“The first part of this book focuses on mastering core tools: layers, selections, masks, and colorspaces. The second part builds on the first by presenting an in-depth treatment of touchup, enhancement, compositing, rendering, and image creation for the web. The following gives a synopsis of what you will find in each chapter.”

Chapter 1 reviews the GIMP basics. It introduces the GIMP dialogs, reviews window features, and explains a host of functions that are basic but should not be taken for granted. An experienced GIMP user could quickly flip through this chapter of the book, especially if he or she’s already familiar with the main features of version 1.2.

Chapter 2 covers layers. Layers are the fundamental building blocks of the GIMP. They are the image unit that plays the most important role in our work, and it is important to understand them and the functions that manipulate them. Even if you are already familiar with layers, this chapter will be worth reviewing because it contains many insights into how to use layers efficiently and effectively.