User Scenarios

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introduction

These user scenarios are used in the GIMP redesign project. They are the result of workplace observations and a weekend workshop with the GIMP team. Both the scenarios and their steps are limited to the essential. The order of the steps within the scenario is not absolute, and can be changed within reason.

1 Photographer

1.a Photo Realistic

  • Open file (RAW, TIF, etc.), basic color correction (levels, white point)
  • Optional: sharpen (foreground or full image)
  • Correction of lens distortions
  • Perspective correction
  • Background separation (hand­created work mask)
  • Color correction/optimize tonality
  • Optional: create reflections
  • Optional: swap background
  • Optional: make people attractive
  • Crop & save (set color profile& compression options)

1.b Composing

  • For each piece going into final image, apply most of the methods in 1a to improve quality
    • Additionally unify or differentiate (resize, apply filters) depending on vision of the final image
  • Compose images (geometry changes of the pieces: position, size, perspective, layering)
  • Integrate (tone/color unify, create shadows/reflections)
  • Crop and save like in scenario 1a

2. Creating Original Art

  • Size canvas (cm/in., pixels, resolution)
  • Open found images, or scan other found material
  • Create collage
  • Alienate collage material from original by heavy treatment (experiments)
  • Compare different approaches
  • ‘Wild brush work’ – heavy local treatment/paint (includes using spot colors)
  • Integrate text
  • Save (file format, set color profile& compression options)

3. Icon Designer

3.a Iterative Vector­Graphics work

  • Open/hot link to vector image
  • Polish & refine the icon (at high magnifications, and see overview of the icon at the same time; pick colors in indexed palette)
  • Convert into smaller predefined sizes & optimize
  • Review icon & make changes to vector image. Go back to the 2nd bullet, and repeat.
  • Save in icon container

3.b edit existing icon

  • Open icon container
  • See overview
  • Edit different icons
  • Save container

4. Web images

Goal is to create graphical bitmap elements that are used on web pages, but not creation of the web page muck­ups. This also includes working with photographic material: 1b: integration and 2: alienating images, making graphic out of them, changing size.

  • Set up guides for the whole project to be able to size elements correctly
  • Set initial color palette
  • Start with basic shapes, fill with color
  • Make elements glossy, textured, shadowed, create look for the website (experiments)
  • Refine the palette as you go
  • Work on variations of elements for different departments of the website
  • Make sets of image elements, see how they work together
  • Export parts in optimised web format

5. Automating repetitive tasks

5.a macros & scripts

  • I am bored
  • Tell GIMP ‘what I always do’, and create a black box out of this. Review the logical steps inside the black box
  • Play & keep (optional deploy, or share)
  • Optional: enable some familiar tool parameters
  • Optional: modify the logical steps in the black box
  • Optional: fine grained scripting control

5.b batch processing

  • Identify & select lots of files
  • Build sequence out of graphic operations and/or black boxes, set parameters for each step and preview result
  • Optional: save sequence
  • Specify where the results go: Folder, Overwrite/ or not, File names, File options (quality)
  • Run (optional in background) batch and be continuously kept up­to­date with the progress
  • Optional: pause, or terminate the batch process