From Fedora Project Wiki
(gimp-2.7.4-1.fc17)
(clarify rebuilding dependent packages)
Line 75: Line 75:
== Dependencies ==
== Dependencies ==
<!-- What other packages (RPMs) depend on this package?  Are there changes outside the developers' control on which completion of this feature depends?  In other words, completion of another feature owned by someone else and might cause you to not be able to finish on time or that you would need to coordinate?  Other upstream projects like the kernel (if this is not a kernel feature)? -->
<!-- What other packages (RPMs) depend on this package?  Are there changes outside the developers' control on which completion of this feature depends?  In other words, completion of another feature owned by someone else and might cause you to not be able to finish on time or that you would need to coordinate?  Other upstream projects like the kernel (if this is not a kernel feature)? -->
Mainly packages containing external GIMP plugins depend on the GIMP packages. These will be rebuilt to spot eventual API compatibility problems.
Mainly packages containing external GIMP plugins depend on the GIMP packages. These will be rebuilt to spot eventual API compatibility problems, both against the development and the then stable versions.


== Contingency Plan ==
== Contingency Plan ==

Revision as of 16:15, 15 December 2011


GIMP 2.8

Summary

The next version 2.8 of GIMP will have a wealth of new features, including Single-Window Mode, Layer Groups, and On-Canvas Text Editing.

Owner

Current status

  • Targeted release: Fedora 17
  • Last updated: 2011-12-14
  • Percentage of completion: 80%

Upstream published development version 2.7.4 on 2011-12-11, a stable version is expected in Q1/2012; gimp-2.7.4-1.fc17 was built into Rawhide on 2011-12-15.


Detailed Description

  • Single-Window Mode optionally displays all images and dockable dialogs in one window instead of several (which remains the default).
  • Layer Groups allow layers to be organized in tree-like structures.
  • Editing text with the Text Tool is now performed on-canvas instead of in a separate window. Mixing different text styles in the same layer is now possible.
  • Saving and exporting are now separate activities. Saving an image can only be done in GIMP's native XCF format.
  • Size entries allow simple mathematical expressions, like "50%", "30in + 40px" or "4 * 5.4in".
  • The brush dynamics engine has been expanded considerably, making almost all aspects of the brush engine drivable by a multitude of inputs, all of them configurable with their own response curve.
  • State of tools is now savable as presets with meaningful names.
  • A completely new Cage transform tool has been added, implementing an innovative approach to free transformation which makes it possible to easily warp parts of objects using an adjustable user-defined polygonal frame.
  • New widgets, configuration and other improvements for users of advanced input devices (e.g. tablets).
  • It is now possible to tag GIMP resources such as brushes and patterns.
  • Lots of other minor improvements and bugfixes.

Benefit to Fedora

Users will benefit from the improved workflow and many other features in this new version of GIMP.

Scope

Upstream is approaching a 2.8 release with few remaining "must have" items. Few other packages depend on GIMP, mainly external plugins. While the plugin interface is supposed to be backwards-compatible, Fedora packages containing GIMP plugins should be rebuilt to be on the safe side.

How To Test

  • Run GIMP performing normal image manipulation activities. Load image files of various formats, save to XCF and export to other image formats.
  • If advanced input devices like tablets are available, configure and use them.

User Experience

E.g.:

  • Before: Some users didn't like that GIMP had several windows. Now: These users can use Single-Window Mode.
  • Before: Users had to emulate layer groups e.g. by using several images and combining them which wouldn't let their work be saved as one whole thing and had a high potential for losing work (no coherent undo here for instance). Now: Users can e.g. subtract one layer from another and treat the combined result as one layer, eventually combining it with other layers or groups.

Dependencies

Mainly packages containing external GIMP plugins depend on the GIMP packages. These will be rebuilt to spot eventual API compatibility problems, both against the development and the then stable versions.

Contingency Plan

Revert to previous stable GIMP version (2.6.x), rebuild dependent packages (to get rid of used new API).

Documentation

Release Notes

  • Known regressions (documented in detail in the GIMP 2.7 release notes):
    • The GTK version on which this GIMP version depends doesn't properly support certain graphics tablets.
    • Old tools presets are not 100% convertible to new ones, for instance brush scale can't be converted to brush size.

Comments and Discussion