GIMP 2.6 update tackles interface, GEGL
updated 09:45 am EDT, Thu October 2, 2008
GIMP 2.6 released
A new version of GIMP, a free graphics utility, has been released online. Similar in scope to Photoshop, the program lets users make adjustments to photos such as color, blemish and perspective correction, and open a variety of common file formats, including JPEG, TIFF, PNG and PSD documents. The v2.6 update makes a variety of interface changes, such as moving the toolbox menubar into the image window, through the use of a new empty image window. Other touches include the ability to pan beyond image borders, and reopen recently-closed docks.
Tools now include freehand selection, and new brush dynamics, which let users tweak factors such as pressure, velocity and randomness. The software also implements the GEGL image-processing framework, which allows on-canvas previews of rendering effects and should eventually allow non-destructive editing and higher bitdepths.
