GIMP User Manual
Prev |  |

# Glossary

Alpha

  Refers to transparency, for example, an "Alpha Channel" allows variable transpency.

File Format

  A way that an image is written. You should select a file format which is suitable to your situation. JPEG and PostScript are examples of file formats.

Filter

  See: Plug-In

GNU

  GNU's Not Unix, an organization devoted to the creation and support of Open Source software. GIMP is an official GNU application.

Hex Triplet

  A way of representing color in the form #rrggbb. Used in HTML.

HSB

  See: HSV

HSV

  Hue Saturation Value, a way of representing color. The Hue is the color like red or blue, the Saturation is how strong the color is and the Value is the brightness. This is sometimes called "HSB" (Hue Saturation Brightness).

Marching Ants

  The name for the dotted line which deliniates a selection.

Parasite

  A piece of information which is included in a file such as the compression type or a comment.

Perl

  A scripting language which can be used for GIMP plug-ins.

Plug-In

  Extensions to the standard GIMP feature set.

Script-Fu

  A scripting language designed specifically for GIMP.

Stroke

  A function for making a selection, path or channel into a solid line using the paintbrush.

Swap Directory

  An area on your hard disk which effectively extends the amount of main memory available to GIMP meaning larger images or more complex operations can be performed.

Tile Cache

  A way that GIMP speeds up image display by keeping the data in memory.

Tool

  A mode for manipulating image functions — paintbrush and ink are examples of tools.

XCF

  The native file format used by GIMP.

Prev | Home |
GIMP License |  |