GIMP, the renowned image editing software, has recently made a significant transition by officially taking over its Snap package for Ubuntu. Previously, GIMP was available as a Snap package created and maintained by a community group known as ‘snapcrafters.’ While these unofficial packages made it easier for users to access GIMP, they often included additional plugins and modifications not directly associated with the GIMP team.
The shift to an official Snap means GIMP is now maintained directly by its developers. This transition brings several benefits, including a guarantee that new software updates will be available on release day, derived directly from the GIMP development workflow. Users who chose to install the GIMP Snap package will now have an experience that aligns closely with the developers’ intended use, devoid of additional plugins initially bundled by snapcrafters.
While the previous unofficial plugins, such as those integrating Intel’s OpenVINO AI and GMIC, remain accessible as separate snap plugins, they are no longer included by default. This decision minimizes user confusion and eliminates the risk of issues arising from components not developed by the GIMP team.
Importantly, this switch does not signal the end for GIMP in other formats. Both the official AppImage and Flatpak versions of GIMP will remain available, allowing users the flexibility to choose the format that best suits their needs.
To try out the newly official GIMP Snap, users can either search for it in the Snap Store or install it via the terminal using:
sudo snap install gimpFor existing GIMP Snap users, there’s no need to take additional steps; the upgrade to the official version will happen automatically in the background.
For further updates on GIMP, you can visit the official GIMP website and the Snap Store for the latest version.