GIMP versus PhotoShop

[Pat]

I just replaced my old XP computer with a new Windows 8.1 laptop. I have a lot of fingerprint charts with layers worked up in Adobe PhotoShop that are in the PSD format. Is there any way to open them in GIMP? Or do I need to drop $20 per month to open them? Or if I can revive the old XP system for a day, what format can I save them in so they will preserve the layers but still open in GIMP?

Thanks!
Pat

[ER]

Looks like you can get regular layers but not adjustment layers. Haven't tried it myself but read it here.

http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/gimptu ... -Types.htm

Another option may be to save your psd's as tif's (and say yes when PS asks if you want to keep all the layers separate).

[Pat]

Thanks, Eric.

I reluctantly abandoned the old XP system for a new laptop with 8.1 a week ago. The old 'pooter was a dozen years old and was not working well anyway, then the discontinuation of support for XP pushed me over the edge. I don't do many images at home in a year's time and I cannot stand the thought of shelling out $20 per month when many months I wouldn't even open Photoshop. I guess I'll have to go through my old files on the XP system and convert to TIFF any that I think I might want in the future.

Thanks,
Pat

[George Reis]

Pat - Do you still have the install disks for your copy of Photoshop? Just install them on your new machine. If you don't, then just buy an older copy of Photoshop on ebay.

George

[Pat]

George,

When I bought the new 'pooter with 8.1, the senior expert technician at the store told me my old XP software would not work in the new 8.1 operating system. Being the 'pooter doofus I am, I believed him and did not even try.

Trusting your suggestion, last night I popped my old Photoshop 6.0 disk into the new 'pooter and it installed without a hitch. I opened an old layered fingerprint image and everything worked fine.

Thanks!
Pat

[Boyd Baumgartner]

Also, If you're in a pinch and don't need to manipulate the layers but rather just view them, you can upload the PSD file to Google Drive and preview it there. Works with adjustment layers as well.

Here's a link to a sample I uploaded. The gradient is an adjustment layer and the dots are on a separate layer than the actual fingerprint.

PSD file on Google Drive

[Neville]

Hi Pat
My advise is to try loading Photoshop on anyway I was told the same thing about 8.1 (my wife calls 8.1 the "devils spawn"). I found Microsoft Office 2003 loaded on just fine and work fine.
I was listening to a computer nerd the other day who said to remove as many tiles off the front screen and load real software on the back screen then 8.1 is less flaky.
Both Ann and I have both felt like throwing the new computer out the window at times.
I have decided to keep XP running off line, but copying all created files across to the 8.1 computer. Also clear off any software on XP not needed, do a defrag and hope for the best in the mean time.
My other advice to anyone who has not yet done the last Windows XP upgrade, do not do it, that's when strange things started happening on XP like the warning messages from Windows.
I feel a little better now about 8.1, but it does not tell you what it is doing I find that frustrating, I like to choose and have some control, and 8.1 is not intuitive.

[Pat]

Hi Neville

Contrary to what the salesman told me at the computer store, my old Photoshop 6.0 for Windows XP works just fine with the new 8.1 operating system. The functions I use have performed as usual without a hitch. Your experiences and mine seem to imply the salesmen simply want to augment computer sales with new software sales.

Cheers,
Pat