4 GIMP 3.0 upgrades I'm loving as a power user – and how to try it for free

GIMP 3.0 has finally arrived.  This latest release has been a long time in the making, and it is a massive improvement over the 2.x iteration of the software.

Also: The 5 GIMP features I depend on most when editing images (and how I use them)

I’m not going to do a deep dive into all of the features that come with this upgrade. There are, however, some key additions that have greatly improved GIMP. 

What’s new in GIMP 3.0?

This new release offers quite a bit of new goodies, which you can read all about in the official release notes.

For me, though, it’s not about one feature over another; it’s about the comprehensiveness of this release. All of a sudden, GIMP seems more serious, like it’s better aligned to compete with Photoshop, and that’s been a real sticking point for this open-source image editor. All of those new features and the improved UI come together to make one of the most important releases for GIMP that I can remember. Below are my top four favorite upgrades. 

1. Easier text manipulation

I regularly depend on the ability to add and edit text within images. This is especially important when creating book covers. In version 2.0, I could add the text and then go back to the toolbox to manipulate what I had added (change the font, the size, the color, etc.). There was also a pop-up that appeared when you created text, which was supposed to allow you to quickly edit the text without having to go back to the toolbox. 

Also: 10 Linux apps I install on every new machine (and why you should, too)

Unfortunately, that never really worked well for me. With GIMP 3.0, that feature works very well. I can quickly adjust the font size and other attributes in real time, which makes for a much more efficient workflow.

2. Native Wayland support

Let the celebration begin, as GIMP finally includes native Wayland support. I know this isn’t a big deal as far as functionality is concerned, but the GIMP UI can now better fit with the look and feel of your Wayland-powered desktop. It’s not just about the look, as native Wayland support means better integration with GIMP and the KDE Plasma desktop, improved tablet input customizations, better stability, and much more. But that look and feel is such a breath of fresh air. 

Although the basic layout of the GIMP UI remains the same, there are so many subtleties and widget improvements that come with native Wayland support that it almost feels as if the UI has been totally revamped. As a bonus, GIMP 3.0 includes HiDPI support.

3. Non-destructive editing for filters

This is probably the most important new addition to GIMP. 

Let’s say you’ve created a new image and saved it. The next day, you open it and, with the help of filters and such, make numerous changes to the image. Later on, you look at the image and realize some of the changes don’t work for you. But you’ve saved and closed the image, so undo isn’t available. 

Also: How to create a gradient transparency in GIMP

Fortunately, with GIMP 3.0, there’s a much-improved non-destructive editing feature that allows you to go back and hide or show the various changes you’ve made to the image. This means you don’t have to worry about going through the motions of making a copy of the image before making changes, because all you have to do is hide any changes you’ve made to specific layers with specific filters. This is a serious boon for those who use GIMP. Bravo.

4. Multiple layer selection

It’s now possible to select multiple layers or paths and drag them around or even apply filters to those layers all at once. All you have to do is select the layers you want to manipulate in the layers toolbox and do whatever you need. This is a great addition, especially if you add very specific filters and want to make sure certain layers have those filters applied in exactly the same way.

Also: How to use Layers in the GIMP image editor (and why you should)

 With the multi-layer select feature, you only have to select those layers and apply the filter(s) once.

How to try GIMP 3.0

If you’ve never given GIMP a try, version 3.0 is the perfect time to jump on board. I was hesitant to upgrade at first (because I depend on GIMP every day), but the second I had version 3.0 installed, I was thrilled that I went through with it.

Also: How to export images as PDFs in GIMP

GIMP 3.0 is available for Linux, MacOS, and Windows. You can install and use it for free from the GIMP downloads page.

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