GIMP 2.7.3 Gains ‘Single-Window’ Mode

For about as long as the free image editor GIMP has existed, an oft-requested feature has been a single-window mode, a la Adobe Photoshop. Though both tools exist to accomplish the same overall goals, GIMP’s design saw the toolbox and images themselves separate from the main application window, which to some (including me) felt like a clunky design.

Photoshop’s design seems to be better-liked overall, however, as it consists of a single application window that encapsulates all of the tools and photos, helping to retain a clean taskbar and an easier-to-use (for some) work area. Though a single-window mode has been planned for GIMP for some time, it wasn’t expected before 2.8.0. But with the release of the 2.7.3 development build, users are treated to the new feature early. Behold, GIMP’s single-window mode:

In the mode’s default state, GIMP looks strikingly similar to Photoshop, though there are some differences. On the left is the toolbox, but unlike Photoshop which puts the control of many tools in its own toolbar up top, GIMP sticks to its usual design of keeping those options directly below the toolbox. The right side features both layer control and brush selection.

Don’t like the default arrangement of things? That’s where the modularity of this interface and also “tabs” comes into play. As you can see in the screenshot, each module (layers, brushes, et cetera) consists of various tabs, and you can remove from these or add to them as you like. You could essentially combine everything to a single module if you wanted, or keep more tools visible than is default, depending on your preferences.

Like Photoshop, tabs are kept up top for all open photos, though a twist is that thumbnail previews are displayed, making it easier to find a photo quick in the event you have many open. 2.7.3 is the first 2.7.x GIMP I’ve used, so there are some other things that kind of caught me off guard (such as needing to export a photo to save it as a non-.xcf file), but so far I am liking how things are progressing.

Single-Window mode may be the most newsworthy aspect of the latest release, but there are many other additions and tweaks laid out in the release notes linked-to below. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see a Windows release of 2.7.3 available anywhere, and even for Linux users, compiling from source is likely to be your only option at this point, as 2.7.x is still considered a development release.