The update also improves non-destructive editing capabilities, allowing filters to be applied to channels, and introducing Total Ink Coverage calculations for selected colors, which is particularly useful for print applications. GIMP 3.1.2 adds support for importing Photoshop patterns, APNG animations, multi-layer OpenEXR images, and JPEG 2000 images, among others, enhancing interoperability with various file formats.
Contributions from developers Denis Rangelov, Reju, and Michal Vašut have led to numerous UX/UI improvements, including bug fixes, better tool transitions, and updates to the Histogram dockable feature. The build process has been optimized, and ongoing contributions from 29 individuals have resulted in significant codebase improvements, with 42 bugs resolved and 302 commits made.
This development release is aimed at early adopters and testers, with a clear warning that it may be unstable and not suitable for production use. Looking ahead, ongoing projects from Google Summer of Code participants promise further advancements, such as enhancements to the on-canvas text editor and a new GEGL Filter Browser prototype.
In summary, GIMP 3.1.2 represents a significant step forward in the GIMP development cycle, focusing on new features and improvements that enhance usability and compatibility, paving the way for the more stable GIMP 3.2 release. Users are encouraged to test the new features and provide feedback while keeping in mind the developmental nature of this release
GIMP 3.1.2 released
GIMP 3.1.2 marks the initial development release on the path to GIMP 3.2, introducing new features and addressing various bug fixes. The splash screen was designed by Ville Pätsi to commemorate a recent visit to the 2025 Libre Graphics Meeting. The release features updated theme colors for brush, font, and palette; automatic synchronization with Windows and Linux OS themes; the introduction of a new paint mode named Overwrite; and an added text outline option. The brush previews are now displayed using the theme's foreground and background colors, and the fonts dockable includes a toggle to render brush previews with these theme colors. GIMP introduces a new option for text outline direction, enabling users to manage the orientation of the text outline effectively.
GIMP has enhanced its non-destructive editing features, incorporating the ability to apply filters to channels, calculate and display Total Ink Coverage for selected colors, and support for a range of file formats. The CMYK Color Selector now computes and presents Total Ink Coverage, a feature beneficial for printing applications. GIMP has introduced the capability to import Photoshop patterns, enabling users to incorporate Adobe .pat files into the GIMP pattern folder. GIMP has introduced support for importing APNG animations, loading multi-layer OpenEXR images, and accommodating JPEG 2000 images. The plugin additionally accommodates Nokia's historical black and white Over-the-Air Bitmap format, Jeff's Image Format (.jif), and Advanced Video Coding (AVCI) still images. The purpose of these updates is to minimize bugs and facilitate smoother future development and maintenance.
