All Levels SchoolArts.doc

File Edit View Layer Object Path Text Help Open Source Software Is Geek-Speak for FreeFree Harold Olejarz

similar to Photoshop®, is called the Gimp. Following is Paint, a kids’ draw and paint program rec- ommended for children ages three and up that is similar to ®. Finally, if you are searching for a program with capabilities similar to Illustrator®, Freehand®, and Corel- Draw®, then look no further than Inkscape.

The Gimp www..org Perhaps the most useful piece of open source software you will fi nd is an image manipulation program called the Gimp. It is available for Mac, Windows, and Unix operating systems. If you go to the site, you fi nd that the program is described as “the GNU Image Manipula- tion Program...a freely distributed Inkscape: Tile clones piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, image composi- tion, and image authoring.” The chools are on tight bud- open source software, think free Gimp user manual is chock full gets and teachers are software developed by a community of valuable information and even always looking for ways of people who donate their time and experienced Photoshop users may Sto do more with less. expertise to write the software code learn some new tricks about masks, Open source software is a great for the program. layers, channels, and fi lters. Look- way to empower your students Another great thing about open ing through the manual’s contents with great software at a great source software is that it is usually will also convince any skeptic price—free. available for Windows, Mac, and that the Gimp is a powerful piece What is open source software? operating systems so if you of software that can tackle any of Well, to get a more technical defi - have Macs at school and the kids your digital imaging needs and/or nition go to the Wikipedia. What have PCs at home or vice versa, class projects. If you are interested is the Wikipedia? The Wikipe- everyone can still use the same pro- in learning more about using the dia, like open source software, is gram. Gimp, there is a Gimp Tutorials free. It is an online encyclopedia page at www.gimp.org/tutorials/. that is available in 200 differ- Available Graphics Programs The Gimp Web site also lists several ent languages—so if you have a Many different kinds of open source books that can help you learn to use multilingual classroom it can be software are available, but in this the program. a great resource. You can fi nd the article, I will discuss three graphics The Gimp and Photoshop are bit- Wikipedia at www.wikipedia.org programs that will be of particular map graphics programs. This means and get a more technical defi ni- interest to art educators. The fi rst that they are pixel based and the tion if you like. But, for the aver- program is for older students and images are composed of lots of little age art teacher, when you hear teachers. This graphics program,

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dots—pixels—short for and helpful informa- picture elements. Pro- tion along with a user grams like Illustrator, comments section. If Freehand, and Corel- you love Kid Pix, you Draw are vector graph- will love Tux Paint. ics programs. Images Tux Paint is available created with these pro- for Windows, Mac, grams are images that and Linux operating are completely described systems and parts of using mathematical the program have been defi nitions. This means translated into fi fty that pro- different languages. grams describe a circle, line, curve, or shape Inkscape with mathematical www.inkscape.org formulas as opposed to Inkscape is an open the little dots of bitmap source vector graph- programs. Vector graph- Tux Paint: Magic tools ics program similar to ics programs are used Illustrator, Freehand, to produce logos, design and CorelDraw. Ink- elements, or stylized, scape is available for cartoon-like illustra- Mac, Windows, and tions. Vector graphics Unix operating sys- may be printed at any tems and their Web size and will maintain site has information on their smooth fi lls and downloading, using, crisp, sharp lines. and learning the pro- gram. The documenta- Tux Paint tion section of their www.newbreedsoft- Web site, www.ink- ware.com/tuxpaint scape.org/doc/index. Tux Paint is billed as a php, contains tutori- draw and paint program als that will help you that “has a simple, easy- learn the program and to-use interface.” Its Inkscape: Map even give you some features include sound project ideas. effects, which can be I hope that this brief turned off, and a car- introduction to open toon version of Tux the source software will penguin at the bottom help you fi nd a way to of the screen who gives include technology in tips, hints, and informa- your curriculum, even tion. Tux Paint includes if you are working a rubber stamp tool, line with a limited budget. tool, shape tool, and text tool. There is also a “Magic” tool that adds Harold Olejarz is an art special effects. The Tux teacher at, Eisenhower Middle School, Wyckoff, Paint Web site is very NJ. [email protected]. well organized. It offers www.olejarz.com. lots of resources, links

The Gimp

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