Episode 007: The Curves tool
In todays show I cover the curves tool. With curves you can change the brightnes and contrast of an image in a lot of ways. Either finetune the shadows, midtones and highlights or do something very strange as in this picture.
This picture was made by Andra Sommer-Steinort for a workshop we both attend at the moment.
Meet the GIMP! is now listed in iTunes and Podcast Alley. If you like the show please let the people there know. 
You can leave your comments on this blog, write me a mail or go to the Tips from the Top Floor Forum.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Germany License.
Tags: beginner, brightness, contrast, curves tool, histogram
August 25th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Hi. This isnt really a comment for this post. But a comment for the whole “Meet the gimp”-thingy. I love it.. never stop doing it.. (atleast not until we all are über gimpers
)
cheers
August 25th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
Hi,
I just discovered your show today and have only seen two episodes. I’m really impressed that one can do all these things with Gimp.
Keep going and doing more great episodes like this one
Georg
PS: Why not do it in German? Sorry to tell you but your English is not too good.
August 25th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
I am doing this in English because
- the people who nudged me into making this podcast are in the US and other parts of the non-German speaking world and had no complaints about language issues in the beta podcasts I gave them to view
- a German podcast would reach only 3 countries and a bit of the rest of the world and I want to have maximum impact for the gimp
- I want to be famous around the world
and love to get mail and comments from around the world. It’s like collecting stamps - downloads from French Polynesia, South Africa, Argentine, Hungary and a lot of other places are much more interesting as Munich or Oberammergau.
I look up some of the city names that jump into my eye - yes I am that weird. Now I know that Saint Kilda in Australia had a bit of a shady reputation and tries to improve that. Next quest: Where is Mountain Top in the US? And shouting a “MoinMoin” to the person from Oldenburg (45km away - I lived there once) who visited today.
A call to all native speakers: If you notice some repeating grave mistakes, false friends or mispronounciations, please drop me a line at info@meetthegimp.org. I’ll try to correct that. But don’t comment on my “th”. The world will have to live with that……
August 25th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Hi Rolf,
My English is not very good but I’m the webmaster of a Dutch GIMP community: dutchgimpers.nl (It’s online since march 2007)
I Like this site! And I like you do this in English!
I go to tell the members of my site about this podcast!
Greetz,
Leendert
August 26th, 2007 at 4:52 am
I just discovered this blog.
I have only a thing to say: it’s wonderful. Congratulations
August 26th, 2007 at 5:27 am
Hi,
I just heard about this podcast and at the same time watched all episodes. It is really a great show I really like it.
Here is some criticism I hope thats ok:
I really like how you explain things. It is very clear what you mean and why you do it.
Maybe you could mention a little bit more often what shortcut you are using. It is always good when you here it more than once.
I like the format of the show. It is not too much talk (or none at all) about bullshit (sorry). It is all about how to use the Gimp and thats what I like.
I found the volume of the Intro (very nice btw) a little bit to loud (compared to the rest). I almoust woke my neighbors last night
I like the way how you explain things like multiply or screen mode. The mathematical way. It is very interesting to know how it works.
What I also really like about the GIMP is the fact that there is a portable version that you can put on a USB stick, This might be very handy when one is traveling.
Alltogether: very nice show keep on doing it
Cheers
Dominik
August 26th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
als blutiger anfänger würde ich so gern mal erfahren , wie diese schönen buttons & signaturen mit gimp gemacht werden
as rank beginners I to be as gladly times experienced, as these beautiful buttons & signatures be made with gimp
@rolf
good work, further so!
August 30th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
I’ve only watched up to Episode 3 so far, but I am very impressed. Thanks for publishing and sharing your knowledge on this vast program. I’ve been “messing” with the GIMP for a while but never really spent much time going through more than a few tutorials. This has made it easier to learn and I look forward to the remaining podcasts! BTW, I think your English is great and I like your teaching style as well. Your students are very lucky to have a teacher with such passion for learning.
-Joseph
November 24th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Rolf, I never have any problem understanding your English. It seems fine to me.
December 4th, 2007 at 3:43 am
[...] Episode 007: The Curves tool [...]
December 17th, 2007 at 2:32 am
Hi Rolf
I’ve just discovered your videopodcasts and I think they’re splendid - just what I need. Also I like the style and presentation.
As an Englishman I believe that your English would put many a native English speaker to shame.
February 3rd, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Hi all!
Rolf, there go my congratulations too!
Very good stuff, I’m impressed both with the potential of the Gimp and with having found someone that wants (so nicely) share his knowledge about it. I reckon it must be a lot of work for you… my hat’s off.
Please do not switch to deustch! My english is not good but ich spreche kaine deustch (I’m spanish), and your english is not bad at all. When I finish to learn Gimp, I’ll study german, I promise!
In the meanwhile, what about a class about the levels tool? Just as good as the one for the curves tool would be wonderful. I’ve found my self having taken pictures of ‘El salar de Uyuni’ (a desert of salt in Bolivia) and the histogram shows wide areas with no information at all… and maybe playing around with the color levels tool I could improve the images. But I should be learning a bit first!
Congrats once again, Rolf, keep the thing on!
February 3rd, 2008 at 11:25 pm
I’ll keep this in the English language - way more people to reach. And numbers matter!
Perhaps I’ll do a bit in German when I am really bored during vacations. 
I have not much used the levels tool - but I’ll cover that some times. I feel more at home with the curves tool.
February 4th, 2008 at 7:36 am
Ok, vielen dank!
If I happen to find something helpful with the color levels tool for my ’salty’ pics (they are much like snow landscapes) I’ll let you know.
Saludos!