GIMP 2.99.16, the graphics editor, is now available. It continues to develop the functionality of the upcoming stable branch, GIMP 3.0, by migrating to GTK3, adding native support for Wayland and HiDPI, implementing basic support for the CMYK color model (late binding), significantly cleaning up the codebase, introducing a new API for plugin development, implementing render caching, adding support for multi-layer selection, and enabling native colorspace editing. A flatpak package (org.gimp.GIMP in the flathub-beta repository) is available for installation, as are builds for Windows и macOSThe next release is expected to be designated as GIMP 3.0 Release Candidate.
Among the changes in GIMP 2.99.16:
- The user interface offers a mode of combining the menu bar with the window title, which saves vertical screen space. When enabled, client-side decoration is applied to windows. Enabling the option also makes the menu visible in full screen mode.
- The dark theme has been redesigned, which was perceived by some as too dark. The old version of the dark theme is moved to a separate theme "Darker".
- The work of moving the codebase from using the GTK2 library to GTK3 and using the new CSS-like style definition system used in GTK3 has been officially completed.
- The GtkAction class used in GIMP to handle hotkeys, buttons, and menus, which was deprecated in the GTK3 branch in favor of the abbreviated version of GAction in the GLib library, has been replaced with the GimpAction add-in, which implements the lost functionality necessary for GIMP on the basis of GAction. Similarly, bindings are prepared for other changed widgets, such as widgets for menus and panels (GimpMenu, GimpMenuModel, GimpToolbar, GimpMenuBar).
- Implemented the ability to bind several different keyboard combinations to one action. For example, a new feature allows combinations like Ctrl + 1 to take into account pressing "1" in both the top row of numbers and the side numeric block, as well as support for specialized individual keys available on some keyboards, such as Copy, Cut and Paste.
- In the "search by actions" dialog, menu items related to actions are shown, which allows people who are used to the menu structure to better navigate when choosing actions. Added a button to show the guide from the help section for the selected action.
- Improved GUI integration of operations using the GEGL (Generic Graphics Library) image processing engine. The ability to easily integrate third-party modules with filters into the menu has been implemented, which does not require the creation of separate plugins. It is now enough for the filter developer to define the properties of the operation, and components for integration with the GIMP interface will be automatically generated based on it. For example, you can now use the "gimp:menu-path" GEGL key to add an operation to a menu. Also implemented is support for displaying external filters when searching for actions (dialog shown when pressing "/"), regardless of adding a filter to the menu.
- The "Show on-canvas editor" option has been added to the Text tool, which allows you to hide the block with editing options shown as you type, leaving only the text you enter.
- The Align and Distribute tool, redesigned in the last release, implements the ability to apply the Layer Contents Only option not only to target objects, but also to the reference object to which alignment is performed.
- The Transforms tool provides the ability to select a transformation matrix in a dialog displayed directly on the canvas, making it easy to copy the transformation matrix for use in other programs after testing them in GIMP.
- Work has been done to rid the code of bindings to input and output data only in the sRGB color space. Easier setting foreground and background colors in non-sRGB color spaces. The Eyedropper tool provides a display of color values in the color space used in the image.
- Added "Grayscale (%)" mode to the Eyedropper and Selective Points tools to show pixel color values in grayscale when the image is converted to the appropriate mode.
- Improved dialogs for filling and tracing a path or selection border. Single color fill and stroke option split into two options allowing you to choose background or foreground color. The Stroke Selection and Stroke Path tools have been reorganized, separating line and drawing tool settings into separate sections.
- The Color Fill box shown when creating a new image or layer has a new Neutral Gray Fill (CIELAB) mode that corresponds to 50% perceived brightness (the midpoint between dark and light).
- Support for the FITS image format, which is in demand in astronomy, has been transferred to the fitsio library, which made it possible to add the ability to import compressed files (GZIP, HCOMP, PLIO, RICE) with 8/16/32 color bits per channel with single and double precision.
- Added the ability to import and export clipped paths to PSD files. When importing PSD files, if GIMP does not have certain features available in the imported file, a warning is provided listing those features. Added "file-psd-load-metadata" procedure to allow other plugins to use the PSD plugin to load metadata in Photoshop format, for example, such metadata can be included in TIFF and JPEG files.
- Improved handling of metadata in JPEG files. Renamed settings related to 4:2:2 color subsampling.
- For the JPEG-XL format, initial support for export using the CMYK color model has been added.
- Added support for import and export of PAM, QOI, Amiga IFF/ILBM and DCX image formats.
- Work continued on improving the API for plugin development. Added separate classes for different types of resources (GimpBrush, GimpFont, GimpGradient, GimpPalette and GimpPattern). Improved plugin localization capabilities.
Ongoing work to be completed before the release of GIMP 3.0 includes Wayland support, a redesign of the API for scripts and plugins, the completion of an overhaul of the color management system and the integration of CMYK color space support, a revision of the floating selection concept (by default, paste in the form of a new layer), and an update documentation. Among the GIMP 3.0-related tasks already fully completed, in addition to switching to GTK3, support for layered selection and layered operations, the transition to the Meson build system, and the transition from intltool to gettext during localization are mentioned.
Source: opennet.ru
