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GIMP 3.0 RC1 was released on November 6, 2024, as a pre-release candidate for community testing—not a promise of production stability. It brought a new visual identity, color-management work, a public API stable for the v3 series, refinements to non-destructive filters, and interface and plug-in changes. For GIMP 2.10 users and developers, the key caveat was that older projects needed testing and some scripts and plug-ins needed porting.
What was GIMP 3.0 RC1?
A release candidate is a build that might become the final release after broader testing. The GIMP Team described RC1 as something that might be ready to become GIMP 3.0, but asked the larger community to test it and report problems. Larger bugs or regressions could mean another candidate was needed; the team did not give a firm final-release date.
It was intended for testing, especially by experienced users and developers—not as a guarantee that every production workflow or extension would work unchanged.
The Tool Desk
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New visual identity and scalable icons
RC1 introduced a new Wilber logo developed by Aryeom with other contributors, replacing the logo designed for GIMP 2.6 in 2008. Contributor Sevenix created a new splash screen. The Legacy icon theme also gained SVG replacements for many raster tool icons, improving scaling on high-density displays, though the project noted that some icons were still missing or not scalable.
#1 Best Overall
- Battery-Free Pen: StarG640 drawing tablet is the perfect replacement for a traditional mouse! The XPPen advanced Battery-free PN01 stylus does not require charging, allowing for constant uninterrupted Draw and Play, making lines flow quicker and smoother, enhancing overall performance
- Ideal for Online Education: XPPen G640 graphics tablet is designed for digital drawing, painting, sketching, E-signatures, online teaching, remote work, photo editing, it's compatible with Microsoft Office apps like Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, Zoom, Xsplit etc. Works perfect than a mouse, visually present your handwritten notes, signatures precisely
- Compact and Portable: The G640 art tablet is only 2 mm thick, it's as slim as all primary level graphic tablets, allowing you to carry it with you on the go
- Chromebook Supported: XPPen G640 digital drawing tablet is ready to work seamlessly with Chromebook devices now, so you can create information-rich content and collaborate with teachers and classmates on Google Jamboard’s whiteboard; Take notes quickly and conveniently with Google Keep, and effortlessly sketch diagrams with the Google Canvas
- Multipurpose Use: Designed for playing OSU! Game, digital drawing, painting, sketch, sign documents digitally, this writing tablet also compatible with Microsoft Office programs like Word, PowerPoint, OneNote and more. Create mind-maps, draw diagrams or take notes as replacement for mouse
Color management and older XCF files
The team continued work to make behavior more aware of color spaces and reviewed layer modes with older projects in mind. As one example, it reported that an older XCF containing a Google logo retained its appearance when opened in RC1. That is a project-reported example, not a guarantee that every legacy file will render identically. The project also said color-space work would continue beyond GIMP 3.0.
A public API stable for the v3 series
RC1 included the remaining major public API changes and marked the API stable for the v3 series, giving developers a target for porting their extensions. Changes included replacing the custom GimpRGB color structures with the color-managed GeglColor type and changing array formats so callers no longer had to specify element counts separately in the same way.
Some functions were added, renamed, or removed compared with GIMP 2.10. The announcement cites consolidating Gaussian-related functions into plug-in-gauss as an example that required updates to some scripts. GIMP 2.10 scripts and plug-ins should not be assumed to work automatically in GIMP 3.
Non-destructive filters and XCF
RC1 refined non-destructive filters and added an optional Merge Filters checkbox. In supported cases, enabling it merged a filter down after commitment for users who preferred the older destructive workflow. The option was unavailable for layer groups.
Rank #2
- Word-first 16K Pressure Levels: The upgraded stylus features 16,384 levels of pressure sensitivity and supports up to 60 degrees of tilt, delivering smoother lines and shading for a natural drawing experience. With no battery or charging needed, it operates like a real pen, making it easy for beginners to create effortlessly. This functionality helps novice artists develop their skills and explore their creativity without the intimidation of complex tools
- Designed for Beginners: This drawing pad desinged with 8 customizable shortcuts for both right and left-hand users, express keys create a highly ergonomic and convenient work platform
- Perfectly Adapted for Android: The XPPen Deco 01 V3 art tablet supports connections with Android devices running version 10.0 and above. It is recommended to download the XPPen Tools Android application, which adapts to your smartphone's screen aspect ratio, ensuring accurate mapping. It also supports mapping on Android screens with different aspect ratios in portrait mode
- Large Drawing Space, Bigger Bold Inspiration: This expansive drawing pad has10 x 6.25-inch helps you break through the limit between shortcut keys and drawing area
- Easy Connectivity for Beginners: The Deco 01 V3 offers USB-C to USB-C connectivity, plus adapters for USB C. This ensures easy connection to various devices, allowing beginner artists to set up quickly and focus on their creativity without compatibility concerns. Whether using a laptop, tablet, or desktop, the Deco 01 V3 provides a seamless experience, making it an ideal choice for those just starting their digital art journey
RC1 also stored filter-operation version information in XCF files as groundwork for preventing later filter changes from altering older projects’ appearance. The announcement said further GEGL work was still needed to complete this capability after GIMP 3.0.
Interface and accessibility changes
RC1 extended multi-select behavior to more parts of the interface, restored mouse-wheel switching among dockable-dialog tabs, and respected the operating system’s reduced-animation preference for the animated credits in the About dialog.
Plug-ins, file formats, GEGL, and babl
During the feature freeze, plug-in changes were mostly API updates and bug fixes. The BMP plug-in gained support for images at 64 bits per pixel, and TIFF import gained support for layered files saved in Autodesk SketchBook format.
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GEGL 0.4.50 added Inner Glow, Bevel, and GEGL Styles operations, accessible through the GEGL Operations tool or action search. OpenCL filter improvements were made, but OpenCL remained disabled by default. babl 0.1.110 added RGB/HSL conversion work and accuracy fixes.
Rank #3
- Battery-free Stylus - Only COMPATIBLE to Huion Inspiroy H640P/H950P/H1060P/H610Pro V2/HS610/HS64/H420X/H580X/H610X; Never worry about pen-charging, and eco-friendly of use; Without operating battery, the pen is only 16g in weight, and its front end is made of wearable silicone for soothing feel.
- NOT COMPATIBLE with iPad, other Graphics Tablet or Huion Graphics Monitor GT Series; Huion provides one year warranty.
- Two Customizable Pen Buttons - Set the function to your reference like eraser, fasten your working efficiency; Palm rejection design of dual keys on both sides of the pen helps reduce touch frequency and realize most effective creation.
- Long-lasting Lifespan - First of Huion's products features battery-free stylus, say goodbye to charging cables; Don't need to worry about the potential battery leakage and run-out.
- 8192 Levels of Pen Pressure Sensitivity - Enjoy the accuracy and precision when drawing; Having 233 PPS report rate, 5080LPI resolution, you can paint or draw or sketch smoothly on your Huion Inspiroy series Tablets.
The project changelog also records such changes as more precise indexed-color conversion, updates to Posterize, Threshold, and Hue-Saturation processing, multiple-image selection in the welcome dialog, and storing GEGL operation versions in XCF.
What should testers have checked?
The GIMP Team asked testers to focus on API problems, older XCF files that would not read or render correctly, crashes, regressions, and migration of previous configuration. For a careful test, users could:
- Back up important XCF files before opening them in a pre-release build.
- Test separately from a production installation used for deadline-sensitive work.
- Check whether GIMP 2.10 scripts and plug-ins need updates.
- Compare representative projects, especially those with color-sensitive content, layer modes, or filters.
- Report reproducible crashes, regressions, compatibility failures, or configuration-migration problems to the project.
How did RC1 affect different users?
| Reader | Why RC1 mattered | Important caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Artists and designers | New visual identity, interface adjustments, color-space work, and filter refinements. | Test important projects before relying on a pre-release build; compatibility was not guaranteed for every file. |
| Plug-in and script developers | The v3 public API was stable enough to begin porting and testing. | Some GIMP 2.10 extensions required changes and would not necessarily work unchanged. |
| Distribution maintainers | The candidate offered an opportunity to identify packaging and compatibility issues. | Downstream packaging and availability were managed separately from the project’s release. |
What happened after RC1?
Stable GIMP 3.0 was announced on March 16, 2025, following multiple release candidates. Its later release highlights included non-destructive editing for common filters, additional file-format support, editable text styling, multi-item layer selection and transforms, color-management improvements, and GTK3. These are later stable-release context, not changes to attribute wholesale to RC1.
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The official GIMP 3.0 release notes also describe improved HiDPI scaling, tablet input, CSS themes, and native Wayland support. These help explain the wider transition, but should not be confused with features first introduced in RC1.
Rank #4
- Exclusive for Ugee's S640/S640W/S1060/S1060W/M708 V3 digital drawing tablets: The Ugee stylus is specifically designed to work with these devices, giving you precise and intuitive control over your artwork
- Not compatible with iPads or other graphics displays: This pen is specifically designed for digital drawing boards, so your customers won't have to worry about accidentally contaminating their devices with other pens or devices
- EMR technology: The Ugee stylus uses an EMR，which means it doesn't require a battery or charging socket. Simply place the stylus on the graphics drawing tablet and it's ready to go
- Two quick-access buttons: The Ugee stylus features two built-in buttons, allowing you to quickly switch between your pen stroke and eraser without ever having to take your hand off the tablet
- 8192 pressure sensitivity and ±60°tilt: The Ugee stylus features high-resolution pressure sensitivity and precise side peaks, allowing you to create detailed and expressive artwork
Learning resources
GIMP’s free online documentation is a starting point for learning the application. A GIMP 3-specific book may offer a more linear introduction, but check its edition and availability; books listed by the project are not necessarily official endorsements.
Bottom line
GIMP 3.0 RC1 was a community-testing milestone that combined visible changes with foundational work on color handling, the v3 API, filters, and compatibility. Its most important practical message was to test older projects and port extensions rather than assume GIMP 2.10 workflows would transfer unchanged. Stable GIMP 3.0 followed on March 16, 2025.
FAQ
What is a release candidate?
It is a pre-release build that might become the final release after testing. The GIMP Team asked the community to test RC1 and report problems; substantial bugs or regressions could require another candidate.
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Was GIMP 3.0 RC1 stable?
No. It was published for broad community testing, not presented as a production-stability guarantee.
Best Value
- Ultra thin tablet: Active Area 4 x 3 inches. Fully utilizing our 8192 levels of pen pressure sensitivity―Providing you with groundbreaking control and fluidity to expand your creative output. Please note: The 4 x 3 inches is very small, please confirm that it will meet your needs before you purchase it
- OSU game: Designed for OSU! gameplay, drawing, painting, sketching, E-signatures etc. No need to install drivers for OSU! It's also designed for both right and left hand users
- Accurate Pen Performance: StarG430S computer graphics tablet is the perfect replacement for a traditional mouse! The XPPen advanced Battery-free PN01 stylus does not require charging, allowing for constant uninterrupted Draw and Play, making lines flow quicker and smoother, enhancing overall performance
- Compact and Portable: The G430S art tablet is only 2 mm thick, it’s as slim as all primary level graphic tablets,Ultra-thin and portable, allowing you hold it in one hand and carry it on the go. This graphic drawing tablet supports Mac. However, since the product interface is micro USB to USB-A, if your computer is a Mac and does not have a USB-A port, you will need to purchase an OTG transfer adapter to ensure compatibility with your Mac. So please confirm your computer port before you purchase it
- PLEASE NOTE: The XPPen StarG 430 is compatible with the Windows system 11/10/8/7(32/64 bit), and the Mac OS X version 10.10 or later, but it is incompatible with iOS and iPad OS. If your computer is a Mac, you need to grant permission to the Mac preferences first. Please go to our official website, and according to the guide: XPPen>Support>FAQ, find out the Star G430 and click, then click the question according to your Mac system. There are detailed guidelines for installing the driver so your tablet will work correctly. It's possible incompatible with the customer's own EMR system or other signature system. Please feel free to contact us to confirm the compatibility before your purchase
Will GIMP 2.10 plug-ins work in GIMP 3?
Not necessarily. The public API changed, and the GIMP Team said some existing scripts required updates. Developers were encouraged to port and test their extensions against the v3 API.
Did RC1 guarantee that older XCF files would look the same?
No. The team described work to preserve older projects’ appearance and gave an older Google logo XCF as an example, but that does not guarantee identical rendering for every file.
When did stable GIMP 3.0 arrive?
The stable GIMP 3.0 release was announced on March 16, 2025, after multiple release candidates.
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