A Freeware Alternative To Make Usable Images

Glassy buttons? Shadows? Icon's with a faded edge effect? Check this out.

Monday, May 8, 2006 by TheGuyPC | Discussion: Community

After working with Microsoft, Paint.Net has served up some major "upgrade's" to your built in "Paint" program.
(Don't bother to Google "Paint.Net" You'll get a site that will sell you paint for your walls.) "Glassy" effects? You're covered! "Brushed Metal"? Yep! Layer support? Oooooh, yeah! AND, MUCH MORE!
You are going to like what you see!

Check out the forums. There are some really good tutorials there.

Finally! A freeware way to create DesktopX images! Really. Check it out. Oh, do you use Stardock's Icon Developer? Paint.Net works seamlessly with this program! It add's features that were previously available only with expensive "paid" graphics programs.
41 Reply 6 Referrals
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Double Zero
Reply #21 Wednesday, May 10, 2006 9:55 AM
Photoshop or, Paint Shop Pro. I'm not experienced enough to know the difference.


For current versions..the difference is about 6-$800 US...LoL
Trust me it isnt to hard to tell between them..

TheGuyPC
Reply #22 Wednesday, May 10, 2006 3:59 PM
Ouch! LOL! I only looked up Paint Shop Pro. Just glancing around the Corel site, I mistook their "Photo Album" for "Photo Shop". (I know, pretty dumb)

I can't believe they want that much for Photo Shop! That must be one heck of a progam.

Once I can figure out Paint.Net, I may have to post back and ask about Paint Shop Pro. Photo Shop is out of the question (Wow, talk about sticker shock!)

Thanks for all of the replies!

Fairyy~
Reply #23 Wednesday, May 10, 2006 4:09 PM
After you figure out paint.net you can try GIMP ..this has some different stuff. But its a bit harder to figure out. You need to install the runtime also ( not too long a download )
Gimp :
Link

Double Zero
Reply #24 Wednesday, May 10, 2006 4:12 PM
I can't believe they want that much for Photo Shop! That must be one heck of a progam.

Once I can figure out Paint.Net, I may have to post back and ask about Paint Shop Pro. Photo Shop is out of the question


LoL... All is not lost! if you want Photoshop and dont mind "Older Versions" you can still get 6-7-8 for a decent price..from $100 -$300US .. I have even heard of "clearance" sales at places like "Frys Electronics" "CompUSA" (both have web stores) where the older versions have sold for as little as $19 US ...

Just kinda got to keep an eye peeled on the sales...

ZubaZ
Reply #25 Wednesday, May 10, 2006 4:34 PM
After you figure out paint.net you can try GIMP


I liked using Gimpshop. It's like putting a Photshop skin on Gimp: http://plasticbugs.com/index.php?p=241

TheGuyPC
Reply #26 Wednesday, May 10, 2006 6:12 PM
I decided to just go ahead and download Gimp. (Thanks Fairyy~) I thought it might help to be able to compare them. (Paint.Net and Gimp). (I don't know if there's a benefit to be had by doing this, but....)

Thanks for the Gimpshop link Zubaz. I went with that so that if I ever get Photo Shop I'll hopefully have a bit of a heads up.

Hopefully when I start submitting DX Objects (which is what I would like to do), they won't look too horrible!

It's amazing what's out there for free. There are some pretty cool people in this world, you all among them.

Thanks Again!

Fairyy~
Reply #27 Wednesday, May 10, 2006 6:29 PM


I liked using Gimpshop. It's like putting a Photshop skin on Gimp


Sir Zubaz? I had posted awhile ago but it seems to be missing ...Is that the only difference between GIMP and GIMPSHOP ......just Gimpshop is set up to be user friendly for those that know Photoshop ? Or are there some other benefits to it...

I downloaded the install for GimpShop but I will wait to install - I have no practice with Photoshop so that won't help me out unless there was more . I gather GimpShop uses the same GTK runtime ?

Fairyy~
Reply #28 Wednesday, May 10, 2006 6:30 PM
removing double post (grrr)

BlueDev
Reply #29 Wednesday, May 10, 2006 7:19 PM
Fairyy~: I have used both and the layout seems to be the only difference. Personally, I prefer the default GIMP layout (now that I am used to it). In fact, I prefer The GIMP over Paint Shop Pro by far. Once you get used to it, it is a wonderful program.

Fairyy~
Reply #30 Wednesday, May 10, 2006 8:19 PM
[BlueDev]
Fairyy~: I have used both and the layout seems to be the only difference. Personally, I prefer the default GIMP layout (now that I am used to it). In fact, I prefer The GIMP over Paint Shop Pro by far. Once you get used to it, it is a wonderful program


Thanks..that answers my question. So its a good idea for those that have used Photoshop...but for me the default Gimp will do...now to figure it out.

Between all these free programs you can make something halfway decent without spending $300.

TheGuyPC
Reply #31 Wednesday, May 10, 2006 9:09 PM
Between all these free programs you can make something halfway decent without spending $300.


Well........we'll see

Just for reference, I did download and install the Gimpshop. It works, but it keeps wanting me to insert a disk. (Which of course I don't have). I've only run in once so, maybe this was just an original start-up problem.

I haven't looked yet, but I'm hoping there are some good plug-in's for Gimp. That is kind of a shortfall (I think) with Paint.Net. There are a few for it, but not many. I'm guessing Gimp has been around longer since Gimpshop is a re-work.

I'm going to get busy. I'm excited to try all of this out! Then, on to scripting

Bichur
Reply #32 Wednesday, May 10, 2006 9:37 PM
Thanks Fairyy~

Thank you too, Jebro...unfortunately it was the English link there that kept timing out on me.

Fairyy~
Reply #33 Thursday, May 11, 2006 6:51 AM
[Bichur]
Thanks Fairyy~

Thank you too, Jebro...unfortunately it was the English link there that kept timing out on me.


You all set ? Cos I can send you the install...surprizingly - its under 2 mbs ...small for what it does.

Bichur
Reply #34 Thursday, May 11, 2006 8:13 AM
You all set ?

Yepper, snagged it last night.


TheGuyPC
Reply #35 Thursday, May 11, 2006 1:03 PM
I found out that the Gimp WILL do 3D looking text! I has a bunch of nice options if you go under Logo's and look around.

The Gimpshop kept crashing on my computer though. I uninstalled it and, installed the regular Gimp. I have a 64 bit processor with 32bit WinXP, so maybe that's a problem. I don't know. Works good now though!

TheGuyPC
Reply #36 Thursday, May 11, 2006 2:01 PM
I'll try this yet again











I did these in about 2-3 minutes using Script Fu.

ZubaZ
Reply #37 Thursday, May 11, 2006 2:05 PM
Link/h1.ripway.com/theguylf/Untitled.jpg


Wincustomize/Stardock forums don't always like under_scores. Use tinyurl ( http://www.tinyurl.com/ ) to re-encode stuff with underscores.

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central

TheGuyPC
Reply #38 Thursday, May 11, 2006 2:10 PM
Wincustomize/Stardock forums don't always like under_scores. Use tinyurl ( Link ) to re-encode stuff with underscores.


Thanks Sir Zubaz, I goofed up when I entered it

I think I have it fixed now though

BlueDev
Reply #39 Thursday, May 11, 2006 2:34 PM
Nice text TheGuyPC! I tell you, The GIMP is a great piece of freeware!

Fairyy~
Reply #40 Thursday, May 11, 2006 3:33 PM
Awesome looking text effects PC .....I played with GIMP this AM...Im not that familar with it yet..I keep losing " things " I havent even gotten to the text effects yet...I was playing with gradiants .....all in good time...

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