GIMP Preferences: Journal, Keyboard Shortcuts, Toolbox

By Marco Kolditz Last updated on November 15, 2026 Shown in: GIMP 2.8.20

How much time do you lose when GIMP forgets the same dimensions for every new document, or when you constantly have to press two keys at once to undo? Most of these hurdles can be eliminated with a few clicks in the preferences. This guide walks you through the most important areas of the preferences dialog, explains what is behind them, and shows you which adjustments are worthwhile in everyday use. It is based on the video tutorial by Marco Kolditz, which you can supplement with your own preferences.

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Key Takeaways

• You can find the preferences under Edit, then Preferences. The list on the left contains the areas, and the matching options are on the right.
• In the Environment area, you determine how much memory the history may use for undo steps. By default, it is 64 MB.
• Custom keyboard shortcuts can be configured under Interface. One example is assigning F1 and F2 to Undo and Redo.
• In the toolbox, you can hide tools and change their order.
• Presets for new images, the default grid, the behavior of the space bar, and the display of the image frame reduce repetitive tasks.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Open the Preferences Dialog

All adjustments are made in one place. Click on Edit in the menu at the top and then select Preferences. A dialog box opens, whose left column lists various areas such as Environment, Interface, Image Window, Display, or Toolbox. On the right, the options matching each area appear. You do not have to change everything at once. It is enough to open the areas that interest you.

Step 2: Set the Memory for the History

The history remembers every change you make to an image. This allows you to move forward and backward through steps, undo, or redo them. However, the steps take up working memory. In the Environment area, under the history item, you set the maximum amount of memory available. By default, 64 MB is set. You can adjust the value and also choose kilobytes or gigabytes. For elaborate edits with many steps, an increase is worthwhile. If the limit is exceeded, GIMP deletes the oldest steps, and you can no longer undo changes made at the beginning of your work.

Step 3: Configure Custom Keyboard Shortcuts

In the Interface area, you will find the button Configure Keyboard Shortcuts. Behind it is a dialog box of its own, in which you can set different key combinations for almost all of GIMP's functions. The default assignment works with combinations such as Ctrl+Z and Ctrl+Y. That works, but it requires pressing two keys at the same time, which can quickly become annoying with frequent work.

Step 4: An Example with F1 and F2

The instructor uses the F1 key for Undo and the F2 key for Redo. A single key is quicker to reach with the thumb or the little finger. Note, however, that F1 is reserved for Help in most programs. If you rarely use Help, this swap is unproblematic. Check beforehand which assignment you need yourself. In the video, the default keys are kept for the remaining lessons so that the instruction is not confusing.

Step 5: Assign a Keyboard Shortcut in the Menu

To adjust the assignment, close the dialog box and open the Edit area in the main menu. There you will find the entry Undo with the shortcut Ctrl+Z. Then open the preferences again, select Interface and Configure Keyboard Shortcuts. In the left area, look for the menu item Edit, click on the plus symbol, and select the function Undo. As soon as you highlight the entry, the field New Shortcut appears. Now press the desired key, for example F1. The same works for Redo with F2. Then confirm with OK.

Step 6: Customize the Toolbox

The toolbox can be designed to your liking in the Toolbox area. At the top, you can change the display. You can have colors, active brushes, patterns, and gradients displayed. These displays are practical because you immediately see the current brush or pattern. In the video, the default setting is kept so that the tutorial remains clear.

Step 7: Hiding and Sorting Tools

Further down in the section, you can configure the tools. Using the eye icon, you hide tools that you rarely need, such as the rectangle select. Hidden tools reappear when you click on the empty area. You change the order by selecting a tool and using the up or down arrow keys. In the example, the ellipse select moves in front of the free select. Leave the settings unchanged at first and only adjust them once you know GIMP better.

Step 8: Setting Defaults for New Images

If you regularly work with the same format, you should set the dimensions for new documents. In the New Image section, you enter the width and height, by default 640 pixels by 400 pixels. You can also select a template such as DIN A4 or enter the values manually. For landscape format, you simply swap width and height. With OK, you confirm the dimensions, which will be suggested automatically the next time you create a document. GIMP does not require a restart, but to make sure all settings take effect reliably, you should restart the program once.

Step 9: Setting Up a Default Grid

A grid helps with precise work. Without a preset, however, you have to define it anew every time. In the Default Grid section, you can change the line style from solid lines to dots, choose a subtle color such as a gray, and set the spacing, for example 25 pixels. After confirming, every grid in your documents will appear with these values.

Step 10: Assigning the Space Bar in the Image Window

The Image Window section contains an option that makes navigation easier. If you hold down the space bar, you can by default navigate through the image with the mouse without holding a mouse button. For this, the option must be set to Overview. Alternatively, you can set the behavior to Move tool, in which case GIMP switches to moving layers when you hold the space bar. This carries the risk of accidentally moving objects. It is therefore best to leave the setting on Overview. With Ctrl+Shift+J you see the entire image.

Step 11: Turning Off Rulers in the Display

In the Display section, you determine which elements are visible when opening an image. If you do not need the rulers, deactivate the Show Rulers item. New documents then appear without rulers and offer more space on the screen. If you want to use the rulers later after all, simply select View and then Show Rulers in the image in question.

Step 12: Designing the Image Border

Also in the Display section, you choose the mode of the canvas border. By default, the background follows the GIMP theme and is a light gray. Alternatively, a light or dark checkerboard color is available. With the Custom option, you can set your own color. A bright red, however, distracts from the image. A dark gray is easy on the eyes and helps you concentrate on your subject.

Step 13: Designing the Title of the Image Window

In the Title and Status section, you determine which information appears at the top of the window. For this, you use abbreviations, each representing a specific value. In the video, the instructor shows, for example, an abbreviation for the color mode and one for the number of layers. You should look up the meaning of the individual abbreviations in the GIMP help or in documentation before changing them. Afterwards, you can compose the title according to your needs.

Summary ??? GIMP Preferences: Journal, Keyboard Shortcuts, Toolbox

GIMP's preferences are the fastest way to adapt your working environment to your habits. You set the journal memory, assign Undo and Redo to keys that you can reach comfortably, and sort the toolbox according to your needs. In addition, there are templates for new images, a suitable default grid, and a calm design of the border. Try out the options at your leisure, because that is the only way to find out which settings actually save you time in everyday work.

Trainer About Marco Kolditz Marco Kolditz is a self-employed digital artist, editor and video trainer in Munich under the name MEER DER IDEEN. He also runs a blog magazine of the same name and a YouTube channel. All courses by Marco Kolditz →