GIMP 3.0: Key Facts
Publisher: GIMP.org
Developer: The GIMP Team
Price: Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)
New Features: New version, 3.0 featuring new Non-Destructive Editing (NDE) tools, incremental UI improvements, plugin updates and additions.
GIMP 3.0 Review: What’s New?
While there was much work done "under the hood", let’s focus on the things that users can actually see. For example, one of the most asked for features/workflows arrives in this release with additional updates. Non-Destructive Editing (NDE) snuck into a recent previous release, and is now being further refined in v3. This is of course a very important addition, and allows attributes like Levels and other modifications to be applied, and later either removed or adjusted at will.
You will see a small "Fx" icon next to the layer in the Layer Pallet. When clicked it brings up options to turn the effect on/off, modify or delete. A "Merge filter" toggle will flatten the layer effects.
New plugins to GEGL include "GEGL Styles", which offers a wide range of new and needed effects. Such as a simple non-destructive stroke function that should have existed years earlier. In addition, Inner Glow and Bevels have been added. The extensive range of included filters and plugins are very impressive.
Still Missing from GIMP
While nice, there is still a lot missing that should not be missing from an almost 30-year-old image editing tool. For example, though we finally have some non-destructive tools, we still await something comparable to PS "Smart Objects". We are told that was intended for v3, but is now expected in v3.2, to be released who knows when.
Rarely discussed but painful interface design, resulting in its popularity exploding.
Despite continuing promises of an improved interface, GIMP 3.0 is still much of the same. With slightly cleaner icons, and better adaptation on 4k monitors (finally).
Conclusion
After years of us waiting and quietly cheering the GIMP team on, has version 3.0 brought this application in line with others in the market? Sadly, no. While projects like Blender and WordPress have set the bar for open-source tools, the GIMP team appear to still not have learned that part of software development, even for free software, must include reasonable ease of use, and reliable update schedules. Or your market will go elsewhere. As many have to Krita.
Has GIMP finally arrived? Sadly, no. But everything is fixable. They say the missing functionality is "on its way". Great, so deliver it sooner rather than later. And listen to your user base when they tell you – repeatedly – that the UI sucks. Because it does.
Who’s it for?
If you are on Linux the only options are Krita or GIMP. So you should download them both. Another alternative is the online Photopea. It has a lovely interface but some obvious limitations of being in the cloud.
User on Mac and Windows clearly have a few additional options, but not as many as we would expect to have in 2025.
If you are a fast learner or not as entrenched in the "Photoshop Way" of doing things, then give GIMP a whirl. Or if you need some tools or capabilities that Krita doesn’t have and GIMP does, much better typographic capabilities for example, then again GIMP is there for the taking.
FAQs
Q: Is GIMP a good alternative to Photoshop?
A: Yes, but it’s not perfect and still has some limitations.
Q: Is GIMP free?
A: Yes, GIMP is a free and open-source image editing software.
Q: Is GIMP available on all platforms?
A: Yes, GIMP is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Q: What are the new features in GIMP 3.0?
A: GIMP 3.0 features new Non-Destructive Editing (NDE) tools, incremental UI improvements, plugin updates and additions.
Q: Is GIMP 3.0 a significant improvement over previous versions?
A: Yes, but it’s still not perfect and has some limitations.
Q: Is Krita a better alternative to GIMP?
A: That depends on your specific needs and preferences. Krita has some advantages over GIMP, such as a more user-friendly interface and better support for certain file formats.
