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  6.     <title>2.¬† What's New in GIMP 2.4?</title>
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  13.     <link rel="up" href="introduction.html" title="Chapter¬†1.¬† Introduction" />
  14.     <link rel="prev" href="introduction.html" title="Chapter¬†1.¬† Introduction" />
  15.     <link rel="next" href="gimp-fire-up.html" title="Chapter¬†2.¬† Fire up the GIMP" />
  16.   </head>
  17.   <body>
  18.     <div class="navheader">
  19.       <table width="100%" summary="Navigation header">
  20.         <tr>
  21.           <th colspan="3" align="center">2.¬†
  22.     <span lang="en" xml:lang="en">What's New in GIMP 2.4?</span>
  23.   </th>
  24.         </tr>
  25.         <tr>
  26.           <td width="20%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="introduction.html"><img src="../images/prev.png" alt="Prev" /></a>¬†</td>
  27.           <th width="60%" align="center">Chapter¬†1.¬†
  28.         <span lang="en" xml:lang="en">Introduction</span>
  29.       </th>
  30.           <td width="20%" align="right">¬†<a accesskey="n" href="gimp-fire-up.html"><img src="../images/next.png" alt="Next" /></a></td>
  31.         </tr>
  32.       </table>
  33.       <hr />
  34.     </div>
  35.     <div class="sect1" lang="en" xml:lang="en">
  36.       <div class="titlepage">
  37.         <div>
  38.           <div>
  39.             <h2 class="title" style="clear: both"><a id="gimp-introduction-whats-new"></a>2.¬†
  40.     <span lang="en" xml:lang="en">What's New in GIMP 2.4?</span>
  41.   </h2>
  42.           </div>
  43.           <div>
  44.             <div class="revhistory">
  45.               <table border="1" width="100%" summary="Revision history">
  46.                 <tr>
  47.                   <th align="left" valign="top" colspan="3">
  48.                     <b>Revision History</b>
  49.                   </th>
  50.                 </tr>
  51.                 <tr>
  52.                   <td align="left">Revision $Revision: 2432 $</td>
  53.                   <td align="left">2007-09-02</td>
  54.                   <td align="left">n.n.</td>
  55.                 </tr>
  56.               </table>
  57.             </div>
  58.           </div>
  59.         </div>
  60.       </div>
  61.       <div class="variablelist">
  62.         <dl>
  63.           <dt>
  64.             <span class="term">Refreshed Look</span>
  65.           </dt>
  66.           <dd>
  67.             <p>
  68.           A whole new default icon theme has been created for 2.4. The icons
  69.           comply with the Tango style guidelines so GIMP doesn't feel out of
  70.           place on any of the supported platforms. Regardless of whether you
  71.           run GIMP under Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X or Linux (GNOME, KDE or
  72.           Xfce), GIMP provides a polished, consistent look.
  73.         </p>
  74.             <div class="figure">
  75.               <a id="id2525973"></a>
  76.               <p class="title">
  77.                 <b>Figure¬†1.1.¬†
  78.             <span lang="en" xml:lang="en">New Look of the toolbox in GIMP 2.4</span>
  79.           </b>
  80.               </p>
  81.               <div class="figure-contents">
  82.                 <div class="mediaobject">
  83.                   <img src="../images/using/24-refreshed-look.png" alt="New Look of the toolbox in GIMP 2.4" />
  84.                 </div>
  85.               </div>
  86.             </div>
  87.             <br class="figure-break" />
  88.             <p>
  89.           Additionally the icons also have enhanced usability on dark widget
  90.           themes, which is a common setting among digital artists.
  91.         </p>
  92.             <p>
  93.           For artists preferring more desaturated color theme for their icons
  94.           is an alternative icon theme available for download
  95.           <a class="xref" href="bibliography.html#bibliography-online-jimmac01" title="Alternative icon theme for GIMP 2.4">[<abbr class="abbrev">JIMMAC01</abbr>]</a>.
  96.         </p>
  97.           </dd>
  98.           <dt>
  99.             <span class="term">Scalable Brushes</span>
  100.           </dt>
  101.           <dd>
  102.             <p>
  103.           The tool options now include a brush size slider that affects both
  104.           the parametric and bitmap brushes. This has been an oft-requested
  105.           feature from both digital painters and photo editors.
  106.         </p>
  107.             <div class="figure">
  108.               <a id="id2526050"></a>
  109.               <p class="title">
  110.                 <b>Figure¬†1.2.¬†
  111.             <span lang="en" xml:lang="en">Scalable brushes in GIMP 2.4</span>
  112.           </b>
  113.               </p>
  114.               <div class="figure-contents">
  115.                 <div class="mediaobject">
  116.                   <img src="../images/using/24-scalable-brushes.png" alt="Scalable brushes in GIMP 2.4" />
  117.                 </div>
  118.               </div>
  119.             </div>
  120.             <br class="figure-break" />
  121.             <p>
  122.           Unlike previous versions of GIMP, regardless of whether you're using
  123.           a bitmap brush, parametric brush or even a picture tube (multiple
  124.           bitmaps), you can easily set the brush size with either the tool
  125.           options dock slider or an external device such as a MIDI slider or
  126.           knob or a USB device like the Griffin Powermate.
  127.         </p>
  128.           </dd>
  129.           <dt>
  130.             <span class="term">Selection Tools</span>
  131.           </dt>
  132.           <dd>
  133.             <p>
  134.           The selection tools have been rewritten from scratch to allow
  135.           resizing of existing selections. Additionally the rectangular
  136.           selection tool includes a setting for creating rounded corners as
  137.           this has been identified as a very common task among web designers.
  138.         </p>
  139.             <div class="figure">
  140.               <a id="id2526110"></a>
  141.               <p class="title">
  142.                 <b>Figure¬†1.3.¬†
  143.             <span lang="en" xml:lang="en">Selection tools in GIMP 2.4</span>
  144.           </b>
  145.               </p>
  146.               <div class="figure-contents">
  147.                 <div class="mediaobject">
  148.                   <img src="../images/using/24-selection-tools.png" alt="Selection tools in GIMP 2.4" />
  149.                 </div>
  150.               </div>
  151.             </div>
  152.             <br class="figure-break" />
  153.             <p>
  154.           The learning curve for the tools has been flattened as the key
  155.           functionality is available without obscure shortcuts that confused
  156.           GIMP beginners. Most of the existing shortcuts still work, but the
  157.           functionality is either available through the tool options or made
  158.           obsolete due to the interactive move and resize on canvas.
  159.         </p>
  160.             <p>
  161.           While the tools have been redesigned to make them easier to
  162.           understand for the newbies, all the former functionality is there.
  163.           You can still constrain aspect ratios or specific sizes.
  164.         </p>
  165.           </dd>
  166.           <dt>
  167.             <span class="term">Foreground Select Tool</span>
  168.           </dt>
  169.           <dd>
  170.             <p>
  171.           Selecting individual objects on images is easier now with a new
  172.           <a class="link" href="gimp-tool-foreground-select.html" title="2.8.¬† Foreground Select">
  173.             foreground select tool
  174.           </a>. It is done in two steps. First, you make
  175.           select region of interest which contains the entire object. Then you
  176.           paint over selected area with a brush, not crossing object‚Äôs border.
  177.           Release mouse button when you‚Äôre done and look, if there are dark
  178.           blue spots on your objects. If there are some, paint with a brush
  179.           over them again and release to refine selection. When there are no
  180.           more blue areas inside the object, press Enter and there you have a
  181.           perfectly selected object.
  182.         </p>
  183.           </dd>
  184.           <dt>
  185.             <span class="term">Align Tool</span>
  186.           </dt>
  187.           <dd>
  188.             <p>
  189.           While GIMP has provided a grid and guideline functionality, the
  190.           actual alignment of objects had to be done manually. A new tool
  191.           comes at rescue <a class="link" href="gimp-tool-align.html" title="4.3.¬† Align">...</a>
  192.         </p>
  193.           </dd>
  194.           <dt>
  195.             <span class="term">Changes in menus</span>
  196.           </dt>
  197.           <dd>
  198.             <p>
  199.           Most notable is the new top-level Color menu that accumulates most
  200.           tools, plug-ins and scripts that adjust colors in RGB/Grayscale mode
  201.           and color palettes in Indexed mode. So now you can reach functions
  202.           like Levels or Curves much faster than before, unless you define
  203.           your own keyboard shortcuts for them using the improved keyboard
  204.           shortcuts manager.
  205.         </p>
  206.             <p>
  207.           In the new version of GIMP, some menu entries have changed their
  208.           names and position. It was done mostly to simplify learning curve
  209.           and improve user experience. After all, "HSV Noise" and "RGB Noise"
  210.           sound more meaningful than "Scatter HSV" and "Scatter RGB", don't
  211.           they? And status bar hints for all plug-ins and scripts are quite
  212.           helpful too.
  213.         </p>
  214.           </dd>
  215.           <dt>
  216.             <span class="term">Support for file formats</span>
  217.           </dt>
  218.           <dd>
  219.             <div class="itemizedlist">
  220.               <ul type="disc">
  221.                 <li>
  222.                   <p>Support for Photoshop ABR brush format;</p>
  223.                 </li>
  224.                 <li>
  225.                   <p>Improved reading/writing EXIF in JPEG;</p>
  226.                 </li>
  227.                 <li>
  228.                   <p>Importing clipping paths in TIFF;</p>
  229.                 </li>
  230.                 <li>
  231.                   <p>Layer masks can be saved to PSD;</p>
  232.                 </li>
  233.                 <li>
  234.                   <p>
  235.               16/32 bit bitmaps and alpha-channel support in BMP;
  236.             </p>
  237.                 </li>
  238.                 <li>
  239.                   <p>
  240.               24 bit and Vista icons can be opened and saved.
  241.             </p>
  242.                 </li>
  243.               </ul>
  244.             </div>
  245.           </dd>
  246.           <dt>
  247.             <span class="term">Fullscreen Editing</span>
  248.           </dt>
  249.           <dd>
  250.             <p>
  251.           The fullscreen mode has been improved to not only allow getting a
  252.           full scale preview of the artwork, but also allow comfortable
  253.           editing. The artist has maximum screen estate available while all
  254.           functionality is quickly accessible by pressing the Tab key (toggles
  255.           visibility of all docks) when working fullscreen.
  256.         </p>
  257.             <p>
  258.           Whether painting or touching up photos, fullscreen editing keeps all
  259.           the distracting elements out of sight on a key press. It's like
  260.           observing stars in a field as opposed to a light-polluted city.
  261.         </p>
  262.           </dd>
  263.           <dt>
  264.             <span class="term">Color Management and Soft-proofing</span>
  265.           </dt>
  266.           <dd>
  267.             <p>
  268.           GIMP now provides full support for color profiles allowing precise
  269.           color modification throughout the whole
  270.           ‚Äú<span class="quote">digital darkroom</span>‚Äù process.
  271.         </p>
  272.             <div class="figure">
  273.               <a id="id2580636"></a>
  274.               <p class="title">
  275.                 <b>Figure¬†1.4.¬†
  276.             <span lang="en" xml:lang="en">Color management in GIMP 2.4</span>
  277.           </b>
  278.               </p>
  279.               <div class="figure-contents">
  280.                 <div class="mediaobject">
  281.                   <img src="../images/using/24-color-management.png" alt="Color management in GIMP 2.4" />
  282.                 </div>
  283.               </div>
  284.             </div>
  285.             <br class="figure-break" />
  286.           </dd>
  287.           <dt>
  288.             <span class="term">New Crop Tool</span>
  289.           </dt>
  290.           <dd>
  291.             <p>
  292.           Just like the selection tools, the new crop tool has been enhanced
  293.           since the last release. The resize handles actually resize the crop
  294.           rectangle instead of providing both resize and move functionality.
  295.           The tool behaves more naturally and consistently with other GIMP
  296.           tools. For details see <a class="xref" href="gimp-tool-crop.html" title="4.4.¬† Crop">Section¬†4.4, ‚Äú
  297.     <span lang="en" xml:lang="en">Crop</span>
  298.   ‚Äù</a>.
  299.         </p>
  300.             <p>
  301.           To move, simply drag the rectangle clicking within the area.
  302.           Resizing is possible in one or two axes at the same time dragging
  303.           the handle-bars on the sides and corners. The outside area is
  304.           darkened with a nice passepartout effect to better get the idea of
  305.           how the final crop will look like.
  306.         </p>
  307.           </dd>
  308.           <dt>
  309.             <span class="term">Red Eye Removal</span>
  310.           </dt>
  311.           <dd>
  312.             <p>
  313.           While numerous red-eye workflows exist already, GIMP now features a
  314.           very convenient auto-magic filter to remove red eye from your shots.
  315.         </p>
  316.           </dd>
  317.           <dt>
  318.             <span class="term">Healing Brush</span>
  319.           </dt>
  320.           <dd>
  321.             <p>
  322.           The healing brush is a new tool, similar in the working of the
  323.           clone tool, that permits to quickly fix small defects or
  324.           imperfections due to scratching or dust. In fact the tool is smart
  325.           enough to being able to <span class="emphasis"><em>understand</em></span> where and
  326.           how to modify an image to cure these defects based on image color
  327.           context.
  328.         </p>
  329.           </dd>
  330.           <dt>
  331.             <span class="term">Perspective Clone</span>
  332.           </dt>
  333.           <dd>
  334.             <p>
  335.           Here is another clone-like new tool that is able to adapt the
  336.           destination geometry, instead of color as does the healing brush,
  337.           based on preselected distortion settings. As the name suggests,
  338.           perfect when copying images blocks with some type of prospective
  339.           changes.
  340.         </p>
  341.           </dd>
  342.           <dt>
  343.             <span class="term">Lens Distortion</span>
  344.           </dt>
  345.           <dd>
  346.             <p>
  347.           A very common problem exposing itself especially when using cheaper
  348.           lenses is barrel distortion and vignetting. Luckily GIMP provides a
  349.           brand new filter to compensate for both problems. Saving
  350.           photographer's pocket is our mission!
  351.         </p>
  352.           </dd>
  353.           <dt>
  354.             <span class="term">Various Other Improvements</span>
  355.           </dt>
  356.           <dd>
  357.             <p>
  358.           In addition to all the above, GIMP has been improved in other areas
  359.           such as:
  360.         </p>
  361.             <div class="itemizedlist">
  362.               <ul type="disc">
  363.                 <li>
  364.                   <p>
  365.               Better status information for tools in the window status bar.
  366.             </p>
  367.                 </li>
  368.                 <li>
  369.                   <p>
  370.               Various speedups in composing functions and gradient drawing.
  371.             </p>
  372.                 </li>
  373.                 <li>
  374.                   <p>Zoomable preview widget for plugins.</p>
  375.                 </li>
  376.               </ul>
  377.             </div>
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  404.         <span lang="en" xml:lang="en">Fire up the GIMP</span>
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