3 ms·

Using the GIMP example...if you put together a manual for Photoshop users on how to use GIMP, you could probably charge $100 for the manual and the software and

by bmj 18y ago

Using the GIMP example...if you put together a manual for Photoshop users on how to use GIMP, you could probably charge $100 for the manual and the software and see some sales. Photoshop is costly, but if your staff is used to Photoshop, the leap to GIMP can be difficult and filled with searches for information. A concrete example: a friend is a project manager at a local design shop. He is a designer by trade, so he knows his way around the Adobe suite. But, his employer doesn't have the budget for another Photoshop license, but I'm guessing they would shell out $100 for GIMP and a "GIMP for Photoshop Dummies" book.

HeyLaughingBoy 18y ago
To followup on that idea: pick a particular segment of the graphic arts industry and find what Photoshop features they use that GIMP is good enough at. Then write the manual targeted to them that explains how to use just those features. Also if you change the GIMP UI (god, I hate that thing!) so it's optimized for those tasks, I'm sure you could sell it for at least 1/2 what Photoshop costs.
- cschwarm 18y ago
  Yes, maybe you could sell one or two or maybe a hundred copies but hardly any more. The more successful your fork, the more likely it's going to be packaged and distributed by the one of the top distributions for FREE. The higher your sales price, the more likely people will buy just one copy and share additional copies among themselves. Now consider the costs: Changing the UI of GIMP seems to be no easy task, otherwise someone would have done it, already. People are complaing about the interface for the last ten years or so. In other words: Yes, you may be able to make revenue by adding features to the GIMP, but you're unlikely to make a profit!
run4yourlives 18y ago
This is actually a very good idea.

3 ms·

Using the GIMP example...if you put together a manual for Photoshop users on how to use GIMP, you could probably charge $100 for the manual and the software and

by bmj 18y ago

HeyLaughingBoy 18y ago
To followup on that idea: pick a particular segment of the graphic arts industry and find what Photoshop features they use that GIMP is good enough at. Then write the manual targeted to them that explains how to use just those features. Also if you change the GIMP UI (god, I hate that thing!) so it's optimized for those tasks, I'm sure you could sell it for at least 1/2 what Photoshop costs.
- cschwarm 18y ago
  Yes, maybe you could sell one or two or maybe a hundred copies but hardly any more. The more successful your fork, the more likely it's going to be packaged and distributed by the one of the top distributions for FREE. The higher your sales price, the more likely people will buy just one copy and share additional copies among themselves. Now consider the costs: Changing the UI of GIMP seems to be no easy task, otherwise someone would have done it, already. People are complaing about the interface for the last ten years or so. In other words: Yes, you may be able to make revenue by adding features to the GIMP, but you're unlikely to make a profit!
run4yourlives 18y ago
This is actually a very good idea.