Changes/Gimp 3

GIMP version 3

Summary

This change introduces the upcoming major version 3 of the GNU Image Manipulation Program in Fedora Linux.

Owner

• Name: Nils Philippsen
• Email: nphilipp -at- redhat.com (or nils -at- tiptoe.de)

Current status

• Targeted release: Fedora Linux 41
• Last updated: 2024-10-14
• Announced
• Discussion thread
• FESCo issue: #3233
• Tracker bug: #2304177
• Release notes tracker: #124

Detailed Description

The GIMP project intends to release the major version 3 of the GNU Image Manipulation Program later this year.

The new version involves substantial changes to the technologies used, which in turn means that third party plugins have to be ported to be compatible. Normally, this would be addressed by a compatibility package with the previous major version; however, version 2.x depends on Python 2.7 which is long out of maintenance and slated to be removed in Fedora Linux 41. Therefore, GIMP version 3 should replace GIMP 2.x in Fedora Linux 41 altogether.

Feedback

The author of this proposal originally planned to offer parallel-installable packages for both versions 2.x and 3.x, this was before he was aware that the old GIMP version was the major component blocking the removal of Python 2.7 from the distribution. On that basis, FESCo voted against the original proposal and asked for it to be reworked accordingly.

Benefit to Fedora

This change upgrades GIMP to a version which doesn’t use ancient 2.x versions of both GTK and Python anymore. Other than many new features including better color management and the support of CMYK import/export, it greatly improves user experience with certain input devices such as tablets and on displays with very high resolutions. Developers of plugins using Python can now use packages and language features which simply don’t exist in Python 2.x.

Scope

• Proposal owners:
  • Make (pre-releases or git snapshots) available as gimp3 in Rawhide and existing Fedora Linux versions.
  • When an RC is available:
    • Fold the new GIMP version into the gimp package in Fedora Linux 41, and retire gimp3.
    • Ensure users of gimp and/or gimp3 in older Fedora versions get the new version when upgrading their OS to Fedora Linux 41.

• Other developers: Maintainers of third party plugins work with their respective upstreams to either find out if they have been ported to GIMP 3.x, or assist in porting and make such ports available in Fedora.

• Release engineering: This is a self-contained change and doesn’t require that release engineering is involved.

• Policies and guidelines: N/A (not needed for this Change)

• Trademark approval: N/A (not needed for this Change)

• Alignment with the Fedora Strategy: This change doesn’t particularly relate to the the current Fedora Strategy, but it aligns well with “Freedom”, “Features” and maybe ”First” of the Fedora Foundations.

Upgrade/compatibility impact

Existing users of gimp should be upgraded to the new version of GIMP. Availability of third party plugins might be impacted.

User Experience

A number of third party GIMP plugins are available to be installed as packages on Fedora Linux. Whether or not these are available to be used with the new version 3 depends on if these plugins have been ported.

Contingency Plan

• Contingency mechanism: Because of Changes/RetirePython2.7, drop GIMP 2.x anyway and continue shipping the current pre-release or an intermediate git snapshot as gimp3 until a final version is available.
• Contingency deadline: Beta Freeze
• Blocks release? No

Documentation

• https://gimp.org/
• https://developer.gimp.org/core/roadmap/#gimp-30-development-branch-roadmap
• https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gimp/-/issues/10373#timeline

Release Notes

This release of Fedora Linux updates GIMP, the GNU Image Manipulation Program, to major version 3, with many new features and improved user experience. Existing third party GIMP plugins for version 2 may not work with this new version.