Photo retouching, image composition and image authoring

GIMP

GIMP

  -  286.27 MB  -  Open Source
  • Latest Version

    GIMP 3.0.4 LATEST

  • Review by

    Sophia Jones

  • Operating System

    Windows 10 / Windows 11

  • User Rating

    Click to vote
  • Author / Product

    The GIMP Team / External Link

  • Filename

    gimp-3.0.4-setup.exe

  • MD5 Checksum

    75ced6a77f64cd2aa21d70653f1681cc

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a powerful, open-source image editor for Windows PC used for photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring.

GIMP Screenshot 1

As a free alternative to Adobe Photoshop, GIMP for PC has been a go-to tool for graphic designers, photographers, and hobbyists looking for a comprehensive image editing solution.

Its flexibility and extensive array of features make it a formidable choice for users who need advanced graphic design capabilities without the cost associated with premium software.

Key Features

Comprehensive Image Editing: It offers a wide range of tools for photo retouching, including color adjustment, cropping, resizing, and layering.

Customizable Interface: Users can adapt the layout to their needs, creating a more efficient workflow.

Extensive Plugin Support: There is a rich ecosystem of plugins and scripts that extend GIMP’s capabilities, including those that mimic Photoshop's behavior.

Supports Various File Formats: It supports popular file formats like JPEG, PNG, GIF, PSD, and more. It can also export to various formats, making it versatile for different projects.

High-Quality Image Manipulation: Users can carry out complex tasks such as image composition, retouching, and restoration with a suite of advanced tools.

Brush Customization and Pencil Tools: For those involved in digital painting, it offers a variety of brush and pencil tools that can be customized for different artistic effects.

Path and Selection Tools: Advanced path tools and selection options like the lasso, magic wand, and color selector make precision editing possible.

Programming Algorithms: This program is a powerful framework for scripted image manipulation that supports multiple programming languages, including C, C++, Perl, Python, Scheme, and more!

What`s New in GIMP 3.0
  • New Graphics
  • New User Interface
  • Splash Screen
  • Legacy Icon Theme Improvements
  • Color Space Invasion
  • Public API Finalization
  • Non-Destructive Editing Updates
  • Plug-ins
User Interface

GIMP’s user interface may seem daunting at first, especially for those used to simpler software. However, once users familiarize themselves with the tool placement, layers panel, and dockable dialogs, the workflow becomes efficient.

The UI is customizable, allowing users to set up the workspace that best suits their projects. The app’s interface supports single-window mode for those who prefer a more unified layout, reducing the clutter of multiple floating windows.

Installation and Setup

Download: Visit the official website or FileHorse.com and download the latest version compatible with your OS.

Install: Follow the on-screen instructions for installation.

First-time Setup: When launching this program for the first time, the software will initialize, set up resources, and load essential plugins.

This software is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible for a broad user base.

How to Use

Basic Editing
  • Open an image via File > Open.
  • Use tools from the left panel to edit (crop, paint, adjust colors).
  • Access advanced adjustments via the Colors menu for brightness, contrast, and color balance.
Layer Management
  • Create new layers for non-destructive editing.
  • Use the Layers panel to adjust layer opacity and blending modes.
Selection Tools
  • Select portions of an image using the rectangle, ellipse, lasso, or magic wand tool.
  • Apply transformations to selections, such as moving, rotating, or scaling.
Applying Filters
  • It has a wide variety of built-in filters accessible from the Filters menu, useful for adding effects such as blur, noise, and artistic touches.
Exporting Your Work
  • Save your project as a GIMP file (.XCF) to retain layers for future editing.
  • Export as a standard image format using File > Export As.
FAQ

Is GIMP suitable for professional use?
Yes, this program is suitable for professional use, especially for individuals or organizations looking for a free, versatile image editor. However, users who need specific industry-standard features may still prefer paid alternatives.

Can GIMP open and edit Photoshop files?
It can open PSD files, but compatibility is limited to simpler projects without advanced Photoshop-specific adjustments.

Are there tutorials available for learning GIMP?
Yes, there are many resources available, including the official documentation, community tutorials, YouTube videos, and third-party guides.

Does GIMP support vector graphics?
While the app has basic vector tools, it is primarily a raster-based program. For more extensive vector graphic capabilities, using Inkscape alongside GIMP is recommended.

Is GIMP safe to download and use?
Yes, this software is safe when downloaded from the official website or FileHorse. Always ensure you're using the latest version from trusted sources to avoid vulnerabilities.

Key Element in a Desktop Publishing Workflow

It offers excellent color management capabilities to guarantee accurate color representation for both digital and printed media.

It is especially effective when integrated into workflows that include other free software like Scribus and Inkscape.

Alternatives

Krita: A powerful free tool focused on digital painting but with some image editing capabilities.

Adobe Photoshop Express: The industry standard for image editing, known for its vast range of features and extensive plugin support.

Paint.NET: A simpler, free image editor for Windows users, ideal for more basic editing needs.

Affinity Photo: A one-time purchase alternative to Photoshop with many professional-grade features.

Paint 3D: Make 2D masterpieces or 3D models that you can play with from all angles!

MS Paint: The legendary free graphic editor available for your Windows OS.

Corel PaintShop Pro: Another robust alternative for Windows users, offering a wide range of photo-editing tools.

Pricing

This software is completely FREE and open-source.

There are no subscription fees or hidden costs, making it an excellent choice for users on a budget.

System Requirements

OS: Windows 11, 10, 8 or 7 (64-bit recommended)

Hardware: Minimum 2 GB of RAM, multi-core processor recommended for intensive tasks.

PROS
  • Free and open-source
  • Comprehensive set of editing tools
  • Customizable interface
  • Supports various file formats
  • Extensive community and plugin support
CONS
  • Steeper learning curve
  • Limited support for CMYK color mode (important for print work)
  • Occasional bugs and crashes with complex edits
Conclusion

GIMP is a robust and flexible tool that can serve as a reliable alternative to costly image editors. While it has a steeper learning curve and lacks certain advanced features of its commercial counterparts, the software excels in its core functionalities.

Ideal for graphic designers, photographers, and hobbyists, it offers a professional-grade experience without any financial commitment. With regular updates and a passionate community, it continues to evolve, meeting the needs of users worldwide.

Also Available: Download GIMP for Mac


Why is this app published on FileHorse? (More info)
  • GIMP 3.0.4 Screenshots

    The images below have been resized. Click on them to view the screenshots in full size.

    GIMP 3.0.4 Screenshot 1
  • GIMP 3.0.4 Screenshot 2
  • GIMP 3.0.4 Screenshot 3
  • GIMP 3.0.4 Screenshot 4
  • GIMP 3.0.4 Screenshot 5

What's new in this version:

General Bugfixes:
- There was a bug with pasting selections from GIMP into other programs, where the pasted section was padded to the original image size. This is now fixed thanks to work from Anders Jonsson, Aruius, and Alx Sa. If you notice any regressions or other issues after this fix, please let us know!
- There were several types of crash reported to us, related to changing or turning off the main monitor. Jacob Boerema and Jehan worked together to diagnose this issue and make several necessary fixes. However, if you continue to have problems related to this, let us know so we can continue to work on it.
- Idriss Fekir and Liam Quin, our resident font experts, have been busy making improvements to our text systems. In addition to general bug fixes with text layers, they’ve also greatly improved font loading speed on start-up. If you have a large number of fonts on your computer, GIMP should start much faster now!
- Non-destructive filters received a number of bugfixes and improvements as well. The name of the filter is once again displayed in the undo history when added to an image. In addition, individual filter edits are now tracked in the undo history, thanks to work by Jehan and Alx Sa. We also resolved a few crashes, and we fixed some visual glitches when rotating layers with active non-destructive filters.

A few other small fixes of note:
- New contributor Gabriele Barbero fixed a bug where the Help button on the About Dialog didn’t load the help page correctly
- New contributor Integral fixed a bug on KDE Wayland where the default Wayland icon was shown instead of our Wilber icon
- The ZDI-CAN-26752 bug for .ICO imports is now fixed

Regressions:
- Akkana Peck noticed that the Window Hint option in Preferences no longer allowed floating windows to stay in front of the main image window in multi-window mode. She found and implemented a fix using the updated GTK3 API.
- The space bar once again respects the action setting in Canvas Interactions. This means instead of always panning, you can set it to switch to the Move Tool instead - or even set it to do nothing at all!
- The Difference Cloud filter once again has a GUI to let you adjust its settings. This actually fixes a regression from the port to GEGL in GIMP 2.8, so it’s a long-standing update!

A few other small fixes of note:
- The Plug-in Browser should now show all plug-ins again
- New contributor Aruius resolved a bug where the Sample Points display didn’t update when the image’s precision changed
- The Screenshot plug-in once again uses radio buttons rather than a drop-down menu for its options, reducing the number of clicks needed to change settings
- Rupert Weber fixed a bug on Linux where BMP format warnings didn’t display in some cases

UI/UX:
- Since this is a “bugfix” release, we didn’t want to make too many disruptive UI changes. However, Reju has identified and designed a few smaller updates to help make GIMP’s UI more consistent.
- The MyPaint Brush tools options UI has been redesigned to match the layout of other painting tools
- The generic “Force” slider does not impact the Pencil Tool. This option is now hidden in that tool’s options rather than just marked inactive, to be less confusing.
- The Device Status dock has been updated to show more clearly which input device is in use, and is closer to the GIMP 2.10 version
- The Path tool now automatically closes the path when you click on the starting point in Design mode, rather than requiring you to hold down the Ctrl first. This makes the Path tool more consistent with similar tools in GIMP, as well as in other software. If you need to move the starting point, you can deselect the current end point by holding Shift when you click on it, and then select the starting point to move it.
- Jacob Boerema reviewed our brush size code, and found that different parts of GIMP set different limits for the maximum brush size. He defined a single maximum value and set it to be used throughout GIMP, to ensure there are no surprises when resizing your brush!

A few other small fixes of note:
- On Windows, floating docks in Multi-Window Mode now also have their titlebars match the theme dark mode setting
- You can now press Enter to connect the start and end points in Scissor Select. Pressing Enter a second time will create a selection as normal.

Build:
- We received reports that GCC 15 could not build GIMP by default, due to some older areas of our codebase using now reserved keywords for variable names. Nils Philippsen located the problem areas and updated the relevant code to match current standards.
- On macOS, we now have a developer version of the .DMG as first mentioned in the 3.0.2 news post. This means that creating plug-ins for macOS will be much easier and faster than before. Thanks again to Lukas Oberhuber, Peter Kaczorowski, Dominik Reichardt, and other contributors for their hard work!
- Our resident packaging and build expert Bruno Lopes has been busy with more improvements to our processes. A few of these updates are listed below

AppImage:
- The AppImage no longer contains Debug Symbols for dependencies (with the exception of babl and GEGL). This should significantly cut down on the file size, going back to the small size it had in RC3. Instead, if you need to debug the AppImage, follow our new debugging instructions.
- Smaller and smarter Windows installer:
- To guarantee the best stability for future GIMP installations on Microsoft Windows, the installer’s Customize mode is now restricted to “clean” installations (a.k.a. when you first install GIMP). That’s because we need to adjust or even remove features from the .exe installer when they get too hard to maintain or become potentially broken (e.g. our custom file associations page was removed starting with GIMP 2.10.12 installer). In the Customize mode case, it was suppose to let you choose what GIMP components should installed, but unfortunately, it was not working like that at all.
- Back then, to allow the Customize mode between GIMP installations (e.g. when reinstalling, updating), our Windows developers needed to 1) hardcode the components files almost twice and 2) code our own utility to do recursive uninstall of some complex components. All of that extra work to barely emulate how it (automatically) works on NSIS and WIX installers. Because of this, that feature became unmaintained without us noticing for many years and was silently breaking some GIMP installations. That said, you will still be able to use that feature with the command line - but keep in mind it is not properly working.
- To be clear: that feature works perfectly on clean installs and, from 3.0.4 onward, also if the installer detects a broken install (e.g. when you installed GIMP in a external SSD but lost it). We call this much requested feature: Repair mode.
- Also in the Customize mode, in addition to letting you choose what language packs are present, you can now also choose to install plug-in development files which work with our new plug-in tutorials.
- As a bonus, even if you select literally all components available in the Customize mode, GIMP 3 is still more than 300MB smaller than GIMP 2.10 ??, that’s it.

GEGL and babl:
- GEGL version 0.4.62 brings several bug fixes to prevent crashes, courtesy of Øyvind Kolås. UI ranges were added by Budhil Nigam to some operations, which means our Fractal Trace filter now has more sensible number ranges on the slider.
- babl version 0.1.114 contains some fixes from Øyvind to ensure TRCs are stored correctly from color profiles
- Internally, Bruno Lopes converted many scripts in both projects to use Python, making them easier to build on other platforms