PhotoGIMP is a config-only patch for GIMP 3.0+ that remaps keyboard shortcuts, tool layout, and window sessions to match Adobe Photoshop conventions.
Key Takeaways
Install method: extract a .zip into ~/.config/GIMP/3.0 (Linux/Windows) or ~/Library/Application Support/GIMP (macOS); no compilation needed.
The patch replaces shortcutsrc, toolrc, sessionrc, dockrc, gimprc, and splashes/ – personal brushes, fonts, and plugins are untouched.
GIMP 3.0+ required; incompatible with GIMP 2.x due to config format changes between major versions.
Uninstall is a single rm -rf ~/.config/GIMP/3.0; GIMP regenerates defaults on next launch.
Windows users can also install via choco install photogimp.
Hacker News Comment Review
Commenters broadly agree GIMP’s default UX is the real barrier, citing copy-paste requiring an “anchor” step and layer mental model confusion as concrete friction points.
The Blender parallel came up repeatedly: Blender spent ~15 years on sustained UI investment and is now cited as proof GIMP could do the same, but hasn’t committed.
Sustainability risk flagged: prior efforts like GIMPshop stalled because they couldn’t keep up with GIMP source changes; the config-only approach of PhotoGIMP reduces that maintenance burden significantly.
Notable Comments
@figmert: notes previous similar projects all stalled from maintenance drift, and questions whether this approach will hold up long-term.
@cspeterson: highlights a separate pain point – GIMP rewrites its config file on each run, making revision control of GIMP settings difficult regardless of PhotoGIMP.
