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A GIMP 3 Python GUI is built as a plug-in: subclass Gimp.PlugIn, register a procedure and its arguments, then use GimpUi.ProcedureDialog for a standard interface or GTK for a custom layout. The procedure can be launched interactively, called with supplied values, or run using saved values, so it should not assume a person always opens the dialog.
This guide shows the plug-in structure, how to install and discover it, and how to avoid common GIMP 2 compatibility and run-mode mistakes.
What you are building
GIMP is not a general-purpose Python GUI framework. A plug-in runs through GIMP’s procedure system and can provide dialogs, controls, and operations for images.
- Python defines a plug-in and the procedures it provides.
- GIMP discovers and loads the plug-in.
- A procedure exposes its arguments and, when appropriate, a menu command.
- GimpUi and GTK provide the interface.
- The procedure reads its configuration and performs its operation.
If you need a standalone application that does not depend on GIMP, use a desktop toolkit directly. This article is about interfaces that run inside GIMP.
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Use the GIMP 3 API
GIMP 3 plug-ins use Python 3, PyGObject and GObject Introspection. Require the Gimp 3.0 namespace and use the GIMP 3 object-oriented API. A GIMP 2 tutorial that starts with from gimpfu import * describes a different plug-in architecture; do not copy it unchanged.
Use the API reference and installed GIMP build that match your target release. Older porting guidance can be incomplete, so verify individual methods rather than assuming a legacy call has a direct replacement.
Choose an interface approach
| Approach | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| GimpUi.ProcedureDialog | A small set of independent, declared procedure arguments | Fast to build and consistent with GIMP, with less control over layout |
| Dialog fill helpers and GTK widgets | Grouped or conditional controls, previews, validation, and specialized workflows | More layout control, but more code and synchronization to manage |
For a first plug-in, declare the procedure properties and use a generated dialog. Add custom GTK controls only when the workflow needs behavior or layout that the generated interface cannot provide.
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Create a plug-in class that implements do_query_procedures and do_create_procedure. The first returns the procedure name or names; the second creates a procedure, connects its run callback, sets metadata and menu placement, and declares its arguments. A typical example uses Gimp.ImageProcedure.new for an operation on an open image.
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For example, declare a string argument named note and a numeric argument named opacity, with an appropriate range and default. These declarations provide values to the procedure configuration and allow the standard procedure dialog to generate controls.
In the plug-in entry point, import the GIMP and GimpUi introspection namespaces, require Gimp 3.0 and GimpUi 3.0, define the plug-in subclass, and start it with Gimp.main. Use the official GIMP Python plug-in tutorial for the complete, release-matched code pattern; this article does not claim an untested code listing is ready to run.
How procedure configuration works
The procedure configuration carries the declared arguments. Create a GimpUi.ProcedureDialog with the procedure and configuration, fill it with the declared properties, and, after acceptance, read the updated values from the configuration. For instance, a property named opacity should be read under that exact name.
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Initialize GIMP’s UI facilities with GimpUi.init before using GimpUi. This initializes the UI-related libraries and settings for the GIMP process.
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Handle all run modes
| Run mode | Expected behavior |
|---|---|
| Interactive | Show the dialog, use its updated configuration after acceptance, and return cancellation without changing the image if the user cancels. |
| Non-interactive | Use the values supplied by the caller; do not prompt for input. |
| With last values | Use the procedure’s saved configuration values; do not assume a fresh dialog is needed. |
Menu use is generally interactive, but other plug-ins or automation can call a procedure with supplied values. Treat cancellation as a normal outcome, and avoid showing input or error dialogs in non-interactive execution.
Install the plug-in
- Find the GIMP 3 user plug-ins directory in GIMP’s folder preferences or consult the official installation instructions for your operating system.
- Create a plug-in directory under that location.
- Put the Python file in the directory, giving the directory and script the same base name (the script adds the .py extension).
- Make the script executable on systems where that is required.
- Restart GIMP so it scans the plug-in directory.
GIMP’s official Python plug-in tutorial specifies the matching folder and script naming convention. Example user paths differ across Linux, Windows, and macOS, so use the location appropriate to your installation rather than assuming one path works everywhere.
Find and test the procedure
- Restart GIMP after installation.
- Use GIMP’s action search or Procedure Browser to find the registered command.
- Run it interactively and check that the dialog’s values reach the procedure.
- Test non-interactive and last-values behavior if callers or automation will use the procedure.
- Check GIMP’s plug-in error output if discovery or execution fails.
The procedure name and its arguments form an interface for callers. Keep them stable if other plug-ins or automation may look up and invoke the procedure. A caller can find a procedure by name, provide its configuration, run it, and inspect the returned status.
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Use GTK for custom layouts
Build a custom interface when the plug-in needs related controls, conditional visibility, a live preview, validation, or a multi-step workflow. Use GimpUi widgets where suitable to follow GIMP’s conventions, and GTK for general layout and interaction.
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| Need | Possible control |
|---|---|
| Text input | String property or GTK text entry |
| Opacity or strength | Numeric property or GTK scale |
| On/off option | Boolean property or GTK check button |
| Color or brush selection | A suitable GimpUi control and corresponding procedure property |
| Conditional controls or preview | GTK signal handlers with a suitable preview widget |
- Initialize the GIMP UI facilities.
- Create the dialog and its GTK containers.
- Initialize controls from the procedure configuration.
- Connect signals for validation, conditional behavior, or preview updates.
- On acceptance, copy and validate custom control values into the configuration or a settings object.
- Perform the operation only after confirmation, then return the appropriate status.
Keep the displayed values and the values used by the operation synchronized. For exact widget constructors, consult the GimpUi API reference for the installed GIMP build.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Develop the image operation safely
- First confirm that GIMP loads the procedure and opens its dialog.
- Verify that the procedure receives the expected configuration values.
- Check whether an image and the required drawables are available.
- Validate that the selected drawable supports the intended operation.
- Test the smallest possible image change before adding complex processing or preview behavior.
Do not assume a drawable is always present or that a legacy PDB call maps directly to a GIMP 3 method. Consult the GIMP 3 API for the relevant image, layer, selection, or drawable operation and return a useful status when prerequisites are not met.
Debugging checklist
| Symptom | What to check |
|---|---|
| The plug-in is missing | Confirm the configured plug-ins directory, matching folder and script names, executable permission where required, and restart. |
| The procedure is not visible | Check procedure discovery, procedure creation, and its menu placement. |
| An import fails | Test through the target GIMP build; system Python and packages installed with pip are not automatically available to GIMP. |
| The operation uses defaults | Read the exact configuration property names and synchronize any custom widgets before applying. |
| The plug-in works only in a console experiment | Check procedure registration, run-mode handling, image requirements, and returned status. |
When debugging, start with a procedure that reports received values. Add one argument, widget, and image operation at a time so errors are easier to isolate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a GIMP Python plug-in create a standalone application?
No. It can create dialogs and other interface elements as part of GIMP, but the application remains GIMP. Build a standalone GUI with a desktop toolkit instead.
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Will a GIMP 2 gimpfu script work unchanged in GIMP 3?
No. GIMP 3 uses a different plug-in architecture and API. Port procedure registration, arguments, image operations, and interface code deliberately, checking each call against the GIMP 3 reference.
Does every procedure need to show a dialog?
No. Interactive calls can show a dialog, but non-interactive calls should use caller-supplied values and last-values calls should use saved values. Choose behavior according to the run mode.
Do I need to install a separate Python package for GIMP?
Not necessarily. A system Python installation or a package installed with pip is not automatically visible to GIMP. Test with the GIMP build and plug-in environment you intend to support.
How do I make a custom arrangement of controls?
Use the dialog’s fill helpers and GTK widgets when the generated procedure dialog is not flexible enough. Initialize controls from configuration, validate and synchronize values on acceptance, and use GimpUi widgets where appropriate.
The Bottom Line
Build a GIMP 3 Python plug-in by registering a procedure and its arguments, then use GimpUi.ProcedureDialog for a standard interface or GTK for a custom one. Handle interactive, non-interactive, and last-values runs separately, install the script in a same-named plug-in directory, and test it with the actual GIMP build you plan to support.
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