GIMP
The GIMP Development Team • Design
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) stands as the premier free and open-source alternative to commercial photo editors, delivering professional-grade tools for retouching, compositing, and original artwork. New version continues the project’s tradition of deep extensibility, offering a scripting framework that supports Scheme, Python, Perl, and more — allowing power users to automate complex workflows or build custom plug-ins.
Beyond pixel pushing, GIMP excels in color-managed pipelines, making it a reliable partner for print designers who need consistent output across soft-proofing and hard-copy workflows. Its modular interface adapts to single-window or multi-window modes, and new series brings refined HiDPI support, non-destructive editing improvements, and a modernized plug-in API that keeps the ecosystem vibrant.
In This Post
Quick Start & Pro Tips
Set Up a Non-Destructive Color Grading Workflow
- Open image → Layer → New from Visible (creates a merged copy). 2. Add a Filter Layer (Layer → New Filter Layer) → choose Color → Curves. 3. In the Curves dialog, switch to RGB channels individually; lift shadows in Blue, lower highlights in Red for a cinematic teal-orange look. 4. Add a second Filter Layer → Color → Color Balance; push midtones toward cyan/blue, highlights toward orange/yellow. 5. Group both filter layers (Ctrl+G) and mask the group to restrict grading to the subject. 6. Save as XCF to preserve the live filter stack.
Explanation: Filter layers keep the original pixels untouched, letting you revisit or animate the grade later without rework — essential for client revisions and versioning.
Batch-Export Web-Ready Assets with Python-Fu
- Place source XCF/PSD files in a folder. 2. Open Filters → Python-Fu → Console. 3. Paste a script that iterates the folder, loads each file, runs pdb.file_webp_export (or file_png_export) with preset quality, and saves to an output directory. 4. Assign the script a keyboard shortcut via Edit → Keyboard Shortcuts → Plug-ins → Python-Fu. 5. Run once; all assets export with consistent naming and compression.
Explanation: Automating repetitive exports eliminates human error, enforces brand-consistent compression, and saves hours on large asset libraries — a force multiplier for UI/UX and social-media pipelines.
Calibrate Soft-Proofing for Print Production
- Obtain the printer’s ICC profile (e.g., ISOcoated_v2_300_eci.icc). 2. In GIMP: Edit → Preferences → Color Management → set Monitor Profile (your calibrated display) and Print Simulation Profile (the printer ICC). 3. Open image → View → Soft Proofing (Ctrl+Y). 4. Enable Mark out-of-gamut colors to visualize clipping. 5. Add a Curves adjustment layer; pull back saturated cyans/magentas that fall outside the proof gamut. 6. Export final TIFF with the printer profile embedded (File → Export As → TIFF → Advanced Options → ICC Profile).
Explanation: Accurate soft-proofing prevents costly reprints by revealing gamut mismatches on screen before files leave your workstation — critical for packaging, editorial, and fine-art workflows.
Download GIMP
File size: 285 MB
OS support: Windows, macOS, Linux, Portable
Windows
macOS
Download Gimp 3.2 for macOS – x64 (DMG)
Download Gimp 3.2 for macOS – ARM64 (DMG)
Linux
Download Gimp 3.2 for Linux – x64 (Appimage)
Download Gimp 3.2 for Linux – ARM64 (Appimage)
Portable
Key Features
- Advanced Photo Retouching: Heal, clone, dodge, burn, and perspective-correct with precision tools that rival commercial suites. Frequency separation and high-bit-depth pipelines preserve detail through heavy edits.
- Non-Destructive Editing: Layer groups, masks, and the new filter layers let you iterate without baking changes. Adjustment layers for curves, levels, and color balance keep the original data intact.
- Scripting & Automation: Native support for Script-Fu (Scheme), Python-Fu, Perl, and JavaScript enables batch processing, custom filters, and pipeline integration. The 3.2 API stabilizes plug-in development across updates.
- Color Management: Full ICC profile support, soft-proofing with rendering intents, and wide-gamut monitoring ensure accurate color from capture to print. Integration with ArgyllCMS and DisplayCAL is seamless.
- Extensible Brush Engine: Parametric brushes, dynamics mapping (pressure, tilt, velocity), and the MyPaint brush library import give digital painters a natural-media feel with infinite customization.
- File Format Versatility: Open/export PSD, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, WebP, HEIF, OpenEXR, and raw camera formats via libraw. Round-trip PSD layer compatibility preserves groups, masks, and blend modes.
- HiDPI & Multi-Monitor: Per-monitor scaling on Windows, macOS, and Wayland/Linux delivers crisp UI at any DPI. Canvas rotation and mirrored views aid illustration workflows.
- GEGL Graph-Based Processing: The Generic Graphics Library (GEGL) provides 32-bit floating-point linear-light processing, on-demand tile rendering, and GPU-accelerated filters for responsive performance on large images.
Product Specifications
| Software Name | GIMP |
|---|---|
| Version | 3.2.6 |
| License | GPL-3.0-or-later (Free/Open Source) |
| File Size | 285 MB |
| OS Support | Windows, macOS, Linux, Portable |
| Language | 80+ languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Portuguese |
| Developer | The GIMP Development Team |
| Homepage | https://www.gimp.org/ |
| Changelogurl | https://www.gimp.org/release-notes/gimp-3.2.html |
| Last Updated | September 11, 2026 |
What’s New in Latest Version
- Bug fixes and stability improvements across all platforms
- Improved HiDPI scaling on Windows and Wayland
- Updated translations for 80+ languages
- Minor UI polish in dialogs and tool options
- Plug-in API stability enhancements for Python-Fu and Script-Fu
- Fixed crashes related to large image handling and GPU acceleration
Installation Guide
Installation Steps
- Click the download button above for your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux, or Portable).
- Locate the downloaded installer (.exe, .dmg, or .AppImage) and launch it.
- Follow the on-screen wizard — choose install location, components, and file associations.
- On Linux, make the AppImage executable (chmod +x GIMP-3.2.6-*.AppImage) and run it, or install via Flatpak (flatpak install flathub org.gimp.GIMP).
- Launch GIMP, optionally migrate settings from a previous version, and configure your tablet/input devices in Edit → Preferences → Input Devices.
Compatibility: Windows 7/8.1 are no longer supported; Windows 10 64-bit is the minimum. macOS requires 10.15 Catalina or newer. Linux AppImages run on most distributions with glibc 2.27+. Portable version is Windows-only via PortableApps.
FAQ
Is GIMP completely free for commercial use?
Yes. GIMP is licensed under GPL-3.0-or-later, which permits free use, modification, and distribution — including in commercial production pipelines — without royalties or seat licenses.
Can GIMP open and edit Photoshop PSD files?
GIMP opens PSD files with strong layer, mask, and blend-mode fidelity. Complex smart objects or proprietary adjustment layers may rasterize on import, but standard compositing structures round-trip reliably.
Does GIMP support RAW photo development?
Raw files are handled via the integrated libraw plug-in, offering basic demosaicing, white-balance, and exposure controls. For advanced raw workflows, many users pair GIMP with dedicated raw processors like darktable or RawTherapee.
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