CHAPTER2
Using GIMP 2.1
Starting for the First Time
When you launch T HE GIMP for the first time, you will see a special dialog box. This allows you to setup T HE GIMP to your personal settings, without affecting the way T HE GIMP runs for other users. The first thing you’ll see is the license to T HE GIMP – the GNU General Public License. Click continue if you accept the license.
2.1.1 User Directory T HE GIMP now needs to create a directory to hold your personal settings. Under UNIX, Linux, and UNIX-like systems, the directory will be ˜/.gimp-1.2, the tilde represents your home directory – often /home/username. Under M ICROSOFT W INDOWS the directory location will vary. All the files and directories which will be created are listed on the left-hand side. Click on any of the entries to see what it is for. If you want these files and directories to be created, click Continue. T HE GIMP will give you a list of what was done. You should check this list for any errors and if there are no problems you may click Continue again.
2.1.2 Performance Tuning To make T HE GIMP perform as well as possible, you can adjust several settings. For storing data about images which are being edited, T HE GIMP uses a section of memory called the Tile Cache. A good way to decide on a good size for your Tile Cache is to use two-thirds of the RAM available in your system. For example, 32 MB would be a good size if your system has 48 MB RAM. Some images are just too big to fit into this cache, and so T HE GIMP can use your hard disk as a type of additional memory. You should set your swap directory to an area on your hard disk which has enough free space – around 200 MB. To enhance performance when you have several hard disks, you can set the swap file to the fastest one. To locate a directory, click on the ... button or enter it directly into the box. You should make sure that T HE GIMP shows you a checkmark next to the box, otherwise T HE GIMP can’t access the directory. Once you have made your settings, click Continue.
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