GIMP 3.3.2 Development Release Introduces New Project File Format and Spectral Blending

GIMP 3.3.2 Development Release Preview

GIMP has provided an update on the development of its upcoming 3.4 release, highlighting features that will be available in the 3.3.2 development release. This preview details significant changes aimed at improving performance and expanding capabilities within the image manipulation program.

New Project File Format

A major change in GIMP 3.3.2 is the introduction of a new project file format, which will replace the XCF format that has been in use since 1997. The new format will use a zipped XML structure, designed to overcome limitations of the binary XCF format, particularly with large or complex projects and planned features like multi-page and animation.

This new format will allow for faster saving by only updating modified parts of a file, rather than the entire file. It also lays the groundwork for implementing features such as auto-saving. While the XCF format will continue to be supported for loading existing files, new features will only be supported in the new format once it is finalized.

Spectral Blending for MyPaint Brush

The GIMP 3.3.2 release also reintroduces Spectral Blending to the MyPaint Brush Tool. This feature, which was not included in the GIMP 3.2 update to the MyPaint brush engine, simulates the blending of physical pigments. For example, mixing yellow and blue will produce green, and red and yellow will create orange, mimicking real-world color mixing.