The second RC development release for the GIMP image editor 3.2 is out!

The new release introduced less features compare to the last RC1, but focused on improvements to performance and existing features and vulnerability fixes.

First, for user with a stylus pen, the MyPaint Brushes tool now support barrel rotation when relevant to the specific brush selected. The feature however is not tested because the developers don’t have a stylus to try it out.

Unfortunately I can’t test as we don’t have any stylus with such barrel rotation feature (and unfortunately this hardware feature is discontinued and getting a stylus with this is extra-hard now), but that should work. And at the very least, it does match with MyPaint’s implementation.

This RC also improved the Paint Select support. It’s an experimental feature introduced since version 3.0. User may try the feature by starting GIMP with --show-playground option, then go to preferences -> playground to enable it. Though, the gegl library needs to be compiled with workshop enabled.

In the release, it added progression feedback and improved local region computation to this experimental feature. And, it now processes more events, reset the scribbles at every stroke.

GIMP 3.2 RC2 also removed the restriction that prevented saving and exporting when no drawables are selected, raised the clipboard brush and pattern max size limit to 8192 for 64-bit processors, while it stays 1024 on 32-bit architecture, and it greatly improved the speed for initial font loading.

It now has a much more robust path importing from SVG by latest C-based librsvg code, and uses opaque path IDs for the ‘id’ attribute for SVG exporting, but not the GUI-visible path name anymore, to match the SVG specs.

To prevent infinite loops with cycling links, it also added a few safety checks when creating new link layers and when loading XCF files with link layers.

Other changes include:

• New startup splash.
• Set default PS/EPS export unit to millimiter instead of inch.
• Import legacy PSD Outer Glow layer style.
• Add Bash completion for the command line interface.
• Vulnerability fixes: ZDI-CAN-28311, ZDI-CAN-28273, ZDI-CAN-28158.
• Other fixes and build updates.

Get GIMP 3.2 RC2

The new RC2 is not announced at the moment of writing, though you may keep an eye on its news page for announcement.

For the source tarball, as well as the official packages for Linux, Windows, and macOS, they are available to download via the link below:

For Linux, select download the AppImage for either x86_64 (AMD/Intel) or aarch64 (for e.g., RasPi or SnapDragon X processors), then run to launch the image editor after adding executable permission.

Though, Ubuntu since 22.04 needs to install libfuse2 package for being able to run AppImage:

sudo apt install libfuse2

For those who prefer the Flatpak package, it’s also available to install via:

flatpak install --user https://flathub.org/beta-repo/appstream/org.gimp.GIMP.flatpakref

And, users who already installed the package can update it via command:

flatpak update org.gimp.GIMP//beta

The Release Candidate of the GIMP 3.2 open-source image editor is now available for public testing with more new features and improvements.

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GIMP, the popular image editing software, announced the first release candidate for the next major 3.2 version yesterday.

This is the third development release for GIMP 3.2. It introduced some new keyboard shortcuts, new and improved image formats support, API changes and UI/UX improvements.

The on-canvas editor for the Text Tool now is movable. It now includes a move cursor icon in left side, allowing to drag on it to move the on-canvas editor. While, a circle arrow icon is also available to reset its position.

Besides that, this RC release added new Shift + Ctrl + V keyboard shortcut to paste unformatted text in the on-canvas editor, and new Shift+X shortcut to switch between current and last used tools, while, user has choice to change the shortcut by Edit -> Keyboard Shortcuts dialog.

The release also added support exporting SVG as actual vectors. While, the export dialog offers options to optionally embed raster layers as either PNGs or JPEG.

The PDF plug-in now exports vector layers as actual vectors, meaning that those layers can be further edited in other vector graphics software.

As well, it supports importing PowerVR (PVR) texture files, which is most commonly used for SEGA Dreamcast games and mods, and supports loading any supported image that’s compressed by GIMP standard compression algorithms.

GIMP 3.2 RC1 also improved its UI/UX experience by allowing to drag and drop image files on-to tab bar to open multiple images, drag and drop color swatches from the Color History, and hide GIMP from macOS App Menu.

It as well updated the API with new GimpImage and GimpItem widgets added to GimpProcedureDialog, and many additional public API commands for text, vector, and link layers.

Other changes include:

• Simulate adjustment layers with layer groups.
• Document History dockable is now multi-selection aware.
• Update Windows Installer with automatic Dark Mode support.
• Update color immediately after typing hex colors without hitting Enter.
• Fixes and improvements to the link layer and vector layer features introduced in last 3.1.4.
• various security fixes.

For more about this RC release, see the official announcement.

How to Install GIMP 3.2 RC1

GIMP provides official installer packages for Linux, Windows, and macOS, which are available to download via the link below:

For Linux, they include Snap package which can be directly installed from Ubuntu Software or App Center.

While, user may also choose non-install AppImage that can be launched directly after adding executable permission.

Or install the Flatpak package in sandbox environment for most Linux by running command after enabled flatpak support:

flatpak install --user https://flathub.org/beta-repo/appstream/org.gimp.GIMP.flatpakref

And, launch the Flatpak package via the command below in case you also has the stable version installed as Flatpak.

flatpak run org.gimp.GIMP//beta

Uninstall GIMP 3.2 Devel version

For the AppImage and Snap package, either delete the file or uninstall via App Center (or Ubuntu Software).

For the Flatpak package, use the command below to uninstall:

flatpak uninstall --delete-data org.gimp.GIMP//beta

You may then even delete the flathub-beta repository afterward by running command:

flatpak remote-delete flathub-beta

NOTE: the command will list and uninstall all apps and runtimes installed from the Beta repository. Answer NO if you want to keep any of them.

GIMP 3.2 RC1 introduces native SVG export and a redesigned rasterize workflow for text, vector, and link layers.

GIMP 3.0.6 open-source image editor is now available for download with improved Photoshop brush support and many other changes. Here's what's new!

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The latest GIMP 3.0.6 update introduces macOS-specific fixes, enhanced transparency handling, and improved performance.

GIMP 3.1.4, the second development release for next major 3.2, was released few days ago!

The new release of this popular image editor introduced some exciting new features, including link layers, vector layers, MyPaint brushes version 2, and more.

First, by using File -> Open as Link Layer... or press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+O on keyboard, user can now open an image as link layer.

In the case, you may make changes to the image file via any other image editors (e.g., Krita, Inkscape), and see it instantly updated inside GIMP!

You can also non-destructively scale and rotate the link layer without impacting the quality of the original image. And, use “Discard Link Information” context menu option to convert it to a normal raster layer.

GIMP 3.1.4 also implemented the vector layer feature. After drawing a path (via Paths tool), user can now click “Create New Vector Layer” button to generate a vector layer associated with that path, then set the fill and stroke colors and other properties.

You can continue to edit the path, as the vector layer will automatically update. It as well has a “Discard Vector Information” context menu option to convert it to a regular raster layer.

The release also updated MyPaint Brushes to version 2, along with 20 new brushes from the Dieterle set. They include the long requested arrow brush and Posterizer brush.

For Ubuntu users, GIMP is going to make official SNAP package, which can be installed directly from Ubuntu Software or App Center, and also be installed in other Linux.

The current GIMP Snap package is maintained by the snapcrafters developers. The GIMP developers are talking to them to pass over the ownership, so they can maintain it as official package.

Other changes in GIMP 3.1.4 include:

• New GEGL Filter Browser.
• New Gain slider in MyPaint Brush tool, to adjust strength of input pressure.
• Add boldd, italicize, underline keyboard shortcuts for Text tool.
• Live preview outline color for text tool.
• Add import support for HRZ, signed JPEG 2000, non-DXT PAA textures, Seattle Filmworks (SFW93A, SFW94A).
• Support loading TIFF layer visibility, blending modes, and color tags
• Support System Colors theme for macOS.
• New API to change the paintbrush fade length and repeat settings.
• New public API for creating vector layers.
• Add ARM64 build of nightly Flatpak pacakge.

Compare to current GIMP 3.0 stable, there are as well many changes introduced since 3.1.2:

• Add system color scheme support for Linux (Flatpak package) and Windows.
• New brush preview toggle.
• New overwrite paint mode.
• New Outline Direction option for text tool
• Import support for Photoshop RGB and grayscale patterns, APNG animations, multi-layer OpenEXR images, Over-the-Air Bitmap format, Jeff’s Image Format (.jif).
• Export Krita .kpl, PSB Photoshop Large format, JPEG 2000, HEJ2.
• Support Photoshop .acv and .alv presets in GIMP Curves and Levels filters.

For more about GIMP 3.1.4, see the official release note.

How to Install GIMP 3.1.4

The official GIMP packages for Windows, Linux, and macOS are available to download at the link below:

Linux user may choose the non-install AppImage package, which can be run directly to launch the image editor, after adding executable permission.

NOTE: Ubuntu since 22.04 needs to run command in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) to install required library first:

sudo apt install libfuse2

Or, run the command below to install the Flatpak package instead which runs in sandbox environment.

flatpak install https://flathub.org/beta-repo/appstream/org.gimp.GIMP.flatpakref

If you already have GIMP 3.1.2 installed as Flatpak, then try the command below to update it:

flatpak update org.gimp.GIMP//beta

If you have both the Devel and Stable versions of GIMP installed as Flatpak, and don’t know which icon to use, then use the command below to start the GIMP 3.1.4 from terminal:

flatpak run org.gimp.GIMP//beta

GIMP 3.2 open-source image editor has a new development release available for public testing, promising many new features and enhancements. Here’s what's new!

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