Image editing app GIMP has been updated with support for on-canvas gradient editing.
What does that mean? Well, it means that in GIMP 2.9.8 you can tweak, move, and adjust a gradient directly on an image or layer – no need for a separate dialog box.
You can even add (and remove) additional color stops and move them with a couple of clicks.
Right-click on this video and open in a new tab to see the new GIMP gradient editing feature in action.
Other GIMP 2.9.8 Features & Improvements
Also Read: How to Install GIMP 2.9.x on Ubuntu
Another notable change in the latest unstable development branch of GIMP is Paste in Place, a small feature that will be familiar to anyone who uses Inkscape.
The Paste in Place command let you paste clipboard contents in the exact same position as they were copied from. While this (obviously) won’t be that useful when your clipboard contains a URL or a file from your desktop, it should come in handy when working with multiple layers or complex projects.
GIMP’s regular paste command places its contents in the centre of the project.
Other GIMP 2.9.8 changes include;
- On-canvas gradient editing
- New blend tool
- Faster color library
- ‘Clip Warning’ in Display Filters
- Default brush: “Hardness 050”
- OpenCL disabled by default
- Statusbar will blink on warnings, errors
- Working screenshots (Wayland KDE)
- In-app color picker (Wayland GNOME)
Other improvements in the latest unstable update to GIMP includes enhanced support for Photoshop PSD files, import of password protected PDF files, and support for importing Nasa’s HGT files.
Install GIMP on Ubuntu
GIMP is free, open-source software. It’s available to download for Windows, macOS and Linux direct from the GIMP website.
If you’re on Ubuntu you can install the current stable release (2.8.x) of GIMP from Ubuntu Software:
GIMP is also available to install on Linux as a Flatpak app from Flathub. If you have the Flathub remote enabled on your system you’ll be able to install the app through Ubuntu Software by searching ‘GIMP’ and looking for the Flathub source.
To install the latest unstable release — which is what this article is about — you’ll need to use a third-party PPA, like the one maintained by Otto Kesselgulasch.