[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":270},["ShallowReactive",2],{"en-post-81":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":251,"extension":263,"meta":264,"navigation":265,"path":266,"seo":267,"stem":268,"__hash__":269},"content/post/81.md","81",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":250},"minimark",[9,14,18,27,31,53,57,92,96,161,165,190,194,206,210,217,221,227,231,238,244],[10,11,13],"h2",{"id":12},"what-is-gimp","What Is GIMP",[15,16,17],"p",{},"GIMP, short for GNU Image Manipulation Program, is a free, open source cross platform image editor for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is licensed under GPL-3.0; the main repo lives on GNOME GitLab, with GitHub as a read only mirror. Long treated as the open source Photoshop alternative, GIMP handles photo retouching, image compositing, icon drawing, and batch processing. The current stable release is 3.2.8, published 2026-11-02.",[15,19,20,21,26],{},"Its strength is serious editing without spending a cent. Layers, masks, selections, filters, and scripted batch processing are all there; the main drawback is an interface that differs a lot from Photoshop, so veteran PS users need a period of adjustment. If you use ",[22,23,25],"a",{"href":24},"/post/65/","What Is ShareX and How to Use It"," to grab screenshots, dropping them into GIMP for a quick retouch or annotation is a fully free image workflow.",[10,28,30],{"id":29},"key-features","Key Features",[32,33,34,38,41,44,47,50],"ul",{},[35,36,37],"li",{},"Layers and masks. Multiple layers, layer groups, layer masks, and blend modes enable non destructive editing you can always undo.",[35,39,40],{},"Selections and paths. Rectangle, ellipse, free, and color based selection tools, plus Bezier paths and vector strokes.",[35,42,43],{},"Retouch and polish. Clone, heal, perspective transform, color balance, curves, and levels cover daily retouching.",[35,45,46],{},"Filters and effects. Many built in filters such as blur, sharpen, light, and distort, plus GEGL operations.",[35,48,49],{},"Scripting and batch. Write Script-Fu (Scheme) or Python-Fu scripts to process a pile of images at once.",[35,51,52],{},"Format support. Open and export PSD, PNG, JPEG, TIFF, WebP, and SVG.",[10,54,56],{"id":55},"how-to-install","How to Install",[58,59,60,72,79,82,85],"ol",{},[35,61,62,63,67,68,71],{},"Open ",[64,65,66],"code",{},"https://www.gimp.org/downloads/"," and click the current stable installer ",[64,69,70],{},"gimp-3.2.8-setup.exe"," in the Microsoft Windows area.",[35,73,74,75,78],{},"Or grab the Windows build directly at ",[64,76,77],{},"https://download.gimp.org/gimp/v3.2/windows/gimp-3.2.8-setup.exe",", for x86_64 and ARM64.",[35,80,81],{},"Double click the installer and follow the wizard; it requires Windows 10 1903 or later.",[35,83,84],{},"You can also install from Microsoft Store, but that needs Windows 11 or Windows Server 2022 and above.",[35,86,87,88,91],{},"Or use a package manager and run ",[64,89,90],{},"winget install GIMP.GIMP",".",[10,93,95],{"id":94},"how-to-use-it","How to Use It",[58,97,98,109,124,135,142],{},[35,99,100,101,104,105,108],{},"New or open: after launch, ",[64,102,103],{},"File > New"," creates a canvas, or ",[64,106,107],{},"File > Open"," loads a photo.",[35,110,111,112,115,116,119,120,123],{},"Basic retouch: use the ",[64,113,114],{},"Zoom"," and ",[64,117,118],{},"Heal"," tools to remove blemishes, and ",[64,121,122],{},"Colors > Levels/Curves"," to fix exposure and contrast.",[35,125,126,127,130,131,134],{},"Cutout and composite: build a selection with ",[64,128,129],{},"Foreground Select"," or ",[64,132,133],{},"By Color",", copy to a new layer, and place the background.",[35,136,137,138,141],{},"Text and drawing: add text with the ",[64,139,140],{},"Text"," tool, and draw freely with brush, pencil, and gradient tools.",[35,143,144,145,148,149,152,153,156,157,160],{},"Export: ",[64,146,147],{},"File > Export As",", choose ",[64,150,151],{},"PNG",", ",[64,154,155],{},"JPEG",", or ",[64,158,159],{},"WebP",", set quality, then save.",[10,162,164],{"id":163},"things-to-watch","Things to Watch",[32,166,167,174,177,184,187],{},[35,168,169,170,173],{},"Verify integrity. The site publishes SHA256 checksums; after download you can run ",[64,171,172],{},"Get-FileHash gimp-3.2.8-setup.exe"," in PowerShell to confirm the file was not tampered with.",[35,175,176],{},"System requirements. It needs a fairly recent Windows (10 1903 or above); older systems may not run the 3.x line.",[35,178,179,180,183],{},"Learning curve. The interface differs from Photoshop, so start with the ",[64,181,182],{},"docs.gimp.org"," online manual.",[35,185,186],{},"Plugins. Only install plugins from trusted sources such as the GIMP plugin registry; script borne malware is not unheard of.",[35,188,189],{},"License. GIMP is GPL-3.0, and redistribution must keep the license and provide the source or source access.",[10,191,193],{"id":192},"download","Download",[32,195,196,201],{},[35,197,198,199],{},"Official download ",[64,200,66],{},[35,202,203,204],{},"Windows build ",[64,205,77],{},[10,207,209],{"id":208},"official-site","Official Site",[32,211,212],{},[35,213,214],{},[64,215,216],{},"https://www.gimp.org",[10,218,220],{"id":219},"getting-started","Getting Started",[15,222,223,224,226],{},"New users should not obsess over mapping every action to Photoshop. Learn layers and the heal tool first and most retouching is solved. For cutouts, prefer ",[64,225,129],{}," over the magnetic lasso. For bulk resizing or watermarking, write a Script-Fu or Python-Fu script and run dozens at once. Export photos at JPEG quality around 85, a good balance of size and clarity. Always verify the SHA256 before installing, and download from the official site for safety.",[10,228,230],{"id":229},"faq","FAQ",[15,232,233,237],{},[234,235,236],"strong",{},"Can GIMP open Photoshop PSD files?","\nYes, PSD can be opened and exported, and most layers, text, and effects are preserved. Very complex blend modes or smart objects may differ slightly, so cross check important files on both sides.",[15,239,240,243],{},[234,241,242],{},"GIMP or Photoshop?","\nDepends on your needs. With zero budget and no subscription, GIMP is enough; for deep commercial retouching that relies on specific PS plugins and actions, Photoshop stays the more comfortable choice. They are not either or; many people screenshot with ShareX and retouch with GIMP for daily work.",[15,245,246,249],{},[234,247,248],{},"GIMP runs very slowly. What do I do?","\nFirst confirm the system is not below Windows 10 1903, since older systems struggle. Also turn off unused layer and filter previews, and lower the undo steps when handling huge images to ease the load noticeably.",{"title":251,"searchDepth":252,"depth":252,"links":253},"",2,[254,255,256,257,258,259,260,261,262],{"id":12,"depth":252,"text":13},{"id":29,"depth":252,"text":30},{"id":55,"depth":252,"text":56},{"id":94,"depth":252,"text":95},{"id":163,"depth":252,"text":164},{"id":192,"depth":252,"text":193},{"id":208,"depth":252,"text":209},{"id":219,"depth":252,"text":220},{"id":229,"depth":252,"text":230},"md",{},true,"/post/81",{"description":251},"post/81","o_uJXud4xoH4S3IcWJHpIMI7Nljwf-2GfZojcrLyDxo",1794378304333]