Start GIMP from the main menu. Alternatively, enter gimp & in a command line.
Three windows appear by default. The toolbox, an empty image window with the main GIMP menu, and a window containing several docked dialogs. They can be arranged on the screen and, except the toolbox and the last image window, closed if no longer needed. Closing the toolbox or the last image window open closes the application. In the default configuration, GIMP saves your window layout when you exit. Dialogs left open reappear when you next start the program.
Every new, opened, or scanned image appears in its own window. If there is more than one open image, each image has its own image window. There is always at least one image window open. If there is currently no image open, the image window is empty, containing only the main GIMP menu and drop area, which can be used to open any file by dragging and dropping it there. Closing the last image window exits the application.
The menu bar in the top of the window provides access to all image functions. Conversely, access the menu by right-clicking the image or clicking the small arrow button in the left corner of the rulers.
The
menu offers the standard file operations, such as , , , and . exits the application.With the items in the menu, control the display of the image and the image window. opens a second display window of the current image. Changes made in one view are reflected in all other views of that image. Alternate views are useful for magnifying a part of an image for manipulation while seeing the complete image in another view. Adjust the magnification level of the current window with . When is selected, the image window is resized to fit the current image display exactly.
The toolbox contains important controls of the application. Closing it exits the application. At the very top, there is a drop area which can be used to open any image file by simply dragging and dropping it there. Below that, find icons for the various tools. Hover the mouse over an icon to display information about it.
The current foreground and background color are shown in two overlapping boxes. The default colors are black for the foreground and white for the background. Click the box to open a color selection dialog. Swap the foreground and background color with the bent arrow symbol to the upper right of the boxes. Use the black and white symbol to the lower left to reset the colors to the default.
Under the toolbox, a dialog shows options for the currently selected tool. If it is not visible, open it by double-clicking the tool's icon in the toolbox.
In the first section, use the drop-down box to select the image to which the tabs refer. By clicking
, control whether the active image is chosen automatically. By default, is enabled.Section 16.5.6, “Layers”. shows and can manipulate the color channels of the image.
shows the different layers in the current images and can be used to manipulate the layers. Information is available inPaths are a vector-based method of selecting parts of an image. They can also be used for drawing. Section 16.5.5, “Undoing Mistakes”.
shows the paths available for an image and provides access to path functions. shows a limited history of modifications made to the current image. Its use is described in