As you may know, GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free and open-source image editing software used a lot on Linux systems, as a free alternative of Adobe Photoshop (that can be used hand-in-hand with Inkscape).
It is widely used by photographers, graphic designers, illustrators and digital artists, providing a set of tools for tasks like photo retouching, image composition, and graphic design. It also includes layer masking, color corection and digital painting, making the tool very powerful.
It supports a wide variety of file formats, including JPEG, PNG, TIFF, GIF, and PSD, making it an ideal choice for both professionals and amateurs. The software has a customizable user interface, allowing users to tailor the workspace to their preferences. Also, the basic functionality can be extended via various community-created extensions.
As a free and open-source program, GIMP is continuously improved by a vibrant community of developers and contributors. This ensures that the software stays up-to-date with modern editing trends and tools. Whether you’re refining a photograph, creating stunning digital artwork, or designing eye-catching graphics, GIMP empowers you to bring your creative visions to life without the cost of proprietary alternatives.
GIMP 3.0 – What’s New
Main Changes and Improvements
The long-awaited GIMP 3.0 release brings a major overhaul to the popular open-source image editor, introducing significant enhancements in usability, performance, and compatibility. Here are the key highlights of this release:
User Interface and Workflow Improvements
- Multi-selection of layers – Users can now select multiple layers at once in the Layers dock, making batch operations like moving, transforming, and deleting layers much easier.
- Proper high pixel density display support – GIMP now properly scales on high-DPI (Retina/4K) displays, ensuring sharp and clear UI elements.
- Wayland support – Full compatibility with Wayland, improving performance and stability on modern Linux desktop environments.
- Redesigned Align and Distribute tool – The tool’s workflow has been completely reworked, making it more intuitive and powerful for object alignment.
Enhanced Painting and Editing Tools
- Improved graphics tablet support – Better pressure sensitivity, smoother strokes, and overall improved compatibility with styluses.
- New “Expand Layers” option in paint tools – This feature automatically expands layer boundaries when painting over the edges, preventing accidental cropping of brush strokes.
- Bucket Fill tool enhancements – A new “Stroke borders” option has been added to the “Fill by line art detection” mode, making it easier to create outlines around filled areas.
- Redesigned “Fill by line art detection” settings – The settings have been reorganized for better accessibility and usability.
Text and Layer Effects Enhancements
- New text styles – The Text tool now includes “Outlined” and “Outlined and filled” options, expanding creative possibilities for typography.
- Initial UI for non-destructive layer effects – While still in its early stages, GIMP now introduces a UI framework for future non-destructive editing features.
Developer and Plug-in System Overhaul
- Completely reworked plug-in API – The API has been modernized, improving performance and flexibility for third-party plug-ins.
- Expanded programming language support – Plug-ins can now be developed in C/C++, Python 3, JavaScript, Lua, Vala, and more, making it easier for developers to create new tools and extensions.
Better Image Format Support
- Improved support for various image formats – GIMP 3.0 enhances compatibility with more file types, ensuring smoother workflow with external applications.
This update marks a significant step forward for GIMP, modernizing its foundation while setting the stage for future improvements, including full non-destructive editing and more advanced features.
How To Install GIMP 3.0 On Ubuntu 24.10, Ubuntu 24.04, Ubuntu 22.04 And Derivative Systems (via Snap)
What is Snap?
Snap is a package management system developed by Canonical, the creators of Ubuntu. It allows applications to be packaged with all their dependencies, making installations easier and reducing compatibility issues across different Linux distributions.
One of the key advantages of Snap packages is that they run in a sandboxed environment, which enhances security and stability. Additionally, Snap packages are updated automatically in the background, ensuring that users always have the latest version of an application without manual intervention.
However, some users may find that Snap applications take up more disk space due to bundling dependencies, and they may have slightly slower startup times compared to traditional DEB packages.
Prepare Snap, if needed
On Ubuntu, Snap is pre-installed, but if you are using a Linux distribution where Snap is not integrated by default, you can install it using the following command:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install snapdAfter installing Snap, you may need to enable and start the Snap service:
sudo systemctl enable --now snapdInstall GIMP via Snap
Since GIMP is officially available as a Snap package, installing it on Ubuntu is straightforward. Open a terminal and run the following command:
sudo snap install gimpThis will download and install the latest version of GIMP from the Snap Store.
Optional: Uninstall GIMP Using Snap
If you ever need to remove GIMP, you can do so with the following command:
sudo snap remove gimpHow To Install GIMP 3.0 On Ubuntu 24.10, Ubuntu 24.04, Ubuntu 22.04 And Derivative Systems (via Flatpak)
What is Flatpak?
Flatpak is another popular package management system, designed to provide a consistent and secure way of distributing applications across various Linux distributions. Unlike Snap, which is developed and maintained by Canonical, Flatpak is an open-source project supported by the Freedesktop community.
Flatpak applications run in their own sandboxed environment, which prevents them from interfering with system files. This ensures better security and isolation while allowing applications to run on any Linux distribution that supports Flatpak.
One of Flatpak’s main advantages is its decentralized nature. Users can download applications from Flathub, the main Flatpak repository, rather than relying on distribution-specific repositories. However, just like Snap, Flatpak applications can take up more space due to their bundled dependencies.
Setup Flatpak and Install GIMP
If you prefer to install GIMP using Flatpak, first ensure that you have Flatpak installed on your system. If Flatpak is not installed, you can set it up with the following command:
sudo apt install flatpakNext, add the Flathub repository, which hosts the GIMP Flatpak package:
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepoOnce Flatpak is installed and Flathub is added, install GIMP with:
flatpak install flathub org.gimp.GIMPOptional: Uninstall GIMP Using Flatpak
To remove GIMP if installed via Flatpak, use the command:
flatpak uninstall --delete-data org.gimp.GIMPConclusion
GIMP 3.0 marks a significant leap forward for this open-source image editor, bringing essential improvements in performance, compatibility, and user experience. With features like high-DPI display support, Wayland compatibility, better graphics tablet handling, and multi-layer selection, the workflow has been modernized to meet the demands of today’s users.
Additionally, the overhauled API opens new possibilities for developers, making it easier to create more powerful and diverse plugins.
This release lays the groundwork for future updates, paving the way for non-destructive editing and more advanced tools. With an active community and a clear development direction, GIMP continues to be a strong alternative to commercial software, providing a powerful and accessible solution for graphic editing.
Popular free photo editing software for Linux and Ubuntu
- GIMP – One of the most powerful open-source photo editors, often considered a free alternative to Photoshop. It supports layers, masks, filters, and various plugins.
- Inkscape – A vector graphics editor ideal for creating illustrations, logos, and scalable designs. It is a great alternative to Adobe Illustrator.
- RawTherapee – A high-quality RAW image processor designed for photographers who need advanced color correction, noise reduction, and image enhancement tools.
- Darktable – A professional-grade photo workflow application and RAW developer, similar to Adobe Lightroom, with non-destructive editing capabilities.
