GIMP 2.9.8 Released with On-Canvas Gradient Editing (How to Install)

Last updated: December 13, 2017

GIMP 2.9.8, a new unstable release, an intermediate state on the way to the next GIMP 2.10, was released.

GIMP 2.9.8 introduces on-canvas gradient editing and various enhancements while focusing on bugfixing and stability.

  • Blend tool now features on-canvas gradient editing: adding, shifting, removing color stops, shifting midpoints and converting them to color stops, assignging colors to color stops, changing blending type for midpoints.
    Faster color library
  • ‘Clip Warning’ in Display Filters
  • The default brush is now “Hardness 050”.
  • OpenCL disabled by default
  • Statusbar will blink on warnings, errors
  • Screenshot for KDE/Wayland has been implemented
  • Color Picker now works on KDE/Wayland.
  • For more details, see the News page.

How to Install GIMP 2.9.x in Ubuntu:

There’s a PPA repository contains the latest development GIMP packages for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 17.04, and Ubuntu 17.10.

1. Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for it from app launcher. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp-edge

Input your password (no visual feedback while typing) when it asks and hit Enter.

2. Then upgrade GIMP from an existing release via Software Updater utility:

or simply run commands to check updates and install GIMP:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install gimp

How to Restore:

You can easily restore GIMP image editor to the stock version (distribution build) in your Ubuntu by purging the PPA via command:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp-edge

And if you want to re-install the latest stable GIMP (2.8.22 so far), see this tutorial after purging the previous PPA.

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I'm a freelance blogger who started using Ubuntu in 2007 and wishes to share my experiences and some useful tips with Ubuntu beginners and lovers. Please comment to let me know if the tutorial is outdated! And, notify me if you find any typo/grammar/language mistakes. English is not my native language. Contact me via ubuntuhandbook1@gmail.com Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/ubuntuhandbook1