Customize GIMP by hacking the GIMP Splash Screen

This is a trick i discovered by myself out of interest since i'm a GIMP fan, but a simple search had revealed that this trick has in fact been taught by others. Anyway, today i'll tell you how to change or in a professional-looking term, hack, the GIMP splash screen.

For those not being friends with GIMP, i must first show you how its splash screen looks like:

Now after doing some hacking you can get it to look extremely small like this:

Or this, which is the optimum size:

Or even large-sized Splash Screen, so gigantic, it even exceeds my monitor screen!

So how do we customize the Splash Screen? It's easy. Just navigate to the 'images' folder located in C:\Program Files\GIMP-2.0\share\gimp\2.0\images and identify the splash image 'gimp-splash'. Delete the image (make a backup if you intend to re-use the default splash screen) and replace it with some other PNG-extension image which are renamed to 'gimp-splash' (this is important, because GIMP only recognize a splash screen by this name). If there is something wrong with your hack, GIMP will start without the splash screen.


To enhance the customization experience, it is best for you to use an image which is at the original splash screen's default image size, 275x400. If you are good in graphic editing and image creations with Photoshop, GIMP, Paint.NET or other image editing tools, you can even create a custom GIMP splash screen with the GIMP logo on it!


Note: Do not worry that this customization will damage GIMP. The startup splash screen is intended to create some sign of activities for users of GIMP, so that users will know what is loading in the background; GIMP will work fine regardless of whether the splash screen is there or not!

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Get Free BitDefender Total Security 2010 for Six Months (Probably One Year)

If you happen to be a BitDefender fan then you got some good news. Just two days ago BitDefender team released their 2010 security products line with lots of improvements in performance and features along with support to Windows 7. The overall layout of their 2010 products is somehow similar with only a small change in contents and a totally face-lifted color scheme compared with the 2009 products.

The most comprehensive and feature-rich product from BitDefender team is Total Security 2010. It has lots of system maintenance features which are just saving our few extra bucks which we may spend on buying software for similar purposes. When there is a question of protection, BitDefender and Kaspersky stands side by side. Let's have a look at its features before the trick of getting Six Months license:

Malware Protection
* Protects against viruses and other malware using industry-leading technology (NEW)
* Scans all Web, e-mail and instant messaging traffic in real-time
* Provides an unmatched detection rate of new threats based on two different proactive technologies
* Blocks spyware programs that track your online activities
Protect your identity: shop, bank, listen and watch, privately and securely
* Blocks web pages that attempt to steal your credit card data
* Prevents personal information from leaking via e-mail, Web or instant messaging (NEW)
* File Shredder permanently erases sensitive files and traces of files
Guard your files and conversations with top-of-the line encryption
* Instant Messaging Encryption keeps your conversations private on Yahoo! and MSN Messenger
* File Vault securely stores personal information or sensitive files
* Automatically backs up files and folders
Connect securely to any network at home, at the office, or away
* The two-way firewall automatically secures your Internet connection wherever you are
* Wi-Fi monitor helps prevent unauthorized access to your Wi-Fi network
Protect your family and their computers
* Parental Control blocks access to inappropriate websites and e-mail
* Limits kids’ access the Internet, games, etc. to specific times
* Makes it easy for you to manage the security of your network from a single location
Play safely, play seamlessly
* Reduces the system load and avoids requesting user interaction during game play
Get fine-tuned performance from your computer!
* Removes unnecessary files & registry entries, for improved performance
* Optimized scanning technology skips safe files for better scan speed and lower system load
* Antispam stops unwanted e-mail from reaching your Inbox
* Laptop Mode prolongs battery life
Let professionals solve any security issues
* Assistance with common issues built directly into the product

Grab Six Months License:

If you guys remember, in one of my article regarding BitDefender Total Security 2009, I shared info to get 6 months license. That license is still valid. That was an OEM license. If you got license at that time, you should not worry but if you could not get, do not worry because the license is already published in that article. The same license can be used to register BitDefender Total Security 2010. The license is:

BB7798E9A1E6E5B1E044

Download BDTS2010 and install it. When you are asked to register, use the license along with email which is not registered before. After registration do not forget to check your email because BitDefender will send you a registration confirmation email. You should confirm your registration. Enjoy another six months protection.

...Probably One Year Protection:

When your trial will end, use BitDefender's own uninstaller to uninstall BitDefender Total Security 2010 and reinstall it with the same license. Most probably, it will work again. Hope you will enjoy full one year protection.

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Get Free One Year Protection of Panda Internet Security 2010

Few days ago, a three months trial period of Panda Internet Security 2010 (PIS 2010) was released for WOT users. But, anybody can use it; there are no restrictions. There is no difference between WOT release and the release which you can get through Panda's own site.

Panda Internet Security is a reliable security solution for your computer. I have used it for some time in past but it could not stay permanent in my computer. The reason is I use BitDefender and Kaspersky on regular basis. At the moment, I will prefer Panda Internet Security 2010 over Kaspersky Internet Security 9 and AVG Internet Security 8.5 because of its strong firewall. During a firewall test in my computer, both KIS 9 and AVGIS 8.5 could not hide my few ports on Internet but PIS 2010 hide my all ports. This is the only reason I can prefer PIS 2010. PIS 2010 takes about 250MB disk space after installation which is just 200MB less than F-Secure Internet Security 2010.

Other than a strong firewall, what Panda Internet Security 2010 can do for you:

* Protects you against Virus, Spyware, Trojan, Rootkits, Bots and other types of Malwares
* Most effective and strong Advanced Proactive Protection
* Strong Personal Firewall to protect you against Hackers, Datatheft, Malicious inbound and outbound activities, etc.
* Anti-Phishing Filter
* Anti-Banking Trojan Engine
* Web Filter
* Personal Info Filter
* Parental Control
* Backup & Restore

Trick: Get One Year of Panda Internet Security 2010:

Simply, download Panda Internet Security 2010 installer from the following link (copy n paste):
http://www.mywot.com/en/panda/internetsecurity
After download, first save it at some safe place where you can access it later. Install the Panda Internet Security 2010 and register it. After registration, you will see a three months working period of PIS 2010. You should also activate your product for assistance. Activation can be done through "Main-Window/Services/Activate the product".

To use for whole year, you simply have to uninstall it before the trial ends. Restart your computer and install it again. You must use a new email on each new registration. You need 4 times installation in whole year. So, there are just two tiny headaches: 1: creating new email (will take maximum 2 minutes on yahoo) 2: Reinstalling Panda Internet Security 2010 (will take maximum 10 minutes). Less than 1 hour work will give you a full one year protection. Enjoy a full year protection of Panda Internet Security with this old trick.

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