A new development release of GIMP, the open-source image editor, is available for testing. Like all development builds, features introduced here will — barring any upsets — ship in the next stable release, GIMP 3.2.
The GIMP 3.1.4 snapshot includes two huge and long-awaited features: link layers and vector layers.
Both of these will bolster the appeal of this FOSS alternative to Photoshop fans by making image editing workflows less destructive (the term given for changes that directly modify the pixels in an image, and which can’t be undone past a certain point).
GIMP 3.1.4 Highlights
Link Layers in GIMP
Photoshop offers Smart Objects, a way of integrating a reference image in a project, and editing it, but without affecting the image itself. They let you work with assets that can be changed independently of the project, and update inside of it.
For example, if I have a bunch of site thumbnail templates which all include the OMG! logo as a watermark, but I decide to change the OMG! logo (again), I don’t need to replace it each template: I just update the logo file and it automatically updates where it’s linked to.
But unlike Smart Objects in Photoshop, which can be embedded in a project file or linked to an external file, GIMP’s Link Layers always uses external files — users should take care to keep those files in the same place they’re referenced from.
Otherwise, the idea is broadly the same: using an external image file as a Link Layer, any changes made to the external file update inside of GIMP, and any other changes applied on top still apply.
Link layers can be scaled and rotated non-destructively — a non-negotiable need for many designers as it makes editing les hassle, without losing quality. A Link Layer can be scaled down, then later scaled back up without losing its original quality.
This video demos Link Layers:
Using the feature is easy enough: File > Open as Link Layer.... To replace the linked image simply double-click on the icon in the layer selector. You can rasterise the image by right-clicking on it and choosing “Discard Link Information”.
Vector Layers
Vector Layers have been a long-time coming in GIMP — with work to support them stretching back as far as 2006 (Ubuntu 6.06 LTS).
These let you use shapes, set a fill and stroke, and then change the shape path, change colours, or apply non-destructive transformations to the shape as a vector, i.e., not rasterised first, losing sharpness, or getting pixelated edges.
Creating a vector layer in GIMP is straight forward.
After using the Path tool to draw a path, a click on the Create vector layer button will generate a vector layer associated with the path. Each path edit automatically updates the vector layer, and transform tools apply non-destructively to the layer.
Brushes
Working with brushes sees a big uplift in GIMP 3.2, with MyPaint code updated to support version 2 brushes. This lets the brush engine take into account canvas zoom and rotation for more accurate brush stroke simulation.
20 new brushes are included, and there’s a new Gain control in brush settings. The latter will help those using mouse to draw as it can simulate variable brush pressure, while those using graphics tablets can use it to offset stylus pressure.
Official GIMP Snap Package on the way
The GIMP team is in the process of taking ownership of the GIMP Snap Store listing, which is currently maintained by Ubuntu community members under the ‘snapcrafters’ moniker.
This official GIMP Snap will join its existing Flatpak and AppImage builds, with the team noting it believes it is “always good to provide more universal and established packaging options, especially considering how diverse the Linux community is.”
Elsewhere…
Other changes in GIMP 3.1.4 include:
- New GEGL Filter browser
- On-canvas text editing supports format shortcuts, e.g., Ctrl + B to bold
- Text outline colour now shows a live preview when adjusting colours
- Support for importing signed JPEG 2000 images
- Better support for TIFFs created with Sketchbook
- Animation Playback plug-in has a VLC-like layout
- Dark mode support on macOS
- Foundational work to support eventual GTK4 port
Full details on the GIMP blog, which includes details on where/how to get development builds, should you fancy helping to test them — but remember they’re not stable, so relying on them for critical work is not advised.