GIMP 2.10: New Filters and Features for Creative Image Editing

GIMP 2.10 brings a variety of improvements, especially with the filters, which provide you with valuable tools for your image editing. The new filters are not only more efficient but also allow for a quick live preview that facilitates design work. In this guide, you'll learn how to use the new optimized filters to achieve impressive effects and optimize your image editing.

Key findings:

• GIMP 2.10 offers new optimized filters for better performance.
• The live preview makes editing significantly easier.
• Future versions of GIMP are expected to allow for non-destructive editing.

Step-by-step guide

To use the new features of GIMP 2.10, follow these steps:

1. Open and scale an image in GIMP

Start GIMP and open an image. For large image files, it may be beneficial to reduce the image size before editing to ensure a smoother editing process. To do this, select Image > Scale Image and adjust the width to, for example, 1500 pixels.

2. Explore new optimized filters

In the filter menu, you will now find a variety of new filters. These are marked with a small "g". For this guide, we will use the "Little Planet" filter located under the Category Mapping. This filter creates an interesting effect where it looks like a small planet is centered in the image.

3. Apply the filter and use live preview

After selecting the "Little Planet" filter, you can immediately see the live preview. When applying, it is important to have an image with a straight horizon to achieve the best effect. Note that the background should be as uniform as possible for the final result to look good. You can adjust the size of the effect using the sliders.

4. Refine effect and compare

Once you have achieved the best effect, you can split the view to compare the original image with the edited image. This way, you can quickly see how the filter works and if you want to make adjustments. Keep in mind that the changes are currently still destructive, meaning you cannot adjust the edited layer again without stepping back.

5. Spherizing for creative effects

Another powerful optimized filter is the Spherizing filter. With it, you can reduce fisheye effects or achieve creative distortion. Select Filter > Distort > Spherize. Here too, the live preview helps to see the effect in real-time.

6. Adjusting the blur

The new blurring filters in GIMP 2.10 are also powerful. Navigate to Filter > Blur and select a desired filter, such as Motion and Sharp Circular. Compared to previous versions, the live preview shows how your image is changing in real-time.

7. Use control elements for precise adjustments

A remarkable feature of the new blurring filters is the use of control elements directly on the image. You can adjust the sharpness effect and angle by dragging the control elements with your mouse. This makes the work more intuitive and creative.

8. Final adjustments and export

Once you are satisfied with the effects, confirm your changes. Keep in mind that GIMP 2.10 does not yet allow for non-destructive editing in the current version, so save a copy of your image to keep the original. You can then export and save the edited image.

Summary - GIMP 2.10: Tips and tricks for the new filter systems

GIMP 2.10 provides you with a series of powerful tools for image editing with its new optimized filters. Use the live preview to see and refine creative effects in real-time. Always keep a copy of your original ready to enjoy the freedom of editing.