PhotoGIMP is a free, community-driven patch that transforms GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) into a layout that feels familiar to Adobe Photoshop users. If you're switching from Photoshop to GIMP and want to feel at home right away, PhotoGIMP is for you.
New to GIMP? GIMP is a free and open-source image editor available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It can do most things Photoshop can — photo retouching, image composition, graphic design, and more — all for free. PhotoGIMP just makes it look and feel more like Photoshop.
✨ Features
- Photoshop-like tool layout — Tools are reorganized to mimic the positions you're used to in Adobe Photoshop.
- Custom Splash Screen — A unique PhotoGIMP splash screen greets you on startup.
- Maximized canvas space — Default settings are optimized to give you the largest possible working area.
- Photoshop keyboard shortcuts — Keyboard shortcuts follow Adobe's official documentation for the Windows version.
- Custom icon & name — A dedicated
.desktopfile gives PhotoGIMP its own icon and app name in your system menu.
📷 Screenshots
PhotoGIMP Diolinux Splash Art
GIMP 3.0 with the PhotoGIMP patch applied
📋 Requirements
Before installing PhotoGIMP, make sure you have:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| GIMP 3.0 or newer | Download from: gimp.org or Flathub (Linux) |
| Run GIMP at least once | GIMP needs to generate its config files before PhotoGIMP can overwrite them. Install GIMP → open it → close it → then install PhotoGIMP. |
⚙ How to Install
Warning
Back up your current GIMP settings before installing! PhotoGIMP overwrites GIMP's configuration files. If you have custom settings you want to keep, save a backup copy first. See the backup instructions in each section below.
🐧 Flatpak (Linux)
Backup (optional)
If you want to keep your current GIMP settings, back them up first:
cp -r ~/.config/GIMP/3.0 ~/GIMP-3.0-backup
Install
- Make sure you already have GIMP installed from Flathub.
- Open GIMP once, then close it — this creates the config folders that PhotoGIMP needs.
- Download the latest release: 👉 Download PhotoGIMP for Linux (.zip)
- Extract the
.zipfile into your home folder (~).- This will place files into
~/.configand~/.local, which are hidden folders. - To see hidden folders in your file manager, press Ctrl + H.
- When prompted about existing files, choose "Replace" or "Overwrite".
- This will place files into
- Open GIMP — you should see the new PhotoGIMP layout! 🎉
💡 Using a non-Flatpak GIMP?
If you installed GIMP from your distro's package manager (apt, dnf, pacman, etc.) instead of Flatpak, the config folder is in the same location (~/.config/GIMP/3.0), so the steps above still work. Just make sure you have GIMP version 3.0 or newer.
🪟 Windows
Backup (optional)
If you want to keep your current GIMP settings, back them up first:
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type
%APPDATA%\GIMPand press Enter. - Copy the entire
3.0folder to a safe location (e.g., your Desktop).
Install
- Make sure you have GIMP installed from the official website.
- Open GIMP once, then close it — this creates the config folders that PhotoGIMP needs.
- Download the latest release: 👉 Download PhotoGIMP for Windows (.zip)
- Extract the contents of
PhotoGIMP.zipto any folder (e.g., your Desktop). - Open the extracted folder and copy the
3.0folder. - Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type
%APPDATA%\GIMPand press Enter — this opens GIMP's settings folder. - Paste the
3.0folder here. - When prompted about existing files, select "Replace the files in the destination".
- Open GIMP — you should see the new PhotoGIMP layout! 🎉
💡 Optional: Change the GIMP shortcut icon
You can also download photogimp.ico and update the icon on the GIMP shortcut located at:
%appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\GIMP 3.0.0
Right-click the shortcut → Properties → Change Icon → browse to the downloaded .ico file.
🍫 Install via Chocolatey (alternative)
If you use Chocolatey, you can install PhotoGIMP with a single command:
choco install photogimp
Maintained by: André Augusto
🍎 macOS
Backup (optional)
If you want to keep your current GIMP settings, back them up first:
- Open Finder.
- Press Cmd + Shift + G and go to
~/Library/Application Support/GIMP. - Copy the entire
GIMPfolder to a safe location (e.g., your Desktop).
Install
- Make sure you have GIMP installed from the official website.
- Open GIMP once, then close it — this creates the config folders that PhotoGIMP needs.
- Download the latest release: 👉 Download PhotoGIMP for macOS (.zip)
- Extract the contents of
PhotoGIMP.zipto any folder (e.g., your Desktop). - Open the extracted folder and copy the
3.0folder. - Open Finder, press Cmd + Shift + G to open "Go to Folder".
- Type
~/Library/Application Support/GIMPand press Enter. - If you see a
2.10folder from a previous installation, delete it to avoid conflicts. - Paste the
3.0folder inside the GIMP folder. - When prompted about existing files, select "Replace" or "Merge".
- Open GIMP — you should see the new PhotoGIMP layout! 🎉
📦 What's Inside the Patch
PhotoGIMP replaces or adds the following files in GIMP's configuration directory:
| File / Folder | What it does |
|---|---|
shortcutsrc |
Keyboard shortcuts mapped to match Photoshop |
toolrc |
Tool configuration and ordering |
sessionrc |
Window layout and panel positions |
dockrc |
Dock / panel configuration |
gimprc |
General GIMP preferences (canvas, grid, etc.) |
contextrc |
Active tool/color context settings |
splashes/ |
Custom PhotoGIMP splash screen |
theme.css |
Minor UI theme adjustments |
templaterc |
Pre-defined canvas templates |
On Linux, the patch also installs:
- A custom
.desktopfile (app launcher with PhotoGIMP name and icon) - A custom application icon in
~/.local/share/icons/
🗑 How to Uninstall
To remove PhotoGIMP and restore GIMP to its default state, simply delete GIMP's config folder and reopen GIMP — it will regenerate fresh default settings.
Linux
rm -rf ~/.config/GIMP/3.0Then open GIMP again — it will create a brand new default configuration.
If you made a backup earlier, restore it instead:
cp -r ~/GIMP-3.0-backup ~/.config/GIMP/3.0
Windows
- Press Windows + R, type
%APPDATA%\GIMPand press Enter. - Delete the
3.0folder. - Open GIMP — it will recreate the default settings.
Or restore your backup by pasting the backed-up 3.0 folder back.
macOS
- Open Finder, press Cmd + Shift + G.
- Go to
~/Library/Application Support/GIMP. - Delete the
3.0folder. - Open GIMP — it will recreate the default settings.
Or restore your backup by pasting the backed-up folder back.
❓ Troubleshooting / FAQ
PhotoGIMP didn't change anything — GIMP looks the same
- Make sure you extracted the files to the correct location. The most common mistake is extracting to the wrong folder.
- Linux: The
.configand.localfolders must be in your home directory (~). They are hidden — press Ctrl + H in your file manager to see them. - Windows: The
3.0folder must be inside%APPDATA%\GIMP, not next to it. - macOS: The
3.0folder must be inside~/Library/Application Support/GIMP. - Did you close GIMP before pasting the files? GIMP may overwrite incoming settings on exit.
I get an error when opening GIMP after installing PhotoGIMP
- This usually means the GIMP version doesn't match. PhotoGIMP is built for GIMP 3.0+. If you're running GIMP 2.x, it won't be compatible.
- Try deleting the config folder and reinstalling — see the How to Uninstall section.
Can I use PhotoGIMP with GIMP 2.10?
No. This version of PhotoGIMP is designed exclusively for GIMP 3.0 and newer. The configuration format changed significantly between GIMP 2.x and 3.x.
Will PhotoGIMP delete my custom brushes, fonts, or plug-ins?
No. PhotoGIMP only replaces configuration files (shortcuts, layout, preferences). Your personal brushes, fonts, gradients, and plug-ins remain untouched.
Can I customize the shortcuts after installing PhotoGIMP?
Absolutely! PhotoGIMP just sets a starting point. You can change any shortcut in GIMP via Edit → Keyboard Shortcuts.
How do I update PhotoGIMP to a new version?
Just download the latest release and follow the installation steps again — it will overwrite the previous PhotoGIMP configuration.
🤝 Contributing
Found a bug? Have a suggestion? We'd love your help!
- Report an issue: Open an issue
- Submit a fix: Create a pull request
- Translate: Help us translate the README into more languages! See the Translations section.
🌍 Translations
This README is available in other languages:
Want to add your language? Fork the repo, create a docs/README_xx.md file, and submit a pull request!
🏆 Credits
- This project would not be possible without the amazing GIMP team.
- A BIG thanks to all Diolinux's supporters on YouTube.
- Splash screen & icons from Adriel Filipe Design.
👥 Contributors
📄 License
PhotoGIMP is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0.