Getting Started - Novell LINUX ENTERPRISE DESKTOP 10 SP1 - KDE 14-05-2007 Manual

18.3 Getting Started

Although The GIMP can be a bit overwhelming for new users, most quickly find it easy
to use once they work out a few basics. Crucial basic functions are creating, opening,
and saving images.
18.3.1 Creating a New Image
To create a new image, select File > New or press Ctrl + N . This opens a dialog in which
to make settings for the new image. If desired, select a predefined setting called a
Template. To create a custom template, select File > Dialogs > Templates and use the
controls offered by the window that opens.
In the Image Size section, set the size of the image to create in pixels or another unit.
Click the unit to select another unit from the list of available units. The ratio between
pixels and a unit is set in Resolution, which appears when the Advanced Options section
is open. A resolution of 72 pixels per inch corresponds to common screen display. It is
sufficient for Web page graphics. A higher resolution should be used for images to
print. For most printers, a resolution of 300 pixels per inch results in an acceptable
quality.
In Colorspace, select whether the image should be in color (RGB) or Grayscale. For
detailed information about image types, see Section 18.5.7, "Image Modes" (page 240).
Select the Fill Type for the new image. Foreground Color and Background Color use
the colors selected in the toolbox. White uses a white background in the image. Trans-
parent creates a clear image. Transparency is represented by a gray checkerboard pattern.
Enter a comment for the new image in Comment.
When the settings meet your needs, press OK. To restore the default settings, press
Reset. Pressing Cancel aborts creation of a new image.
18.3.2 Opening an Existing Image
To open an existing image, select File > Open or press Ctrl + O . In the dialog that opens,
select the desired file. You can also press Ctrl + L and type directly the URI of the desired
image. Then click Open to open the selected image or press Cancel to skip opening an
image.
230 KDE User Guide