is downloadable. Based on the menu structure, the reference covers and explains GIMP's functions and fabulous possibilities. This cute, small book offers tips and defines image manipulation. This Pocket book enables novices and experts to use an emerging program quickly, efficiently. It describes tools, filters, and menu items. It also offers design tips, and includes an overview of image manipulation and design terms. A welcome table of file formats supported by the GIMP is included. This is an excellent 10 bucks, 100-page reference guide for occasional feature searching and explaining.

An excellent quick reference:
This is a very good quick reference guide to the GIMP, although it is slightly out-of-date already (but that's the nature of Open Source software development). The guide is targeted at the 1.2 release of the GIMP but was wirtten before 1.2 was actually released; what this means is that, while the guide is about 95% correct, there are portions of it that are no longer exactly relevant and there are other features of the released version of the GIMP that are either documented incompletely, incorrectly or not at all. However, for somebody who already knows the generalities of the GIMP this is an excellent occasional "how did that feature work again?" quick-ref guide. Of course, what do you expect from an O'Reilly book?