After a mere seven years of development, GIMP 3.0 has finally emerged from the digital abyss. This long-awaited update brings a treasure trove of new features to the beloved open-source graphics program. Future updates will come in smaller, more manageable doses.

Easier-to-use interface

Even after the first launch, many users will notice the numerous improvements to the user interface, which are intended to make using the graphics software, known for its sometimes peculiar handling, much easier and also make it easier for new users to get started. The switch to the GTK3 library, which, among other things, enables better scaling on high-resolution monitors, likely contributed significantly to the modernized appearance. Furthermore, the interface now supports Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), making the appearance of GIMP 3.0 easy to adapt to individual preferences.

The number of supported file formats has also been significantly expanded. While previous versions of Gimp already supported a variety of third-party formats, version 3.0 now also supports the ICNS icons familiar from macOS, as well as Windows CUR and ANI cursors. Amiga enthusiasts can load images from various ILBM/IFF formats, while modern formats such as QOI and JPEG XL have also been added. Existing import and export functions for PSD project files have been improved, and JPEGs and TIFFs can now be tagged with Photoshop-specific metadata.

Non-destructive layer effects now also in GIMP

GIMP users should be particularly pleased with one of the most important innovations, with the introduction of the non-destructive approach to layer effects. These are no longer applied directly to the respective layer, but remain essentially virtual and can be changed at any time. They are only actually applied when the layers are merged or exported to the final graphic format, which should significantly increase the ease of working with GIMP. However, those who prefer the previous workflow can continue to do so. Working with layers has also been optimized: Multiple selection is now supported, and layers now have their own search function.

Improved Color Spaces

Color support has also been expanded, so that GIMP can now process RGB color spaces beyond sRGB. However, CMYK and LAB color modes are still not supported, making the program less attractive for professional printing.

However, there are also disadvantages to report: Due to the numerous changes, compatibility issues may arise with plugins and scripts created for Gimp 2.x. This is due, among other things, to the fact that version 3.0 now uses Python 3 by default, while Python-Fu from previous versions is no longer supported. It is hoped that developers will adapt their plugins and scripts to the new version as soon as possible.

A complete list can be found in the official release notes.

The further development of Gimp will take place in smaller steps in the future, leading to shorter release cycles. The developers have already announced version 3.2 for next year.

The new version is available on the official Gimp website.