The GIMP name controversy, explained
www.spacebar.news
GIMP was named after a character in Pulp Fiction. More than 20 years later, the name remains controversial and could be holding back the project.
  • cygnus@lemmy.ca
    1·
    5 months ago

    I think the UI and lack of non-destructive editing is holding it back more than the name, but IDK

    • millie@beehaw.orgEnglish
      0·
      5 months ago

      I absolutely love the UI. It’s literally a major part of why I prefer it.

      • reka@beehaw.org
        0·
        5 months ago

        which is great for you, but not for anyone who has even briefly used more mainstream options

        • millie@beehaw.orgEnglish
          0·
          5 months ago

          Cool condescension, but I’ve been using Photoshop on and off since 2005, have occasionally used Illustrator, and used to spend an absurd amount of time with Flash. In addition to GIMP, I currently have Krita and Inkscape installed.

          I literally prefer GIMP’s UI. It doesn’t have extra shit, it doesn’t try to force me into a single window, and it goes really, really well with a multi-monitor setup. I don’t care that it doesn’t automatically edit non-destructively, because my workflow is adapted to it. Layers and folders are plenty.

          No one piece of software is going to be the ideal solution for everyone. That’s capitalistic exceptionalism infecting the rational analysis of what tool suits which user best. Photoshop may suit you better, but I’d take the sleek usefulness of GIMP over the bloat that accompanies all that extra stuff I don’t need any day.

          Why do I need an AI strapped to my tool for pixel art, pathing, and masking?

          • reka@beehaw.org
            0·
            5 months ago

            Wasn’t supposed to be condescending, apologies that I came across like that. I just more meant you aren’t representative of who a FOSS potential killer app needs to reach. I agree, I don’t want cloud, AI, subscriptions. But I do want a tool palette and interaction experience that doesn’t require looking at the docs to use.

            • millie@beehaw.orgEnglish
              0·
              5 months ago

              You have literally no idea who I am or what I do.

              I used GIMP to make a mock-up of a sign for a restaurant just yesterday. Is it going to be the tool I use for the final product? No, because that’ll be in vector, but it’s a lot easier to slap something together in than Inkscape or Krita.

              ‘Killer apps’ are meaningless in comparison to useful apps. I’m an artist who needs usable tools for her work. GIMP qualifies. Personally, I find it way easier and more intuitive to navigate than Krita, Inkscape, or any of Adobe’s suite. It may not be for you, that’s cool.

              But what isn’t cool is to pretend you know about other people’s lives and what they need. Speak for yourself, you are perfectly capable of doing that. If you don’t like GIMP’s UI, that’s great. If you think GIMP’s UI is absolutely horrible for every user and nobody would ever use it for professional work… you’re literally just completely wrong.

  • Shimitar@feddit.it
    1·
    5 months ago

    Gimp issue is not the name, it’s the outdated UI and the dumb usage decisions like saving only in it’s format. I moved to krita some years ago and I think that’s the future. Gimp will still be along for a long time, and it should as its a great piece of software. Bit that’s it.

    Alternatives are good, and having krita and gimp is good.

    Gimp name? Never even occurred to me that could be offensive. Not American here. Americans, get out of your asses (joking)… You are often offensive to the world but you don’t care (not so much joking, and ofc I am wrong in generalization), so why should the others?

  • Floon@lemmy.ml
    0·
    5 months ago

    The name holds it back more than you know. No EP or AD wants to put “The GIMP” on their software list for a project. I have to have a conversation with someone ensuring we’re good on all our licenses, and they ask, “What is this GIMP thing?” Answering it makes me sound like an unprofessional jackass. The company would rather just pay Adobe.

    • Baggins@beehaw.orgEnglish
      1·
      5 months ago

      This. No amount of excuses or lengthy explanations. It’s childish and unprofessional.

    • meseek #2982@lemmy.ca
      1·
      5 months ago

      I don’t even want to tell people I use it because of its name. I would never bring it up in a work setting in this day and age when I look at Slack and see everyone list their pronouns.

      The fact they haven’t clued into this is just wild to me. A shame it throws the work of so many people under the bus.

      Also, to call it after the Pulp Fiction character is insane to me. Let alone that everyone on the team signed off on it. What were the second choices? Diarrhea? Herpes? Like dafuq.

    • DavidDoesLemmy@aussie.zone
      0·
      5 months ago

      I guess you can’t quantify how much the name has helped it. How many people remember it because of its quirky name. Without knowing both numbers it’s hard to know if it’s a net positive or negative.

      • meseek #2982@lemmy.ca
        1·
        5 months ago

        No one. No one remembers it fondly because it’s got a “quirky” name. That’s not how software works. People use software because it’s useful. Not because it’s edgy or has memorable branding. I would rather a competent design tool period. The name is irrelevant. We aren’t selling cookies or an energy drink. We are empowering people to get things done. You think your spoon with a hole in it is going to sell because you call it “Faggot”?