Installing GIMPshop and fighting with Synaptic

[Dave M G]

Ubuntu Users,

    I would like to install the GIMP variant called GIMPshop, available 
here:
http://plasticbugs.com/index.php?p=241

    However, despite an available Debian package and clear instructions, 
I find that I'm having all sorts of dependancy errors and Synaptic and 
the automatic update manager keep telling me I have errors with GIMP and 
attempt to automatically upgrade me to the Ubuntu distribution of GIMP.

    This seems to be because GIMPshop is based around slightly older 
binaries of GIMP than the Ubuntu distribution.

    I'm wondering two things:

    Has anyone successfully installed GIMPshop on their Ubuntu 
distribution, and if so how.

    How does it get decided what applications are available in the 
Ubuntu repositories anyway? I mean, is there any way to get Gimpshop to 
become available through Synaptic? All sorts of weird (and useless in my 
view) applications are available, so how does one application get in and 
one not?

    But of the two things I'm wondering, I'm more keen to just get 
GIMPshop on my computer. Any ideas?

    Any advice would be much appreciated.

    Thank you.

--
Dave M G