How to GIMP!

GIMP is the GNU Image manipulation tool is basically a raster graphics editor. It can be used for tasks such as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. As a part of designing a handbook for the 180i website, we used this too extensively to create 2D puzzles which set the theme for our project. In this blog, I would like to share the intricacies involved in achieving the same.

Why choose GIMP over Photoshop?

• GIMP is free because it is developed as an open source project. 
• It is as powerful as Photoshop and you can open Photoshop files in GIMP.
• It has versatile selection and transformation tools.
• It is compatible with most operating systems.
• Its easy to learn as compared to Photoshop.
• Cost of GIMP : $0, Photoshop : $699
• Size of GIMP : 18Mb, Photoshop : 1GB + additional space during installation 

Steps involved in Converting the Original image to a Jigsaw puzzle

• Download and install GIMP from : http://www.gimp.org
• Decide the dimensions of the puzzle and create an image with those dimensions
• Draw the puzzle outline with : Filters --> Render --> Pattern --> Jigsaw

• Set the options for the puzzle outline

• In the Jigsaw dialog box, set the horizontal and vertical number of tiles to be numbers of horizontal and vertical rows calculated in Step 1. Set Bevel Width to 0 and Highlight to 0. That will make sure that the lines separating the puzzle pieces will be as thin as possible.
• Bevel width : It controls the slope of the edges of the puzzle pieces
• Highlight : It  controls the strength of the highlight that will appear on the edges of each piece. It can be compared with the glossiness of the material that the puzzle is made up of. Highlight width is relative to the Bevel width. As a rule, the more pieces you add to the puzzle, the lower Bevel and highlight values should be used.  

References : 

[1] http://docs.gimp.org/en/plug-in-jigsaw.html

[2] http://www.wikihow.com/Turn-a-Photo-Into-a-Puzzle-Using-GIMP

[3] http://geekitude.com/Gimp/creatingPuzzles.html

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