Open Source Image Editor GIMP Now Available as a Native OS X App

[MacRumors]

The free, open-source image editor GIMP is now available for OS X as a native application. It is available for download from Gimp.org.

GIMP is a popular and fairly powerful free image editor from the linux world that is basically like a freeware version of Photoshop, complete with many of the tools used for photo retouching and image manipulation that you'd expect. It's a great free PS alternative, but Mac users have long had to install X11 to get it to run. But not anymore! The newest version of Gimp for Mac OS X is bundled as a self-contained native app, that means no X11 installations, no Xcode, nothing but a simple dmg download.

Previously, GIMP required the installation of X11, a windowing system for some specialized software -- something that is difficult for more inexperienced users to accomplish. Pixelmator is an excellent alternative image editor for most users, though it currently costs $15.

Article Link: Open Source Image Editor GIMP Now Available as a Native OS X App

 

[avanpelt]

Pixelmator got me away from the GIMP about a year ago, and I won't be switching back.

 

[wikus]

If GIMP supports CMYK based export it will render Pixelmator useless for any print professional.

Still, the industry standard is Photoshop so most studios and clients work pretty much only with PSD files which is risky to rely on Pixelmator or Gimp alone.

 

[moabal]

About time. I have always preferred gimp over pixelmator.

 

[Reason077]

Bring out the GIMP.

 

[Sardonick007]

No time to babysit

Every photo I've tried to open with it crashes the app. Not worth my time. On a nitpicky note, the icon they use for OS X sucks too. Oh well, good thing I have CS6 and Pixelmator.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

Pixelmator is far more impressive than GIMP.

 

[Pakaku]

Pixelmator got me away from the GIMP about a year ago, and I won't be switching back.

But for a free app, it's decent enough for most people.

 

[gorskiegangsta]

Still very unstable. Often crashes on startup and sometimes when opening "large" (i.e. 2000 px) images.

 

[goinskiing]

Nice to see Gimp getting native OSX support.

 

[justinfreid]

Looking forward to uninstalling X11...

Thanks GIMP team.

 

[charliex5]

Just thought I'd go to the trouble of posting to state that I don't care in the least about this.

CS6 is where its at for now.

 

[SandboxGeneral]

Thanks GIMP team.

Same here! Download the native app and uninstall X11! Woo hoo!

 

[ChristianVirtual]

Good to see a native GIMP; will have a look.
But I got familiar with Pixelmator and mostly will keep that. But both can coexists.
Two good apps for the price of one sounds like a good deal

 

[lewis82]

Downloading right now, just to see how it looks like (I'm not going back from Photoshop, just curious).

It still seems X11-based, and not native Cocoa. We'll see.

EDIT: And it is. The interface performs much better though, which is great.

 

[faroZ06]

Every photo I've tried to open with it crashes the app. Not worth my time. On a nitpicky note, the icon they use for OS X sucks too. Oh well, good thing I have CS6 and Pixelmator.

Agreed. Actually, CS6 is really slow for me, so I use CS5. I don't like CS6's new design either.

 

[Tastic Bycrom]

Downloading right now, just to see how it looks like (I'm not going back from Photoshop, just curious).

It still seems X11-based, and not native Cocoa. We'll see.

EDIT: And it is. The interface performs much better though, which is great.

It's not X11 based, it's GTK+, which has back-ends in other drawing engines. That being said, it's not going to behave exactly like a Cocoa app.

 

[faroZ06]

This got me excited. However, when I opened GIMP, it crashed. WTF? Is this Lion/MtnLion only?

 

[aristotle]

This got me excited. However, when I opened GIMP, it crashed. WTF? Is this Lion/MtnLion only?

I tried to run it this morning on my rMBP but its icon bounced on the dock a bunch of times before crashing running 10.8.1. I think it is supposed to work on 10.5 or later.

I have 16GB of ram and an SSD drive for crying out loud so it should have launched in one bounce or two. Good thing I have pixelmator.

I ended up trashing the app and the DMG.

 

[Mad-B-One]

Well, guys...

...this application is open source. I use it since years on PC. If you feel like it is bugged, you have two choices: Help to make it better by either reporting bugs or contributing fixing bugs - or just wait. It will be fixed. I would understand if you complain about a program you paid for - but you didn't for this one, so be patient.

 

[Karny]

This got me excited. However, when I opened GIMP, it crashed. WTF? Is this Lion/MtnLion only?

Crashed for me on Mountain Lion too... so no, it's just buggy. Hopefully it'll get fixed soon, I'm excited about getting back into the gimp.

 

[faroZ06]

I tried to run it this morning on my rMBP but its icon bounced on the dock a bunch of times before crashing running 10.8.1. I think it is supposed to work on 10.5 or later.

I have 16GB of ram and an SSD drive for crying out loud so it should have launched in one bounce or two. Good thing I have pixelmator.

I ended up trashing the app and the DMG.

Leopard and earlier only? If this is true, I have to congratulate these guys on making software that only works with an OS that is ≥5 years old.

As others have said though, it's probably just buggy and is meant to work in Snow Leopard and later also. Does it work on your iMac? What OS is your iMac on?

 

[stridemat]

Good update! For free I can't complain!

 

[SandboxGeneral]

This got me excited. However, when I opened GIMP, it crashed. WTF? Is this Lion/MtnLion only?

It crashed on me the first time as well. I suspect it may have had to do with the OS X app security settings. I have mine set to Mac App Store and Identified Developers. I had to temporarily change it to Anywhere before it would load properly.

Good update! For free I can't complain!

Regardless, as long as it doesn't crash often, I cannot in good conscience complain about a free app like this. Besides, it's the first native version of the app and I would expect a few bugs initially. I assume and hope that the developers will iron them out soon enough.

 

[lewis82]

...this application is open source. I use it since years on PC. If you feel like it is bugged, you have two choices: Help to make it better by either reporting bugs or contributing fixing bugs - or just wait. It will be fixed. I would understand if you complain about a program you paid for - but you didn't for this one, so be patient.

You might be interested in reading this topic:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1429817