# GIMP 3 The Future of Open Source Image Editing > [! note]- > The content of this page is generated by audio/video transcription and text transformation from the content and links of this source. Source: [https://fosdem.org/2025/schedule/event/fosdem-2025-6344-gimp-3-and-beyond/](https://fosdem.org/2025/schedule/event/fosdem-2025-6344-gimp-3-and-beyond/) <video src="" controls></video> ## Summary & Highlights: **Introduction to GIMP 3** The session introduces GIMP 3, a major update to the popular open-source image editing software. This version promises a range of new features aimed at enhancing the user experience and broadening its application scope. Key highlights include non-destructive editing capabilities, improved multi-layer selection, and significant advancements in color management. The session provides insights into the software's transition to GTK3, which brings support for high pixel density displays, Wayland, and better integration with modern hardware like tablets. **Future Directions for GIMP** The presentation outlines the future vision for GIMP, emphasizing its commitment to staying at the forefront of open-source design tools. Plans include further enhancements in user experience, expanding non-destructive editing features, and improving the plug-in API. The GIMP team is also focused on fostering a vibrant community around the software, encouraging contributions from developers and designers worldwide. The session concludes with a discussion on the roadmap for upcoming releases and the ongoing efforts to maintain GIMP's relevance in the rapidly evolving digital art landscape. ## Importance for an eco-social transformation GIMP 3 plays a significant role in eco-social transformation by providing a free and open-source alternative to proprietary image editing software, making digital creativity accessible to all. Its non-destructive editing features and improved color management can empower eco-social designers to create more efficiently and sustainably. Challenges include ensuring broad community engagement and navigating technical hurdles like compatibility with various hardware and operating systems. The session highlights the importance of open-source projects in fostering community-driven innovation and the potential for collaboration across diverse sectors to address social and environmental issues. ## Slides: | | | | --- | --- | | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_001.jpg\|300]] | The first slide introduces the session on GIMP 3.0 and beyond, setting the stage for a discussion on the new features and future plans for this major version release. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_002.jpg\|300]] | The second slide provides an overview of GIMP 2.10, the current stable release, highlighting its status and the foundation it has laid for the upcoming GIMP 3.0. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_003.jpg\|300]] | The third slide outlines the release history of GIMP 2.10, noting its stable releases since April 2018 and the new features introduced with each micro-release, demonstrating a continuous improvement approach. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_004.jpg\|300]] | The fourth slide presents download statistics for GIMP 2.10.38, showcasing its widespread adoption across different platforms, with significant download numbers for Windows, macOS, and Flatpak. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_005.jpg\|300]] | The fifth slide marks the transition to discussing GIMP 3, indicating the new features and improvements that users can expect in this major update. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_006.jpg\|300]] | The sixth slide details the improvements brought by GTK 3, including enhanced tablet support, touch input, high pixel density display compatibility, and Wayland support, reflecting a modernization of GIMP's interface. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_007.jpg\|300]] | The seventh slide, titled 'Space Invasion', highlights improvements in color correctness, codebase maintainability, computation speed, and early CMYK implementation, enhancing GIMP's technical capabilities. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_008.jpg\|300]] | The eighth slide focuses on user experience improvements, such as multiple active layers, easier soft-proofing, and a welcome dialog, aimed at making GIMP more intuitive and user-friendly. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_009.jpg\|300]] | The ninth slide discusses expanded file format support in GIMP, including better compatibility with PSD, DDS, HEIF, WebP, and more, broadening the software's versatility. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_010.jpg\|300]] | The tenth slide introduces non-destructive editing workflows, including layer effects, paving the way for more advanced editing capabilities without altering the original image data. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_011.jpg\|300]] | The eleventh slide describes the updated plug-in API, supporting various programming languages, and the integration of GEGL operations, enhancing GIMP's extensibility and functionality. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_012.jpg\|300]] | The twelfth slide provides contributor statistics, highlighting a solid core team and the project's participation in initiatives like Google Summer of Code, emphasizing community engagement. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_013.jpg\|300]] | The thirteenth slide outlines the release candidate timeline for GIMP 3, indicating the software's readiness for final release and the thorough testing it has undergone. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_014.jpg\|300]] | The fourteenth slide looks to the future, suggesting ongoing development and potential new features that will continue to evolve GIMP's capabilities. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_015.jpg\|300]] | The fifteenth slide presents the roadmap for GIMP, detailing plans for more non-destructive features, UX improvements, and empowering creators through extensions, with a link to the developer roadmap. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_016.jpg\|300]] | The sixteenth slide announces a live demonstration, offering attendees a firsthand look at GIMP 3's new features and enhancements in action. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_017.jpg\|300]] | The seventeenth slide emphasizes that GIMP's development is not just about code; it involves community, creativity, and collaboration, underscoring the human aspect of open-source projects. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_018.jpg\|300]] | The eighteenth slide introduces an updated, simplified logo for GIMP, designed by the team with Aryeom as the main designer, symbolizing the project's fresh direction. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_019.jpg\|300]] | The nineteenth slide features the GIMP logo created by Jakub Steiner in 2008, licensed under Creative Commons by-sa 3.0, highlighting the project's commitment to open licensing. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_020.jpg\|300]] | The twentieth slide showcases the new GIMP logo by Aryeom and the team, under Creative Commons by-sa 4.0 International, reflecting the project's ongoing evolution. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_021.jpg\|300]] | The twenty-first slide discusses the design team's work, providing a link to their GitLab repository, highlighting the collaborative efforts in improving GIMP's user experience. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_022.jpg\|300]] | The twenty-second slide explains the versioning strategy, returning to semantic-like versioning for features and bug fixes, with faster feature releases akin to GIMP 2.10. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_023.jpg\|300]] | The twenty-third slide details GIMP's infrastructure, including Meson port, GitLab CI, macOS CI, and the creation of automatic release packages, reflecting robust development practices. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_024.jpg\|300]] | The twenty-fourth slide continues the discussion on infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of a solid foundation for GIMP's ongoing development and distribution. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_025.jpg\|300]] | The twenty-fifth slide highlights GIMP's community impact, with numerous books published and diverse creators using the software, fostering a rich creative ecosystem. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_026.jpg\|300]] | The twenty-sixth slide, by Sevenix, licensed under CC by 4.0 international, further illustrates the vibrant community surrounding GIMP. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_027.jpg\|300]] | The twenty-seventh slide presents a cover page of nature, symbolizing the natural beauty and inspiration that GIMP aims to support through its tools. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_028.jpg\|300]] | The twenty-eighth slide discusses the increased usage of GIMP in scientific fields, showcasing its versatility and applicability beyond artistic endeavors. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_029.jpg\|300]] | The twenty-ninth slide addresses organizational aspects of GIMP, highlighting the structure and management that support its development and community engagement. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_030.jpg\|300]] | The thirtieth slide focuses on funding, outlining efforts to support the community and development through financial means, ensuring GIMP's sustainability. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_031.jpg\|300]] | The thirty-first slide introduces the GIMP Committee, responsible for managing funds, consisting of eight long-time contributors, ensuring strategic financial decisions. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_032.jpg\|300]] | The thirty-second slide continues the discussion on funds, emphasizing the importance of financial resources in supporting GIMP's ongoing development and community initiatives. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_033.jpg\|300]] | The thirty-third slide addresses the topic of Bitcoin, detailing GIMP's history with cryptocurrency, the decision to stop accepting it, and the current management of accumulated funds. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_034.jpg\|300]] | The thirty-fourth slide discusses grants, noting the first two grants voted on and the potential for more, highlighting GIMP's commitment to supporting related projects. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_035.jpg\|300]] | The thirty-fifth slide emphasizes GIMP's role in helping other projects, particularly artistic and free software initiatives, reinforcing the interconnectedness of the open-source community. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_036.jpg\|300]] | The thirty-sixth slide reiterates GIMP's community-centric approach, focusing on people and fostering a friendly, supportive environment akin to a neighborhood. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/GIMP-3-and-beyond/preview_037.jpg\|300]] | The thirty-seventh slide invites questions, encouraging interaction and engagement from the audience, reflecting GIMP's openness to feedback and collaboration. ## Links [Slides for the talk](https://fosdem.org/2025/events/attachments/fosdem-2025-6344-gimp-3-and-beyond/slides/238422/GIMP-FOSD_KDKTA3D.pdf) [Chat room(web)](https://fosdem.org/2025/chatroom/web) [Chat room(app)](https://fosdem.org/2025/chatroom/app) [Submit Feedback](https://fosdem.org/2025/feedback)