Free graphics editor GIMP 3.0 released – first major update in seven years

The final version of the free graphics editor GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) 3.0 has been released. It replaces GIMP 2.10, which appeared in 2018. The program has received many significant improvements.

Image source: gimp.org

The main goal of the GIMP 3.0 project was a major overhaul of the program’s user interface, but new features were also added. The transition to the GTK3 GUI library helped improve the interface scaling mechanisms on high-resolution screens – in GIMP 2.10 this was sometimes a problem. Support for the dark theme, motion effects and interface animations were improved; tablet support was improved; the updated program received native support for the Wayland graphics platform on Linux systems.

The developers have improved the work with layers, color and text, the range of supported formats has expanded. Wilber, the GIMP mascot, has received a new coloring. In the new version of the editor, there is no need to constantly change the size of the available work area – you can safely draw outside the canvas, because the program itself will adjust its size.

The program appeared in 1995. The GIMP 1.X family of editors remained relevant for eight years; GIMP 2.X lasted for a long 20 years; now the GIMP developers intend to release current updates more often – GIMP 3.2 should appear within a year. New functions with updates will appear in more modest volumes, but users will be able to start working with them earlier.