Gimp 3.2 released: What's changing for designers and pixel artists

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The Gimp team has released version 3.2 of the free image editing software – one year after the major version jump to Gimp 3.0, which ended a seven-year development period. The focus of the new release is on non-destructive layer types. Non-destructive filters were already introduced with GIMP 3.0, which are intended to fundamentally change the workflow.

As the project explains in its release announcement, the main focus of the project plan for 3.2 was the concept of “non-destructive layers”. Two new layer types plus extended text layers implement this, each with a rasterize/revert mechanism that can undo accidental destructive edits.

Vector layers instead of rasterized paths

The new Vector Layers differ fundamentally from the previous paths in Gimp. While paths were previously separate objects whose stroke result was immediately rasterized, Vector Layers are full-fledged layers with vector properties. They can be non-destructively scaled, rotated, and filled with new fills via drag & drop – changes to the path automatically update the display. This also opens up new export options: Gimp can export Vector Layers and text layers as real vectors to SVG files for the first time, with raster layers optionally embedded as PNG or JPEG. PDF export has also been extended with vector options, so that the layers remain editable in other vector software.

The new Overwrite-Paint mode should be particularly interesting for pixel art artists. Unlike conventional painting, where transparent pixels are blended via alpha blending, the Overwrite mode replaces pixels directly without mixing transparency values. This prevents annoying opacity artifacts that arise when repeatedly painting over semi-transparent areas – a frequent annoyance, for example, when working with the Pencil Tool.

User interface and MyPaint brushes revised

Gimp 3.2 also brings various improvements to the interface. Images can now be dragged and dropped onto the tab bar in single-window mode. Thumbnails for brushes, fonts, and palettes adapt better to dark themes via theme colors, reducing annoying brightness contrasts. A new "System" color scheme automatically adopts the design language of the operating system. The on-canvas text editor now supports drag & drop for moving, keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl+B for bold and Ctrl+I for italic, and a live preview for color changes. Outline options for text in the variants inner, centered, and outer have also been added.

The MyPaint brushes have been updated to the version 2 API. 20 new brushes have been added, including an arrow brush. The brushes now take canvas zoom and rotation, as well as the barrel rotation of graphics tablets, into account. A new gain slider allows fine adjustment of pressure sensitivity.

More possibilities for plug-in developers

Developers benefit from the new GEGL (Generic Graphics Library) Filter Browser, which lists all available GEGL operations with parameters, types, and descriptions in the style of the Procedure Browser. This significantly simplifies the integration of non-destructive filters into scripts and plug-ins – especially for third-party GEGL filters. In total, 111 new libgimp functions and 14 new libgimpui functions have been added, while 24 older interfaces have been marked as deprecated.

Non-destructive filters now also work on channels, the new layer types, and layer groups. The latter support a pass-through mode that enables adjustment-layer-like workflows. A new Vibrance filter complements the filter collection.

Gimp 3.2 also imports additional formats such as APNG, AVCI, PVR, and TIM, as well as palettes from Procreate and Krita. Export supports DDS BC7, PSB, and JPEG 2000, among others. Photoshop compatibility has been improved through the import of layer styles such as drop shadows and support for .pat, .acv, and .alv files.

Gimp 3.2 is available for Windows (also in the Microsoft Store), macOS, and Linux (Flatpak, AppImage, Snap). From this version onwards, 32-bit Windows binaries will be discontinued. The complete release notes list all changes.

(vza)