Contact
What’s this page for?
You can use this contact form to get in touch with me. Lots of you have already emailed to let me know you love the book, or that you’re excited to start using GIMP. I love those emails, so please keep them coming!
If you’re an educator who wants to purchase copies of the ebook for your class, please use this contact form to get in touch. I’ll be happy to arrange a discount for your purchase.
Last, if you have a question that’s not covered in the pages for help with your purchase, or help with GIMP, I’ll be happy to try and help personally.
If you’re requesting support…
If you’re requesting support, first, please make sure your question or problem isn’t already addressed in one of the help pages on this website. Many of your problems, including problems with downloading the book, using PayPal, and using GIMP, are explained very thoroughly in the help pages. You’ll get a lot more out of those explanations than any email I could send you.
If you need to ask a question that’s not covered there, please be as specific and thorough as possible when explaining the problem.
For Help with GIMP I Need to Know:
1. The version of GIMP you’re using (GIMP 2.6.11, GIMP 2.8, GIMP 2.8.2 etc.)
If you’re not sure which version of GIMP you’re using follow these directions to find out.
2. What operating system you’re using.
For example, if you’re on a Mac, you might tell me you’re using Mac OSX Mountain Lion or Mac OSX 10.8.3. If you’re using Windows, you might tell me you’re using Windows 7, or Windows XP. Not sure which operating system you’re using? Click Here to find out if you’re a Mac, and Click Here to find out if you’re using Windows.
3. What you’re trying to accomplish, and the steps you are taking, or the methods you have tried.
For example, “I’m trying to draw a straight line on a blank page in GIMP” or “I’m trying to dock the Layers Dialog to the bottom of the Toolbox”.
Saying “I’ve tried everything” isn’t as descriptive as it sounds, because I won’t know exactly what you’ve tried and I’ll end up suggesting a lot of things you’ve already done.
BUT, telling me “I’ve tried drawing a straight line freehand with my mouse” lets me know that you haven’t tried the trick that’s covered in the book, and I can send you an answer immediately.
4. How the methods you’ve tried have failed.
Again, saying something like “It won’t work” isn’t descriptive enough, because there are a lot of ways things can go wrong.
For example, “I’m trying to draw a line, but it won’t work” could mean a lot of things. You could be saying that nothing is being drawn at all, or that the line isn’t straight, or it’s not coming out the color you expected. All of those are very different problems with very different solutions, but I have to guess which problem you’re having.
But, telling me “I’m trying to draw a straight line freehand with my mouse, but it ends up crooked and jerkey” lets me know exactly what the problem is with no guess work.
For example
Unclear Support Request
A message like “I tried to dock the window but it won’t work” would probably make sense if I was working with you and I could see what you were doing. But since I’m not there, it’s not descriptive or clear enough to let me know what problem you’re actually having. What window? Do you mean a Dialog? Where are you trying to dock it? What steps are you taking? In what way is it not working? Can you open the dialog at all? Is the dialog open, but it won’t dock to the window? I need a lot more information in order to give you a usable answer.
Crystal Clear Support Request
Here’s the same problem, described with more detail: “I’m using GIMP 2.8.4 with Mac OSX Mountain Lion. I want to dock the Layers Dialog to the bottom of the Toolbox. I’m following these steps: I go to Windows > Dockable Dialogs in the Main Menu. The dialog pops up, then I try to drag the Layers Dialog into the bottom of the Toolbox. But instead of docking to the Toolbox, the Layers Dialog is just sitting on top of the Toolbox. Can you help?*”
The second version gives me a lot more information, and makes the problem you’re having crystal clear. Asking a question with that amount of clarity and detail means you’ll get better help, and you’ll get it a lot faster.
You need help, and I want to give it to you quickly. Taking a little time to describe your situation makes everything better for both of us.
*Incidentally, the specific problem of docking dialogs to the Toolbox is addressed twice on this website, in the FAQ and in the GIMP Troubleshooting section. In other words, if you send that question, and you check “I have checked the appropriate Help pages” box below, I’ll know you’re fibbing.
Bottom Line:
Check the help pages for help. If it’s not there, the more specific you can be, the better.
