Looking for recommendations: simple GIMP

[Algot Runeman]

David,

While it may go beyond your immediate plans a bit (exporting when done), 
I would like to recommend the drawing tools found in OpenOffice.org 
because the ability to annotate and do extensive markup is quite 
extensive. In addition, the annotations can immediately become part of a 
document.

In my own classroom, teaching computer skills, one project we did, 
called "Butterbox" was based on the drawing tools (first in Clarisworks, 
then MSWord). I have recently converted the project to OpenOffice.org. 
In the Writer tool, go to the View Menu --> Toolbars --> Drawing so that 
the drawing tools will be available.

You can also get a sample project page for "Plants of Our Town" which is 
an Openoffice.org Writer document incorporating a labeled jpeg image and 
some sample text.
http://runeman.org/tips/oo/labeled-pictures/plants_of_our_town.odt

A tutorial for how I created the example is located there, too.
http://runeman.org/tips/oo/labeled-pictures/plants_of_our_town.html

In relation to your other recent post, any scanner that lists "Twain" 
(http://www.twain.org) compatibility should work with Ubuntu. OpenOffice 
can even directly scan to a document (Insert Menu --> Picture --> Scan). 
OpenOffice will also work fine with images that have been saved 
previously, of course.

Direct manipulation of a picture may better be done in the Gimp or some 
other simpler tool. I have used KolourPaint for some simple graphic 
labeling and image cropping.

Find more extensive Openoffice Draw tool notes on the project I called 
"Butterbox" at:
http://runeman.org/mosssig/

Good luck in developing your students' skills. Here's hoping that open 
source plays a successful role for you and for them.
--Algot

David Groos wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I want students to be able to annotate images, such as photos taken 
> through a microscope, adding arrows and labels to parts of the image, 
> for example.  It might also be nice if there were 
> contrast/brightness/saturation controls.  Need the ability to export 
> back to jpeg/png.  I don't want really any other capabilities.  I just 
> used GIMP for the first time and I had to wade through 'layers' and 
> tons of other concepts that I don't need but it does look awesome.  
> Does anyone have advice on software that would be good for this need?  
> This is a very key app in a science classroom and will form part of 
> the basic set of apps for my program.
>
> Thanks!
> David

-- 
-------------------------
Algot Runeman
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508-655-8399
algot.runeman at verizon.net
Web Site: http://www.runeman.org
Open Source Blog: http://mosssig.wordpress.com
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