Hi Axel,
my apologize - I just haven't had the time to read and think about your
proposal.
On Sun, Feb 11, 2007 at 03:06:18PM +0100, Axel Wernicke wrote:
> [...] current status of the parts
> So how the parts work today?
> [...]
>
> The structure of the first part is today:
>
> I. Getting started with The GIMP
> [...]
>
> to make it short, I'd suggest the following structure instead (3rd
> level stripped for readability reasons):
> [...]
>
> As you can see, I'd relocate the concepts completely to part II.
> Although they describe GIMP basics, most of them are (and have to be)
> very detailed and technically. Much to complicated for the users
> first touch with GIMP. Instead I'd suggest to enhance the Working
> with Images section a bit for ONE step by step tutorial that is sexy
> and makes the reader "hot" for GIMP and the more detailed parts of
> the manual.
>
> The most problems I've right now with part II. Today the structure is:
> [...]
> I just can't follow the idea of making a 3 step difference between
> beginners, advanced users and experts. For sure these experience
> levels exist, but does it make any sense to differentiate the manual
> this way? Sure we have to build an entrance to GIMP for the absolute
> beginners, but is "sharpening an image" really a topic for an
> Intermediate while "Setting the tile cache" is for Beginners? I doubt
> so.
Hm yes - we don't have to point out this too explicitly. Actually I
think it became convenient to structure it like it is now. By splitting
the content into something for beginners, intermediate and advanced
users we try to provide some kind of orientation for our readers.
> How about:
> II. How do I become a GIMP wizard?
> [...]
>
I like the idea of a reorganisation, but let me post my thoughts about
one too.
In short: I found it very handy to reading a section which assembles
some concepts and tutorials. Because it kept me going to handle
something complex.
A few weekends ago, I found a very complex flight simulator (Falcon
4.0) in my cupboard which I bought several years ago but never got into
it. It features a very big manual (ow... the good old times where games
were shipped with printed manuals ;) and the way the authors trying to
teach you flying a F-16 Fighting Falcon is very interesting. Not that I
want to compare GIMP with an airplane, but navigating and using might be
quite similar. In fact, both things are very complex.
The overall structure of one chapter is like this:
1. They teach you several concepts, like what's displayed in the
cockpit (incl. screenshots).
2. Followed by one or two tutorials where you need to use the
concepts learned in the sections before.
Why not reorganizing our current first parts like this? For example:
1. Teach the user about what the main windows in GIMP are.
2. Tell him how to open new images or navigate and the like.
We can adjust the granularity of this. Of course you won't tell a
beginner all the dirty little tricks you can do with GIMP in the first
place. Just rise the level of experience you need with the chapters of
concepts and tutorials.
What do you think Axel and the other authors? Axel, I think it will fit
in nicely in your reorganization :)
Cheers!
--
Roman Joost
www: http://www.romanofski.de
email: romanofski@xxxxxxxx
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