GIMP is a full-featured, cross-platform, free alternative to Adobe Photoshop. Although it's one of the most popular open source programs, it can be tricky to use and even trickier to master.

"The Book of GIMP" from (No Starch Press) is a 676-page, US$49.95, color illustrated guide that will help users harness the full capabilities of version 2.8 of the software. It begins with step-by-step tutorials that cover the most useful features of GIMP, such as retouching photographs, creating illustrations, and website design.

The second part of the book offers a comprehensive reference to nearly every aspect of the software, so that users can find what they need without hours of trial and error. This two-pronged approach makes the book suitable for readers of any skill level -- the tutorials will help new users get started with GIMP, and the extensive reference portion will answer the questions that pop up for even the most seasoned GIMP users. Step-by-step instructions show readers how to:

° Improve the lighting and composition of images;
° Remove distortions and noise to make old and damaged photos look like new;
° Create stunning panoramas and digital collages using a series of photos;
° Make, edit, and export custom textures, logos, and animated GIFs;
° Work with selections, channels, and masks to edit images like a pro;
° Create colorful digital art, layer by layer.

The authors are Olivier Lecarme and Karine Delvare. Lecarme is a professor emeritus in computer science at the University of Nice, France. He has a doctorate in computer science. He has been a professor at the Universities of Grenoble, Montréal, Lausanne, and Nice, and has taught many aspects of computer science, including programming language fundamentals and graphics processing.

Delvare is a web development consultant. She has a master's in computer science, with a specialization in image and sound, and she has collaborated on the GIMP development project. She lives in Mérignac, near Bordeaux, France.

For more info go to http://preview.tinyurl.com/a5xbcs5 .