A Closer Look at the Latest Developments and What to Expect
The GIMP community has been eagerly anticipating the release of GIMP 3.0, and the wait is finally over! The first release candidate (RC1) for this highly anticipated update has just been made available, and it’s packed with a wealth of new features, improvements, and bug fixes that are sure to excite both seasoned GIMP users and newcomers alike.
Introducing the GIMP 3.0 RC1
The GIMP team has been working tirelessly for over 6 years to bring GIMP 3.0 to life, and the RC1 release is the culmination of their hard work. A “release candidate” is a version of the software that the team believes is ready to be the final 3.0 release, but they want the larger community to test it first and report any issues they find.
If the feedback reveals only minor and easily fixable bugs, the team will address those problems and release GIMP 3.0 as the final version. However, if more substantial bugs or regressions are uncovered, a second release candidate may be necessary for further testing.
A Fresh New Look
One of the most noticeable changes in GIMP 3.0 RC1 is the updated logo and splash screen. The iconic Wilber character, created by Jakub Steiner in 2008, has been given a modern makeover by Aryeom. The new logo and splash screen designs aim to better fit with the current design trends on modern desktops.
The team has also created an updated splash screen archive to showcase the work of current and previous splash screen artists, allowing users to enjoy a rotating selection of diverse artwork created with GIMP.
Improved Vector Icon Support
Another significant improvement in GIMP 3.0 RC1 is the enhanced vector UI icons. With the GTK3 port, the vector icons now scale more cleanly based on user preference settings. However, the Legacy icon theme was primarily composed of raster PNGs, which could not take advantage of the GTK3 scaling system.
Contributor Denis Rangelov took on the extensive task of recreating the Legacy tool icons as SVGs, ensuring that both of GIMP’s icon themes now look great on high-DPI screens. While the work is not yet complete, the team plans to rename the Legacy theme to “Classic” once this project is achieved, to reflect its well-maintained status.
Enhanced Color Management
One of the key changes in GIMP 2.99.18 was the massive improvements to color management, which was a major blocker for the 3.0 RC1 release. Since then, the team has found and fixed a number of bugs and missed areas that needed to be color space aware.
They have also reviewed reports from color expert Elle Stone to ensure that the color values shown by GIMP are as accurate as possible. At the same time, the team has thoroughly reviewed the various layer modes to ensure that compatibility with projects created in GIMP 2.10 and earlier is retained.
The color space invasion project is an ongoing effort that will continue after the GIMP 3.0 release, as the team works to integrate color management even more deeply throughout the application.
Stabilizing the Public API
Another crucial task for the 3.0 release was finalizing the public API. This involved replacing all instances of the custom GimpRGB color structures with the better color-managed GeglColor, and improving the array format so the number of elements does not have to be specified separately.
Additionally, a number of functions have been added, renamed, or removed from the public API compared to GIMP 2.10. This includes the addition of gimp-context-get-emulate-brush-dynamics and gimp-context-set-emulate-brush-dynamics, which allow script and plug-in developers to use the Emulate Paint Brush Dynamics setting when painting.
The team has also consolidated the various Gaussian Blur functions into a single plug-in-gauss function, providing developers with more direct control over the effect rather than relying on hidden preset values.
With the API now stabilized, plug-in and script developers can begin porting their 2.10 scripts based on this release. The team has provided initial API documentation on their developer site and encourages users to check out the Script-fu and Python plug-ins in their repository to see working examples of the new API.
Non-Destructive Editing Improvements
The non-destructive filter code in GIMP 3.0 RC1 has received significant improvements and bug fixes, thanks in part to the testing and feedback provided by Sam Lester during the development of his third-party GEGL filters.
In response to user requests, the team has added an optional “Merge Filters” checkbox at the bottom of non-destructive effect filters. When enabled, the filter will be immediately merged down after it is committed. This allows users to return to the original destructive workflow if desired, although the option is not available when working with layer groups.
The team has also implemented the ability to store the version of filters in GIMP’s XCF project files, which will allow them to update filters in the future without impacting the appearance of older project files.
User Interface Enhancements
GIMP 3.0 RC1 includes several updates to the user interface, such as the ability to take advantage of the multi-select features implemented in earlier versions of 2.99. The team has also restored the ability to use the mouse scrollwheel to flip through the different dockable dialogue tabs, a feature that was previously available in GTK2 but removed in GTK3.
In response to user feedback, the team has added code to check your operating system’s “Reduced Animation” setting and turn off the scrolling credits in the About Dialog if the setting is enabled, to avoid potential discomfort caused by the motion.
Plug-in and Format Improvements
While most of the changes to plug-ins in GIMP 3.0 RC1 have been API updates and bug fixes, a few smaller enhancements have been implemented. The BMP format now supports 64-bit per pixel images, thanks to the work of new contributor Rupert Weber.
The team has also added support for importing TIFFs with Sketchbook format layers, addressing a bug that was previously reported in the issue tracker.
Updating the GEGL and babl Libraries
GEGL 0.4.50, the underlying graphics engine for GIMP, introduces a number of new filters created by Sam Lester, including Inner Glow, Bevel, and GEGL Styles. Øyvind Kolås also made several bug fixes and improvements to the stability of GEGL.
The babl 0.1.110 library, responsible for color space conversions, has also received contributions during this cycle. Jehan implemented new conversion processes between RGB and HSL color models, improving the performance of a number of filters compared to GIMP 2.99.18.
Community Contributions
Since GIMP 2.99.18, a total of 72 people have contributed changes or fixes to the GIMP 3.0.0 RC1 codebase, with several others contributing to related repositories in the “GIMPverse.” The team is deeply grateful for the ongoing support and contributions from the GIMP community, including those who help triage issues, report bugs, and discuss possible improvements.
Towards Faster Release Cycles
The team acknowledges that the path to GIMP 3.0 has been a long one, and GIMP 2.10 users have not had access to all the great new features that have been developed over the years. To address this, the team is restructuring their development process to decrease the time between releases.
Their goal is to focus on smaller, feature-focused releases, with GIMP 3.2 targeted to come out within a year after the final release of 3.0, rather than the lengthy delays that have historically plagued the project. Micro releases with bug fixes may also happen in between the larger releases.
Smaller, more frequent releases will allow the team to thoroughly test each change, further improving the stability of each GIMP version. The team has also been working on improving their automated testing processes to catch and identify bugs early in the development cycle.
Improved Build and Packaging Processes
The GIMP team has made significant strides in improving the build and packaging processes for the application across multiple platforms. Bruno Lopes has taken the lead on these efforts, creating an experimental AppImage build and Flatpak build scripts to make it easier for users to create their own GIMP Flatpak packages.
The team has also put a lot of work into improving their presence on the Microsoft Store, creating a new GIMP app that resolves issues with the previous 2.10 version, such as the lack of automatic updates and integration with tools like Microsoft Intune. They have also created a separate “GIMP (Preview)” app in the Microsoft Store, allowing users to install development versions in a similar manner to the Beta Flatpak on Linux.
Additionally, the standard Windows installer has been updated with a more modern design, the ability to install individual language packages, and an option to launch GIMP immediately after the installation is complete.
Expanding Partnerships and Translations
Earlier this year, the GIMP team announced a fiscal sponsorship agreement with the GNOME Foundation, which aims to support stable funding for developers interested in working on GIMP for the long term through grants, as well as provide easier ways for people to contribute to the project’s development.
The team has also expanded their translation efforts, with a new Bengali language translation now available. They encourage users interested in translating GIMP into their own language or assisting with an existing translation to visit their website for more information.
The Road Ahead
As the GIMP community eagerly awaits the final release of GIMP 3.0, the team is relying on everyone to test the RC1 version and report any issues they encounter. While some smaller bugs may be considered secondary, the team is particularly interested in catching more significant problems, such as crashes, regressions, and issues with color management and non-destructive editing.
The team is not providing a specific release date for GIMP 3.0, as they want to ensure the software is stable enough before making it available to the public. However, they are committed to a faster release cycle, with GIMP 3.2 expected to follow within a year of the 3.0 release.
In the meantime, the GIMP community can support the project’s continued development by donating and personally funding GIMP developers. Community commitment is crucial for the growth and success of this vital open-source image editing tool.
To try out the latest GIMP 3.0 RC1 release, visit the GIMP website and download the appropriate package for your operating system. And don’t forget to check out the ITFix blog for more informative articles on technology, computer repair, and IT solutions.
