“The venerable GNU Image Manipulation Program is undergoing a significant transformation. The next major release, version 2.8, will introduce an improved user interface with an optional single-window mode. Although this update is still under heavy development, users can get an early look by compiling the latest source code of the development version from the GIMP’s version control repository.”
It’s about friggin’ time.
How many years (if not decades…) this took?
It isn’t always about features. The GIMP UI just stunk, I used the GIMP for years. Then I tried photoshop. And almost overnight the quality of my images improved 300% even when I go back to the GIMP my quality is better because I now know what feature to use to do a function.
+1 !
I went from photoshop to GIMP and the UI never bothered me. The only thing that was, IMO, resoundingly stupid was removing the menu toolbar, but the leaving blank space there. And it appears to still be there! No excuse for that really.
That’s what that was! I assumed it was some odd interaction with GNOME Global Menu. If that’s really just GIMP, why the heck would the ever consider leaving the space there? It looks ugly and wasts space. Are they out of their minds?
As long as they keep the multi-window mode as a first class citizen, then I am happy. While I can see the advantages of single window mode for a system without virtual desktops, if I can dedicate an entire desktop to it then I find that my window manager does a very nice job managing my Gimp windows, especially with focus follows mouse enabled. I haven’t spent much time using Photoshop and am just a mere hobbyist when it comes to image editing but those are my two cents.
Photoshop happily allows you to have your canvas on one screen and your tools on another. That’s how I use it all the time. Hopefully GIMPs simgle window mode still allows the canvas pane to be moved out of the single window like Photoshop.
There are some things a single window design simply cannot do. Multiple windows are a lot more flexible.
Yes single window might look all neat and tidy but it reduces functionality. I often open multiple images. Then simply drag one image onto another and it adds that image as a layer. How the hell would you do that with a Single Window design – your always only see one image at a time. Too limiting for me – and dragging images and layers is a feature I use very often in GIMP.
At least the GIMP developers stayed sane by making the Single Windows design optional. Best of both world I guess. 🙂
Image thumbnails are on top of the main view. Nothing should stop you from easy drag/drop.
And you don’t need to switch through overlapped window mess. Everything is on screen and easy accessible.
For me, current GIMP UI is a horrible mess. Every cell of my body hates it.
Edited 2010-02-05 15:58 UTC
That’s where a proper window manager kicks in. I don’t see how a MDI app would organize it’s child windows better than the WM.
But to each his own. Considering we will be able to switch that on and off I’m all for getting single window implemented for those who might prefer that.
I think it’s a great idea
Sometimes I work on a nice big Cintiq, but sometimes I’m forced to work on my laptop. My biggest beef with GIMP is that the toolbox and various palettes take up a lot of screen real estate. Why is the default toolbox so bloody W–I–D–E?
Why shouldn’t it be? Most computers now have a widescreen display, so it makes sense to use as much of the otherwise-useless width as possible.
Besides, it’s only the default size – you can narrow it down to two or three icons wide.
I get the feeling now that all the Gimp-haters will jump on some other minor factor in telling us why they hate Gimp. Probably lack of 1-bit support.
Most images are MUCH larger than any monitor resolution. So when editing images like photos, it makes sense to see as much of the image as possible.
It’s a regression, not an improvement.