I just bought a scanner and am looking to do some graphics and such with it. I just need a basic print shop and something to resize my scans to post on the internet. Also to make some ads for my business. I know Adobe is a good Photshop but can't afford it. Free is what I am looking for or something cheap. Someone told me about J print, is that good?

What I's wanting to do

1. Scan my stuff and resize it without losing resolution
2. Make print ads or web ads for my business.
3. Maybe business cards also. (The cards I have seen done at home don't look that good, maybe I am missing something.

There's a list of free photo editing programs HERE. I haven't used any of them as I use photoshop myself, but I hear that Gimp has rave reviews!

As for your making business cards at home, most commonly people don't use a nice heavy stock paper (really thick paper), and use the regualr paper that's rather flimsy. A heavier stock paper with a low dot gain will help to keep a business card looking good. Also, print business cards in the highest quality your printer will allow. This will help to keep the images/text on the cards looking crisp.

Hope it helps!

Which file do I download for Gimp. It takes me to a FTP site and there are several files. Which one is it?

Let me get someone who is more familiar with Gimp than myself.....

Thanks I love this site!

I have it Stevie.
You can download GIMP here. Read this page before downloading and installing GIMP. Depending on the version of Windows you may have to install additional software. The GTK+ 2 Runtime Environment from Microsoft. There are two version so take care.
It is a great program. Have fun.

Thanks acklan! I had PM'd tg1911, as I know that he's quite familiar with Gimp....but he must be on a holiday break! (who authorized that?????)

I appreciate the help acklan!

Thanks for all the help. Is there a thread on Gimp somewhere on here to look thru? I will try and find it also.

Thanks again!

There's a great tutorial HERE written by tg1911. While it seems long (and it'll take you a while to do at first), once you do it a few times, you'll have it down pat! While this tutorial only covers resizing an animated .gif, it'll also help you to become a little more acsustom to the program itself.

Of course, if you need help with .gif, just post in the approriate forum(s) and I'm sure that some one will help you out.

Yeah, if you can call the flu a holiday.
I'd also like to find out who authorized that.


There's not a specific thread on Gimp here, but a search might turn up a few.
Here's some GIMP resources you might find useful:
GIMP Talk
GIMP Tutorials at gimp.org
GIMP Tutorials at pixel2life
GIMP User Group (GUG)
Grokking the GIMP
GIMP User Manual
Simple Animations

I need something I can make handbills with or ads on a sheet of paper. i used to use MS Publisher to do this but it doesn't work on my newer CPU. Gimp is very confusing and can't get the hang of it. I want to make ads like you see stapled to a telephone pole. Any suggestions?

If you just want basic text, and maybe a couple of images, give IrfanView a try.

If you don't like GIMP,

you probably won't like Paint.Net.

but I'll suggest it anyway.

I want to make a handbill with some clip art. It is to sell a service. That is more like a photoediting programs. I want something with a handbill template so I can make ads. The may say:

Drink The KoolAid
Free Cars wash with every fillup.
See inside for details.

Maybe put a border around it and some clipart.

Somebody told me about J Print or something like that but I can't find it.

I'm sure I would like Gimp if I understood it. I can't get past reopening the big layer window that i shut down by accident.

A quick check of www.sourceforge.net revals a base model Imaging Program like you want: (sorry I got thru 16 of 60 pages and only found one)

mtPaint-I havent tried it yet

although I might suggest OpenOffice.org because I used to do that sort of thing with MSOffice back in the day.

Also I maybe able to help you get accoustomed to GIMP as I am also cutting my teeth on it (so to speak) right now and it's probly the best Graphic and Image Manipulation Software out right now (and I loved the new PaintShopPro before my trial ran out)

Had that issue as well just figured it out today (assuming your reffering to the Layer Dialog)
heres how to get it back

-File->Dialogs->Create New Dock->Layers, Channels, and Paths
then
-File->Dialogs->Create New Dock->Misc Stuff

BTW no such program as J Print exists in Sourceforge.net or Google.com search engines.

and you may want to checkout Souceforge.net (always remember it's .net not .com) they are an open source software development community. Just search what your looking for and if someone is making or has made it will be there.

Thats the ticket baby. I would have never figured that out. Thanks. Maybe I can get this to make a flyer now. I was calliing it a handbill because I couldn't remember flyer. Thanks again. Aund I will check our Souceforge.net Thanks again.

I know I am reasking the same question a different way but I need a program like MS publisher to make flyers, brochures, postcards forms for my business. I can't seem to find it in Gimp. Any simple stuff out there. Free is always a plus.

Could you link to some images of what you're talking about.
I've never used MS publisher, so I don't have a clue as to what it can do, or what your looking for.
If I had some samples of what you're looking for, I may be able to recommend a program, that'll do what you want,

You can do that, and more, with Open Office. Maybe it is overkill, but the price sure is right - free - although I'm not sure it will fall under the "simple" category.

Do you have a scanner or digital camera? Often they will include free software that might do what you want.

Thanks for the help again. I will see if it works.