[ccp4bb]: GIMP for image manipulation and a shameless plug for GNU in general ...

[gwebster@caregroup.harvard.edu]

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F.Y.I  Re: Yong Tang's previous message about image manipulation ...

For all of you out there using sgi machines, many of the GNU applications
are provided as precompiled binary "inst" packages that can be downloaded
and directly installed from sgi's website (you need root privileges). The
GIMP program (a truly excellent application that's absolutely worth the time
invested in learning to use it) is one of the prebuilt packages offered by
sgi on their "freeware" list at:

                http://freeware.sgi.com/index-by-alpha.html


Most of the core of the GNU suite is also offered on the sgi "Freeware"
CD-ROMs that come as a part of the OS distribution.
If you really want the latest bleeding edge, pre-alpha releases, then you
might want to consider setting up the GNU dvelopment environment on your sgi
if you don't have it already.

If you are planning to use the GNU programs for your work, it is well worth
while downloading and installing the "gcc" compiler and its associated
"build" environment (gmake etc.) as it makes the compilation of the GNU
sources much more straightforward. Use of the sgi default "cc" compiler
often entails some manual fiddling with compile time flags if you want to
produce working binaries rather than a few screens of compiler errors.

And while you're at it, why stop there? Consider running Linux on your PC.
All of the GNU environment (including GIMP) comes with it so you never need
to worry about converting your images for Photoshop again.

But for those of you whose work really requires that their OS and
applications to be poorly designed, unstable and overpriced, then GNU/Linux
is probably not for you, but I believe that there are alternative,
commercially available products that meet these needs ...

Gordon