GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

Given my last year or so of using GIMP, this is hands down my most preferable image-editing software. For the beginner or novice user such as myself, this program covers all the essentials such as brushes & patterns, selection tools, & edit photos in various formats - free of charge. As a structural engineer, I'd often find myself refining my on-site captured photos via removing residual objects or persons & occasionally adjusting the image contrast before sending them to the client. In my line of work, GIMP is a necessary tool to have.

One of my main gripes against GIMP is that it's impossible to select multiple layers which can sometimes be cumbersome. Furthermore, I've had a few crashes on some instances when importing high-res, 5K photos.

There are several things I like about using Gimp for image editing. First and foremost, the platform is incredibly versatile, with a wide range of tools and features that allow me to manipulate images in virtually any way I can imagine. I particularly appreciate the ability to work with layers and masks, which makes it easy to edit specific parts of an image without affecting the rest.

While I find Gimp to be an excellent image editing tool overall, there are a few drawbacks that I have encountered. One issue is that the platform can be quite complex and overwhelming for new users, particularly those who are not familiar with image editing terminology and techniques. Additionally, while Gimp is a powerful tool, it may not have all of the features and capabilities of some of the more expensive commercial image editing software on the market.

1. Open-source: is by far one of its biggest advantage. It is available freely to everybody and is maintained by open-source enthusiasts over the globe. The tool is replicated with the biggest image editing competitors and therefore, becomes easy to use for anyone new.
2. Precision: is something that does not come easily in open-source tools. However, GIMP is different in that aspect. For sharp image editing, GIMP provides precision, be it color grading or slicing an image.

Stability: I have faced issues like, the tool stops responding at times. I have also felt that at times, the buttons becomes un-clickable and if you try to click a button, the button above it starts working. These types of bugs can easily be fixed with new releases, but since this is an open-source tool, there are no finite cycles being followed for new releases.

Therefore, be prepared to experiment in-case you face these. I usually un-intalled and re-installed the program to fix the issues.

The vast variety of features it offers within the software. And the easy of learning curve. I like the overall experience i get while editing images.

It's better to implement a tutorial like stuff for beginners. It would help new comers to get grasp on what and how software works.

GIMP is a potent and versatile software that offers high-quality image editing capabilities. Its open-source nature makes it completely free to use, which is fantastic for individuals or businesses on a budget. GIMP supports a broad range of file formats, making it adaptable for many different projects. The ability to use and create custom brushes and plugins, as well as its layer and mask functionalities, give GIMP a level of depth comparable to some premium image editing software. It's also highly customizable, and the community support for GIMP is fantastic, with a wealth of tutorials and forums available to help users.

Despite its power, GIMP does have a somewhat steep learning curve, especially for those new to image editing. Its interface, while customizable, can feel a bit clunky and outdated compared to other image editing software. The absence of non-destructive editing is also a notable shortcoming. GIMP lacks some advanced features that professionals may require, such as CMYK color model support, which might make it less suitable for high-end professional design work.