New to it all

OK
after you download a plugin What do you do next do I need to file em or what? when I use gimp will all my plugins up and really to automatically?

Brand Newbie look for the right steps

Here's how you load

Here's how you load plugins/gradients/patterns and many more

http://gimp-registry.fargonauten.de/node/930#comment-118
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Some GIMP Tutorials