GIMP 3.0 is on the way
GIMP 3.0’s long-awaited release is drawing mixed reactions: many welcome its non-destructive editing, improved color management (including CMYK-related work), and refreshed interface, while others question why it still targets GTK3 instead of GTK4 and why key usability issues remain unresolved after decades. Commenters contrast GIMP with commercial tools like Photoshop and Affinity, arguing over whether professionals have any reason to switch, and highlight structural challenges of volunteer-driven FOSS projects, from funding and governance to slow feature delivery and controversial design choices.
GTK and Toolkit Choices
- Many are surprised GIMP 3.0 is just now moving to GTK3 and not GTK4, given GTK’s origin as “Gimp Toolkit.”
- Several describe GTK2→GTK3 as a painful, breaking migration; this is cited as a reason the project finished GTK3 work before contemplating GTK4.
- Some argue GTK4 is strongly GNOME-focused, removes APIs, and is hostile to non-GNOME apps; a few suggest switching to Qt instead.
- A GIMP contributor notes GTK4 porting is “on the radar,” but not a priority; new code is written with GTK4 migration guidelines in mind.
Color Management, CMYK, and Lab
- CMYK support is welcomed, especially for print and DTP; some think it’s late and that GIMP “missed the boat” in professional print.
- Others say print (especially packaging) is still important, and CMYK will help adoption.
- There’s debate over how fully CMYK/Lab are integrated: article wording suggests RGB-internal with conversion at output; a contributor clarifies GIMP 3.0 stores pixels in a richer color object that keeps model/space/profile, laying groundwork for true CMYK/Lab modes later.
UX, Workflow, and Features
- Non-destructive editing is seen as a huge milestone and a long-promised feature.
- Persistent criticism of GIMP’s UX: confusing export vs save, awkward text editing/moving, difficulty drawing basic shapes, multi-tool workflows for simple tasks.
- Some like the updated visuals; others dislike GTK3 header bars and buttons in title bars.
- One contributor highlights concrete UX improvements: non-destructive filters, multi-selection, better text outlines.
Project Pace and Governance
- Many joke about the decades-long wait for 3.0; others defend slow volunteer-driven progress and the decision to batch all plugin-breaking changes into one major release.
- There’s tension between calls to “submit patches” and frustration from people who tried contributing and hit project-level roadblocks.
- Funding and sustainability come up; one commenter notes key core devs receive very modest ongoing support.
Alternatives and Ecosystem
- Affinity, Photoshop, Photopea, Krita, Inkscape, and Pinta are frequently mentioned as tools people actually use instead of GIMP, mainly for better UX, print support, or platform availability.
- Some see FOSS tools as philosophically important; others argue professionals should just pay for best-in-class proprietary tools.