The GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) has announced the release of GIMP 3.0 as a release candidate version. This version is close to finalization and is now available for the community to test and help fix any remaining bugs. According to the original blog post, if user feedback reveals only small and easy-to-fix bugs, those problems will be solved and the result will be issued as GIMP 3.0. However, if larger bugs and regressions are uncovered that require more substantial code changes, a second release candidate may be published for further testing.
GIMP is the most popular free image editing software available and has benefited from the contributions of numerous developers over the years. GIMP 2.0 and its iterations have been in use since 2004, with versions progressing through GIMP 2.4 in 2007, 2.6 in 2008, 2.8 in 2012, and 2.10 starting from 2018 until now. If all goes according to plan, GIMP 3.0 will be released in full by the end of this year or early 2025.
GIMP 3.0 candidate released for testing
The updated version brings several changes, particularly in its interface. The new interface is now more scalable to high-resolution displays, with several familiar icons converted to scalable vector graphics (SVGs), providing higher quality and scalability.
The conversion process is still ongoing, but efforts led by developer Denis Rangelov are in progress. Significant backend updates have also been made, ensuring project and plugin compatibility with older versions of GIMP. A public GIMP API is being stabilized to simplify the porting of GIMP 2.10-based plugins and scripts to GIMP 3.0. Furthermore, several bugs related to color accuracy have been fixed, enhancing color management while maintaining compatibility with past GIMP projects.
GIMP 3.0 represents a significant modernization of this enduring and widely-used image editing software, promising both long-time users and new adopters a more refined and powerful tool.
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