The subject of getting started with GIMP image editing feels more interesting when there is room for a reader to stop and ask their own questions. Working on a copy makes it easier to experiment with an image without losing the original. For me, that is a useful way into the broader subject of GIMP image editing . I can imagine different answers depending on the situation, so I would want to understand the context before drawing conclusions. Which editing tools should a beginner learn before trying more elaborate effects?