Sign Update

Photoshop appears to be one of the main products and I know that this will do it, but Gimp seems good enough for most of my needs, so why splash out.

I never quite get it perfect using gimp. Do I need to use special software?
Photoshop obviously is still selling despite Gimp being available, so is it really much better?

I use gimp occasionally as well as CorelDraw.
Our typesetter uses Photoshop.

The impression I get from speaking to the typesetter, is that Photoshop has an easier interface and generally easier to use with a few extra features. Photoshop does have a nice extract filter that gimp doesn't.
It is more important to understand the techniques used by the software, than to have the cutting edge software. It does take a bit of trial and error.

In Photoshop, our typesetter says there are 3 ways that he uses:
1) Clipping path - Rarely used, but often chosen by the inexperienced. This gives a hard edge, but he often gets round this by adding light to the edge to break the sharpness.
2) Airbrush the background - He would normally add a bit of noise to the filter of the airbrush to make it look less perfect.
3) Use the extract filter - most common.

In Gimp I see 2 very similar options for the first 2, but there is no extract filter


Below I have found a tutorial that helps compare the 2.

blog.thembid.com/2007/08/24/removing-bac...quickly-in-the-gimp/

blog.thembid.com/2007/08/22/removing-bac...uickly-in-photoshop/

I think Gimp is sufficient for most things, but if doing this regularly photoshop is probably quicker and certainly worth investigating.

It doesn't even have to be limited to these products. For example Signlab has a Fluid mask plug-in for the removal of backgrounds:
www.sign-update-magazine.co.uk/images/st...-%20Fluid%20Mask.pdf
As well as the fluid mask add-in there is a Gimp add in, with Signlab.

I have played with Gimp before getting photoshop.

They are both good enough for the job, but photoshop has a nicer feel to it and a little bit easier and quicker to use, with a few extra features.

Thanks for your responses.

Perhaps I should learn a few techniques to soften the edges or put lighting on the edges.