GIMP 2.10.38 – Complete Guide to the Free & Powerful Image Editing Software (2025 Edition)

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) has long been known as the world’s most powerful free alternative to Photoshop. With the release of GIMP 2.10.38, the software becomes more stable, faster, and even more refined for professional creatives, photographers, designers, and digital artists. Although the world waits for the upcoming GIMP 3.0, the 2.10.38 update delivers meaningful improvements that make it an excellent choice for anyone who needs advanced editing without paying for monthly subscriptions.https://scorpioagersoftware.com/

This article provides a detailed 2000-word breakdown of GIMP 2.10.38—covering features, tools, interface, performance enhancements, use cases, editing capabilities, and why it remains a top choice for open-source image editing in 2025.

1. Introduction to GIMP 2.10.38

GIMP continues to dominate the open-source design software space. With millions of users worldwide, GIMP provides a complete suite of professional-grade tools used for:

Photo editing and retouching
Digital painting
Graphic design
Layer-based image manipulation
Advanced color correction
File format conversion
Creating UI elements, icons, and marketing graphics

GIMP 2.10.38 builds on the stability of previous versions, delivering improved performance, refined usability, and better compatibility across Windows, macOS, and Linux. While it maintains the familiar workflow that long-time users love, it also includes subtle but powerful updates that enhance productivity.

2. What’s New in GIMP 2.10.38?

Though GIMP 2.10.38 is a maintenance release before the major 3.0 upgrade, it still brings important improvements:

✅ Stability Enhancements

A major focus of this update was bug fixes and improved reliability. Many long-standing issues with brushes, cloning, scaling, and file exporting have been resolved.

✅ Better File Format Support

GIMP now supports updated versions of important file types, including:

PSD (Photoshop)
TIFF
JPEG XL
HEIC/HEIF (where OS supports)
Improved RAW support through darktable/RawTherapee

Exporting large files is now smoother, faster, and less prone to freezing.

✅ Enhanced Performance

GIMP 2.10.38 uses better multi-threading for large images, filters, and transformations. This results in:

Faster rendering
Smoother image manipulation
More efficient memory usage

✅ More Compatible Plug-ins

The update fixes issues with third-party plug-ins and scripting overall, ensuring compatibility with popular add-ons like:

G’MIC
Resynthesizer
BIMP (Batch Image Manipulation Plugin)

✅ Updated UI Elements

Minor interface enhancements make the workspace cleaner, including better icons, improved scaling on 4K displays, and updated theme consistency.

3. GIMP’s Editing Tools and Capabilities

GIMP 2.10.38 is packed with professional tools comparable to those found in paid software.

a. Photo Retouching Tools

Users can perform everything from simple touch-ups to complex edits using tools like:

Healing and Clone tools
Perspective correction
Lens distortion fix
Dodge and Burn brush
Sharpen/Blur tools
Remove unwanted objects using Resynthesizer (Heal Selection)

GIMP offers non-destructive workflows using layer masks, adjustment layers (via plug-ins), and advanced blending modes.

b. Layer-Based Editing

Like Photoshop, GIMP relies heavily on layers. You can create:

Layer masks
Alpha channels
Adjustment layers (through GEGL operations)
Blended compositing
Multi-layer group management

A flexible layer system allows total control during composition.

c. Professional Painting and Drawing

Artists love GIMP’s natural brush engine, which supports:https://scorpioagersoftware.com/

Pressure sensitivity
Tilt and rotation
Custom brush creation
Dynamic strokes
Pattern painting
Tablet support (Wacom, XP-Pen, Huion, etc.)

With enough skill, GIMP becomes a full digital canvas.

d. Advanced Color Correction

Tools include:

Levels
Curves
Exposure
Shadows/Highlights
Hue/Saturation
Color balance
White balance correction
Channel mixer

GIMP’s color pipeline uses 32-bit float precision, making it suitable for professional photography.

e. Filters and Effects

GIMP includes dozens of built-in filters:https://scorpioagersoftware.com/

Blur (Gaussian, Motion, Lens blur)
Noise reduction
Artistic effects
Edge detection
Distortion filters
Lighting effects
Drop shadows and glows

GEGL-based filters are fast and provide high-quality results.

4. Interface and Workflow Improvements

GIMP offers one of the most customizable interfaces among free editors:

Single-Window Mode

For better workflow organization, especially for Windows and macOS users.

Dockable Panels

Users can customize:

Layers panel
Channels
Tool options
Paths
Brushes
Gradients
Undo history

Dark Theme & Icon Packs

Improved readability for long editing sessions.

High DPI Support

4K and 5K display users benefit from sharper UI rendering.

5. Performance: How Fast Is GIMP 2.10.38?

The update improves runtime speed significantly:

Faster tasks include:

Loading large image files
Applying complex filters
Scaling and resizing
Working with huge canvases
Exporting layered images

GIMP now uses your CPU more effectively, and systems with more cores see substantial gains.

GPU Acceleration

Although full GPU acceleration is coming in GIMP 3.0, GIMP 2.10.38 still benefits from GEGL optimizations that use hardware resources better than before.

6. GIMP Use Cases in 2025

GIMP is versatile and widely used across industries:

1. Photographers

Raw photo enhancement, color grading, retouching, and manipulation.

2. Graphic Designers

Creating marketing content, posters, banners, logos, icons, and social media graphics.

3. Digital Artists

Painting, sketching, and creating concept art with custom brushes.

4. Web/UI Designers

Designing layouts, mockups, and interface elements.

5. Content Creators

Thumbnail design, image resizing, text overlays, and batch editing.

6. Students & Educators

Free access makes it ideal for learning graphic design principles.

7. File Format Support

GIMP supports over 40 image formats:

PNG, JPEG, TIFF
PSD (import/export improvements)
GIF (with animation tools)
WebP
JPEG XL
BMP
SVG
RAW via plug-ins

This makes GIMP a versatile file conversion tool.

8. Plug-ins and Extensions

Plug-ins extend GIMP beyond its built-in features:

Popular plug-ins:

G’MIC – hundreds of filters
Resynthesizer – object removal
BIMP – batch processing
Liquid Rescale – content-aware resizing
Layer Effects – like Photoshop’s blending options

Scripting:

Users can automate tasks using:

Python
Script-Fu
GEGL scripting

This gives GIMP professional power for complex workflows.

9. Why Choose GIMP 2.10.38 in 2025?

✔ Completely free

No subscription, no limitations, no watermark—lifetime free usage.

✔ Open-source

Community-driven improvements, frequent updates, and transparency.

✔ Cross-platform

Runs on Windows, macOS, and every major Linux distribution.

✔ Extremely powerful

Suitable for professionals but accessible to beginners.

✔ Reliable and stable

The 2.10.38 update makes the software smoother than previous versions.

✔ Large community & tutorials

Thousands of guides, add-ons, themes, and online resources.

10. Final Verdict: Is GIMP 2.10.38 Worth Using?

Absolutely. GIMP 2.10.38 is one of the most polished versions released to date. It offers an excellent mix of stability, speed, and advanced editing features, making it a compelling option for: