GIMP Returns After Seven Years As An Open Source Image Editor

After seven years of dedicated development, the GIMP team proudly announces the release of GIMP 3.0, introducing significant enhancements to this beloved open-source image editing software.

A key feature of this release is the shift to the GTK3 graphical user interface library, which replaces the now-obsolete GTK2. This transition is expected to improve overall performance and offers users a more modern and responsive interface. Additionally, GIMP 3.0 now incorporates non-destructive editing for many popular filters, enabling users to see adjustments in real-time on their canvas.

In response to user feedback, GIMP 3.0 includes the ability to select multiple layers at once. This feature simplifies complex editing tasks, allowing users to move, transform, or apply effects to several layers simultaneously.

The update brings important advancements in text management as well. Users can now add outlines, shadows, bevels, and various styles to text while still maintaining the ability to modify the content, change fonts, and resize. This flexibility is especially useful for designers looking to produce professional-grade text components in their projects.

The introduction of Wayland support on Linux systems enhances compatibility and performance, offering better integration with modern display servers for a smoother user experience. Furthermore, GIMP 3.0 improves HiDPI support for crisper visuals on high-resolution screens and enhances compatibility with Wacom tablets, which is beneficial for digital artists who depend on precise input methods.

The plugin ecosystem has greatly expanded as well. GIMP 3.0 adds support for extensions written in Python 3, JavaScript, Lua, and Vala, granting developers more freedom to enhance the software’s capabilities. File format compatibility has also been widened, facilitating easier file exchanges with a broader array of applications. Notably, there is new support for BC7 DDS files and enhanced PSD export capabilities, making cross-platform collaboration simpler. The GIMP development team has also prioritized advancements in color management.

GIMP 3.0 is now available for GNU/Linux, macOS, and Windows and can be downloaded directly from the official GIMP website. The team aims to accelerate the release schedule for the 3.X series, with GIMP 3.2 anticipated within the next year. Their plan focuses on delivering updates more frequently, even if each version has fewer new features, thus ensuring users can access improvements and refinements more quickly.