GIMP

The GNU Image Manipulation Program, known as GIMP, is a free tool for working with pictures on a computer. People often use it to fix photos, draw freehand, and change photos from one type to another.

You can find GIMP on many kinds of computers, like those that use Microsoft Windows, Linux, or macOS. Because it is free and open for anyone to use, many people around the world enjoy using it.

GIMP lets users add extra features through special add-ons called plugins. Even though it is mainly for editing photos, some artists also use it to create new drawings. The project is supported by people who volunteer their time to help make it better.

History

In 1995, Spencer Kimball and Peter Mattis started creating GIMP as a school project at the University of California, Berkeley. The software was first called the General Image Manipulation Program. They chose the name GIMP by adding a G to "-IMP," inspired by a movie called Pulp Fiction.

The first public version of GIMP, version 0.54, was released in 1996. It quickly gained users, and many people began helping to improve it. They shared tips, art, and new ways to use the program.

In 1997, Richard Stallman from the GNU Project visited UC Berkeley. He met with Kimball and Mattis and agreed to let them change "General" to "GNU" in the program's name. After this, GIMP became part of the GNU software collection.

At first, GIMP only worked on Unix-based systems like Linux. Later, it was made to work on other operating systems, including Microsoft Windows and macOS.

A special tool called GTK was developed to help make GIMP. This happened because Peter Mattis was not happy with the Motif toolkit that GIMP used before.

Wilber, the official mascot of GIMP, was created using GIMP by Tuomas Kuosmanen on September 25, 1997. Over time, other GIMP developers added more items for Wilber, which are included in the Wilber Construction Kit. The kit can be found in GIMP's source code.

Development

GIMP is created by volunteers who work together to make it free for everyone to use. They share their work in public places where anyone can see and help. New ideas for GIMP are kept separate until they are ready to be added to the main version.

GIMP is shared as source code, which means people can make versions for different computers. GIMP uses numbers to show which version it is, like 3.0, to let users know what is new and stable.

In the past, GIMP has worked with programs like Google Summer of Code to add new tools. Some of these tools, like the healing brush, are now part of GIMP.

GIMP continues to improve with new versions, such as 2.9.6 and 3.0, which include better performance and features. Developers meet each year to discuss how to make GIMP even better.

Distribution

GIMP can be used on many types of computers, including those running Linux, macOS, and Windows. Some Linux systems, like Fedora Linux and Debian, already have GIMP included.

GIMP used to be available from SourceForge, but stopped using that site in 2013. Later, SourceForge put ads on old versions of GIMP for Windows. In 2022, GIMP became available in the Microsoft Store for Windows users.

Features

Further information: Comparison of raster graphics editors

GIMP offers many tools for editing pictures. You can find these tools in the toolbox, menus, and windows. These tools include filters, brushes, and options for changing, selecting, layering, and hiding parts of an image. The creators of GIMP say it can do almost as much as a famous editing program but looks different.

There are many ways to pick colors in GIMP. You can use color palettes, choose from color pickers, or use a tool that lets you pick a color right from your picture. GIMP includes several color pickers, like ones that show red-green-blue or color wheels. You can also type in special color codes to get exact colors. GIMP works well with different color types and lets you blend colors smoothly across an image. You can also create your own color blends.

GIMP has many tools to help you edit pictures. Common tools include brushes for painting, pencils for sharp lines, airbrushes for soft edges, erasers, and tools for filling areas with color. There are also smarter tools that can copy parts of an image, fix spots, or make edges blend better. You can also make parts of an image lighter or darker.

When you edit a picture in GIMP, it can be made up of many layers, like stacks of clear paper. Each layer can show a different part of the image, and you can change how see-through each layer is. You can also add text to your images and change how it looks. Starting with GIMP version 3.2, you can link layers to outside files so that when those files change, the linked layers update automatically.

GIMP has many built-in effects and filters, like making shadows, blurring, and adding noise. You can also make GIMP follow commands written in different languages to repeat tasks. This lets you add new features to GIMP without changing its main code. There are tools to make images sharper or blurrier in specific areas. GIMP can also use machine learning for special image effects.

GIMP was updated to handle higher quality colors better. It now supports advanced color processing and can keep changes reversible, meaning you can edit, turn effects on or off, or remove them later. Additional filters can be added, but they might not work if the needed tools aren’t installed.

GIMP can turn simple shapes like lines and circles into adjustable vector objects.

GIMP can work with many different file types. Its own special format, called XCF, saves all the details of your image project. Since version 2.9.6, XCF files can be larger than 4 GB.

Professional reviews

Lifewire reviewed GIMP in March 2019 and said it is a very powerful program for changing pictures, especially for those who have not used similar tools before. They suggested that if someone spends time learning it, GIMP can be a great tool for graphics.

GIMP is often reviewed to see how well it works for professional use. Many people compare it to Adobe Photoshop and think it could be a good replacement. In 2012, Ryan Paul from Ars Technica liked the new single-window mode in GIMP 2.8 because it made the program feel simpler. Michael Burns from Macworld also praised this update in 2014, calling it a big improvement. However, some users think the program's interface can be hard to use.

Versions

The GNU Image Manipulation Program, known as GIMP, is a free tool for editing pictures and images. You can use it to fix photos, draw by hand, and change how pictures are saved. GIMP works on many types of computers and can be used by anyone without paying.

Forks and derivatives

Because GIMP is free and open-source, many different versions and changes have been made to fit various needs. These versions are not hosted on the official GIMP website.

Forks

• CinePaint, formerly called Film Gimp, is a version of GIMP used for fixing movie frames. It supports special image formats used in movies and works on BSD, Linux, and macOS.
• GIMP classic is a change to GIMP’s older version to keep its older look and feel. It can be used on Ubuntu.
• GIMP Portable is a version of GIMP for Microsoft Windows that lets you move your settings between computers.
• GIMPshop was a version that tried to look like Adobe Photoshop, but development stopped in 2006.
• GimPhoto is another version that looks like Photoshop, with tools to change how it looks. It is available for Linux, Windows, and macOS.
• McGimp was a special version for macOS that included extra tools for photo optimization.
• Seashore is a simpler version of GIMP for macOS.
• Glimpse was an old version of GIMP created because some people felt the word “gimp” was unkind to disabled people.

Extensions

GIMP can do even more with special tools called plugins. Some important plugins are:

• GIMP-ML, which makes pictures better using smart computer learning.
• GIMP Animation Package (GAP), which helps you make simple animations and save them as GIF or AVI files.
• Resynthesizer, which can fill in missing parts of an image by guessing what should be there.
• G'MIC, which adds cool effects and changes to your pictures.