GIMP + INKSCAPE + SCRIBUS = JOB DONE

[James McDonald]

We have all heard of the compilation tool chain but I recently found
myself using the OSS Graphical Editor toolchain.

A colleague asked me if I could place some text and barcode information
onto a pdf drawing of a product packaging carton.

We don't have PDF editing software so I ended up having to think laterally.

I maximized the pdf document to the limits of my 17" screen and took a
screen shot.

I used GIMPs file ==> acquire ==> From Clipboard to import the screenshot.

Then I used Inkscapes excellent text manipulation properties to layout all
the text as I wanted it and exported it to Gimp as a graphic.

To get the barcode I used the Scribus Extras ==> Barcode Generator... to
create the image of the barcode and exported it to the GIMP

Finally GIMP came through with the ability to resize the text and barcode
images, recolor them and place them onto the screen shot of the carton.

So with a hop, skip and a jump the job is done.

It's really cool that they can all export to common format's and you don't
have to struggle too much to get a nice result.

Thanks for listening.

-- 
James McDonald
Telarah NSW Australia