![]() Generating output in any other format is now an “export” operation. The application’s “Save” feature can now only save images in the GIMP’s native XCF format. In an effort to improve the GIMP’s predictability, the developers worked to simplify the file saving workflow. This change will make the spin buttons easier to operate with touchscreen stylus input devices, which are commonly used by artists. In addition to the traditional means of adjustment (direct keyboard input and clickable up/down arrow buttons) the widget’s value can be configured by clicking and dragging back and forth inside of the fill area. The new spin buttons are larger and have a colored fill that indicates the level of their value. Although it’s a minor change, it cuts down on some of the space waste in the palette layout.Īnother modest usability improvement comes in the form of a new design for spin buttons, the user interface control that displays adjustable numerical values. The title bar on the floating palette windows was removed and the associated configuration button was sucked up into the tab bar. ![]() In addition to the single-window mode, the GIMP also gained a number of other design and usability improvements. For example, there doesn’t appear to be a way to snap content tabs out of the main window or split the content area, which means that users won’t be able to view multiple images at the same time. It has a number of limitations, however, that might prove troubling to intensive users. It makes the GIMP easier to manage and simpler to use. The single-window mode offers a user experience that feels more streamlined and less cluttered. The user’s preference will be remembered between uses. The setting can be toggled to switch between the floating and single-window layouts. The single-window mode can be enabled with an option in the application’s “Windows” menu. The first time that you run the GIMP, it will start with the traditional floating window layout. There's even an option to tear the palettes out of the interface and combine them in separate floating windows.Īlthough the single-window mode is a long-awaited landmark feature, the designers chose not to make it the default mode. You can also stack the palettes on top of each other, in which case the interface will allow you to switch between them by clicking the tabs. You can have as many rows of palettes as you want on each side. The primary tool palette is locked into place in the top left-hand corner, but the rest can be moved by dragging their tabs. The palette windows dock to the left and right of the content area. You can switch between the tabs by clicking the desired item or holding the alt key and hitting the number of the tab you want to access. Each image has a tab that is adorned with a thumbnail. The individual documents are combined in a tabbed view in the center of the window. The single-window mode consolidates the GIMP’s document windows and floating tool palettes into a single unified window. The functionality is still largely the same in the 2.8 release, but the implementation has matured. I first tested the feature in 2010 when I wrote a hands-on review of a GIMP developer build. After collecting and evaluating proposals, the designers drafted specifications for some of the major changes, including the new single-window mode.Īlthough it has taken a long time to get the feature ready for widespread use, the single-window mode was largely implemented a few years ago. Ideas for improvements came from in-depth expert analysis and community brainstorming. The project began a major redesign effort in 2007 with the aim of improving usability. The complexity of the user interface is often a source of major criticism. The tremendous amount of functionality exposed by the GIMP makes it difficult to learn and use. ![]() The GIMP has spawned several other notable open source software projects, including the Gtk+ widget toolkit with which it is built. It was originally created by students at UC Berkeley in 1996 and later became part of the GNU project. The GIMP is an open source raster image editor with advanced features, such as support for layers and scripting. The new version brings a number of significant technical enhancements and user interface improvements, including the long-awaited single-window editing mode. The developers behind the GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) have announced the official release of version 2.8, the first stable update since 2008. ![]()
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