Gimp 2.9 – A sneak preview of the next major version
Going Forward

© Lead Image © Tono Balaguer, 123RF.com
The Gimp revamp is in full swing. We look at developer version 2.9.1 to explain the new components and features that are expected to find their way into the Gimp 2.10 major release.
Ever since 2.8.0 was released in 2012, rumors of the next major version, 2.10, have been rampant on the Internet. Although the project roadmap [1] doesn't name the date that Gimp 2.10 will be released, it will most likely rely completely on the new Generic Graphics Library (GEGL) [2], which supports higher bit depth images than Gimp currently supports and non-destructive editing.
With non-destructive editing, the GEGL function preview is always shown directly in the image window – a huge advantage, considering the tiny partial preview windows offered in current plugins. Editing with the library functions is always graph-based [3]: Although this might seem complicated at first sight, it offers exceptional advantages, as you will see.
In the recently published Gimp 2.8.14, you can already see the first fruits of the developers' labors. However, GEGL integration in this version does not work as well as in the developer version of Gimp 2.9: In version 2.8.14, the functions run far slower than they will in future releases. The GEGL operator under the Tools menu currently groups the features that have already been implemented (Figure 1). An icon for this tool will also appear in the Toolbox if it has been enabled in Preferences (see the box "GEGL in Gimp 2.8").
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
TUXEDO has unveiled a new InfinityBook Pro with an AMD Ryzen AI 300
This new notebook offers serious power that is ready for your business, development, or entertainment needs.
-
Is This the Year of Linux?
Another major organization has decided to kick Windows and Office to the curb, in favor of Linux.
-
Linux Mint 20 Reaches EOL
With Linux Mint 20 at its end of life, the time has arrived to upgrade to Linux Mint 22.
-
TuxCare Announces Support for AlmaLinux 9.2
Thanks to TuxCare, AlmaLinux 9.2 (and soon version 9.6) now enjoys years of ongoing patching and compliance.
-
Go-Based Botnet Attacking IoT Devices
Using an SSH credential brute-force attack, the Go-based PumaBot is exploiting IoT devices everywhere.
-
Plasma 6.5 Promises Better Memory Optimization
With the stable Plasma 6.4 on the horizon, KDE has a few new tricks up its sleeve for Plasma 6.5.
-
KaOS 2025.05 Officially Qt5 Free
If you're a fan of independent Linux distributions, the team behind KaOS is proud to announce the latest iteration that includes kernel 6.14 and KDE's Plasma 6.3.5.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 Now Available
The latest Linux kernel is now available with several new features/improvements and the usual bug fixes.
-
Microsoft Makes Surprising WSL Announcement
In a move that might surprise some users, Microsoft has made Windows Subsystem for Linux open source.
-
Red Hat Releases RHEL 10 Early
Red Hat quietly rolled out the official release of RHEL 10.0 a bit early.