Mask Question

[mjdukehart2]

We are having our website redesigned and they are telling me to do our big graphic on the main page that we can only use full blown Photoshop. Can not use GIMP, Can not use Corel Draw nor Photoshop Elements.

Their reasoning is, and I quote:

"The reason you need to use photoshop is because the file has masks for ease of use. If you have the skill to reproduce this file from scratch in other programs, feel free to do so. But to edit the file we've provided to you, you will need photoshop."

We will probably end up changeing the image monthly. But $650 seems like a lot to take out of my budget for something that might only get 3 to 5 hours of use out of it a year.

Is it possible to do what they are talking about in GIMP and they and I are just not educated on doing it or am I up a creek without a paddle and really do need Photoshop?

Thanks.

 

[TrojanWarBlade]

That depends on what they mean by "masks".
Gimp can do layer masks and you would probably need to be a very serious graphics guy to need the extras you get with Photoshop.
The two things that spring to mind are:
a) Grouped layers
b) CMYK colour space (for printing)

Since web images are generally RGB, I can't see that being an issue.
The other thing is that you might get the original supplied in a Photoshop file and you might have trouble reading that fully with Gimp.


Trojan.

 

[tsdragon]

Since GIMP is free, why not download and install it and TRY opening the file to see if GIMP can handle it. I doubt anyone can tell you for certain it will or won't work, but by trying it yourself you will know for certain.

Tracy Dryden

Meddle not in the affairs of dragons,
For you are crunchy, and good with mustard.

 

[mjdukehart2]

We tried to open the files in GIMP but they would not work the way that they wanted. I was unsure if it was the way they saved them from Photoshop or if it ment that GIMP would not do it.