A new beta release of Pinta, an open-source graphics editing application, is now available for testing. This latest version, Pinta 3.0 (beta), offers fans of this cross-platform raster image editor—modeled after the popular Paint.NET for Windows—an early look at several new features.
One of the most significant updates in Pinta 3.0 is its redesigned user interface, which has been ported to GTK4 and libadwaita. The traditional window frame and text menu have been replaced with a button-based header bar. While long-time users may need time to adjust, the new layout is intuitively organized, with the majority of features remaining accessible and some additional options introduced.
With the transition to GTK4, the app modifies the way the "File > New Screenshot" function operates, utilizing the XDG screenshot portal on Linux (associated with the GNOME Shell overlay) and the native screenshot tool on macOS.
Pinta 3.0 also reintroduces "add-ins," previously disabled in the GTK3 port with Pinta 2.0. The system now filters out any incompatible add-ins, enhancing the user experience. Users can switch between dark and light color schemes regardless of their system settings, and make adjustments to brush size and line width using keyboard shortcuts.
Additionally, the right-hand panels for Layers and History can be collapsed into buttons, freeing up canvas space when needed. When exporting images from multi-layer formats to those that do not support layers, users are advised to flatten the image beforehand.
The beta introduces an improved color picker dialog that enhances usability with sliders, values, and the option for compact mode. Pinta 3.0 also rolls out numerous new and enhanced effects, including:
- A new Dithering effect
- A new Voronoi Diagram effect
- Effects ported from Paint.NET 3.36, such as Vignette and Dents
- New Feather Object and Align Object effects
- An Outline Object effect
- A customizable Tile Reflection effect
- Gradient customization for Fractal and Clouds effects
- A button for randomizing noise patterns in certain effects
- A Twist effect confined to selections instead of the entire image
- A Zoom blur effect restricted within the image bounds
Beyond the major changes, the beta also addresses performance and stability improvements, with other highlights including:
- Minimum .NET 8.0 requirement
- Complete hideability of tool windows on the right dock
- Added pinch-to-zoom gesture support on trackpads
- A customizable canvas grid, replacing the pixel grid
- Export functionality to portable pixmap files (.ppm)
- Availability of nearest-neighbor resampling for image resizing
- An Offset Selection option for active selections
- Windows builds now accommodating .webp files
- Signed Windows installer
- macOS ARM64 support
For those interested in trying out the beta, pre-built packages for Windows and macOS are available on the Pinta GitHub page, along with a Linux binary build. Users looking for the latest stable version can download Pinta from the Snap store, Flathub, or access the source code on GitHub. Please note that Pinta is no longer found in the Ubuntu archives since version 22.04 LTS.
Overall, Pinta 3.0 presents a promising update for users seeking a capable image editor that balances simplicity with enhanced features, distinguishing it from more complex graphics programs like GIMP.