GIMP 3.0.2 is now available as the first maintenance update following the release of GIMP 3.0, a version that arrived after more than seven years of development. This image editing software is one of the most widely used alternatives to the well-known Adobe Photoshop, especially in the open source world.
This new update focuses on fixing bugs detected in the previous version, improving stability and user experience on different platforms. It also introduces some Optimizations that benefit both Linux and macOS and Windows users.
Fixes and improvements in GIMP 3.0.2
One of the main issues addressed in this version is a bug detected in the Flatpak version GIMP, where selecting a brush would cause an unexpected crash if the view was set to icon grid mode. This update addresses that issue, improving stability in this specific version. Important improvements have also been made corrections and improvements in previous versions.
In addition, there have been settings in installation packages macOS and Windows to address the missing features some users had reported. Interface display issues affecting color consistency depending on the operating system theme have also been fixed.
Another important adjustment concerns the drop-down menus in macOS within tool groups. This issue, which hindered efficient navigation within the program, has been resolved to ensure a smoother experience. For more information on this topic, please visit What's new in GIMP 3.0.
GIMP 3.0.2 improves the experience on tablets and Windows
Initially, a patch was implemented to improve compatibility with graphics tablets, but after its release, it was discovered that this change affected pressure sensitivity on some devices. Therefore, in version 3.0.2 This change has been reversed to avoid problems with tablet users.
On Windows, the installer has received significant improvements. Now, when performing a system-level installation, a restore point to allow changes to be reverted if necessary. In addition, an alert is included that recommends the removing previous GIMP configuration files to avoid possible conflicts with previous versions.
GEGL Engine Update and Future Features
GIMP 3.0.2 incorporates the version 0.4.58 of GEGL (Generic Graphical Library), which fixes an issue with applying the blur effect to negative pixel coordinates. Translations have also been updated to improve accessibility in several languages.
On the other hand, this version paves the way for the development of a new plugin package for macOS, which will allow for expanded customization options and improvements in future versions. In this sense, GIMP has taken important steps in its evolution, as evidenced by the release of new tools and features.
Download and availability
Interested users can download GIMP 3.0.2 from the official project page. It is available in format AppImage for ease of use on any Linux distribution without installation — although it fails for me on Manjaro KDE. It can also be installed via Flatpak on Flathub or in source code format for those who prefer to compile it manually.
The release of GIMP 3.0.2 confirms the development team's commitment to continuous software improvement. Work has already begun on GIMP 3.2, a future version that could include new features such as vector layers and support for linked layers. This reflects the trend towards a more intuitive and powerful interface like the one Edward Snowden requested.
With these adjustments and improvements, GIMP continues to consolidate itself as a powerful and versatile option in the world of image edition, maintaining its philosophy of open source y Free access to all users.
