| Chapter 2. Fire up the GIMP | ||
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Part I. Getting started with the GIMP |  |
| Chapter 2. Fire up the GIMP | ||
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Part I. Getting started with the GIMP | |
Table of Contents
Most often, you start GIMP either by clicking on an icon (if your system is set up to provide you with one), or by typing gimp on a command line. If you have multiple versions of the GIMP installed, you may need to type gimp-2.2 to get the latest version. You can, if you want, give a list of image files on the command line after the program name, and they will automatically be opened by GIMP as it starts. It is also possible, though, to open files from within GIMP once it is running.
In most operating systems, you can set things up so that various types of image files are “associated” with GIMP, and cause it to start automatically when icons for them are double-clicked.
Ordinarily you don't need to give any arguments when starting
GIMP, but here is a list of some that may at one time or anther be
useful. This is not a complete list; on Unix systems you can get
a complete list by running man gimp in a
terminal window.
Display a list of all commandline options.
Print the version of GIMP being used, and exit.
Show detailed startup messages.
Do not load patterns, gradients, palettes, or brushes. Often useful in non-interactive situations where startup time is to be minimized.
![[Tip]](../images/tip.png)
display
Use the designated X display (does not apply to GIMP on Microsoft Windows).
Do not show the splash screen while starting.
name
Use a different sessionrc for this GIMP
session. The given session name is appended to the default
sessionrc filename.
gimprc
Use an alternative gimprc instead of the
default one. The gimprc file contains a
record of your preferences. Useful in cases where plugins paths
or machine specs may be different.
Do not popup dialog boxes on errors or warnings. Print the messages on the console instead.
commands
Execute the set of commands non-interactively. The set of commands
is typically in the form of a script that can be executed by one
of the GIMP scripting extensions. When commands is
-, the commands are read from standard
input.
The GIMP is the most widely supported image manipulation available today. The platforms that The GIMP is known to work on include GNU/Linux™, Apple Mac OS X (Darwin)™, Microsoft Windows 95, 98, Me, XP, NT4, and 2000™, OpenBSD™, NetBSD™, FreeBSD™, Solaris™, SunOS™, AIX™, HP-UX™, Tru64™, Digital UNIX™, OSF/1™, IRIX™, OS/2™, and BeOS™.
The GIMP can easily be ported to other operating systems because of its source code availability.
All being well, GIMP detects the system language. This may fail on some machines and you may want use another language. It is possible to change the language:
Procedure 2.1. Linux
In LINUX: in console mode,
type LANGUAGE=en gimp or
LANG=en gimp
replacing en by fr, de, ... according to the language you
want. Background: By using LANGUAGE=en
you're setting an environment variable for the executed
program gimp here.
Procedure 2.2. Windows XP
In WINDOWS XP: Control Panel/System/ Advanced/"Environment" button/ In "System Variables" area: "Add" button: Enter LANG for Name and fr or de... for Value. Watch out! You have to click on three successive "OK" to validate your choice.
If you often change language, you can create a batch file. Open NotePad. Type the following commands (for french for instance):
set lang=fr
cd c:\Program Files\GIMP-2.0\bin
GIMP-2.2.exe
Save this file as GIMP-FR.BAT (or another name, but always with a .BAT extension. Create shortcut and drag it to your desktop.
Procedure 2.3. Windows ME
Start/Programs/ Accessories/System Tools/System Informations/Tools/System Configuration Utility/"Environment" tab/"New" button: Enter LANG for Name and fr or de... for Value.
