X-Gimp

X-Gimp is an open-source software tool that was developed specifically to help individuals edit their photographs and save them to the hard drive.

This is the portable version of GIMP, which means that the installation process is not a must. Consequently, you can copy the program files to a removable storage unit, so as to take it with you when in need, and run it on any machine you can connect to.

It is also important to mention that X-Gimp is not going to add any files or other items to the Windows registry, Start menu/screen or hard drive, without asking for your permission (as installers usually do).

The interface might seem a bit overwhelming at first, as it is comprised of a few windows, all packed with a myriad of options and tools. Nonetheless you should know that the Help contents are very comprehensive and quite neatly organized. Moreover, time and practice are two friends that should help you further.

From the toolbox screen, you can easily insert various geometrical shapes and text (with custom font type, style, size and color) and use tools which enable you to smudge, burn, blur, clone, heal and erase. There is also a panel which helps you add, edit and manage layers, as well as select one of the textures or patterns provided.

You can create images from scratch, edit picture from your hard drive, and save all projects to the hard drive, in a wide range of formats, such as PCX, XWD, BMP, TIFF, TGA, PPM, PDF, PNG, PSD, PGM, ICO, HTML, JPG, GIF, FLC and EPS.

To sum up, X-Gimp proves to be an efficient and well-rounded piece of software, and a good choice for people interested in editing their photographs. It does not put a strain on the computer’s performance, the response time is good, the export capabilities are impressive and there are enough options to keep you tinkering for quite a while.