How to Use GIMP (Free Photoshop Alternative)

GIMP is a free, open-source image editor for Windows, macOS, and Linux — the closest thing to Photoshop without a subscription. Download it from gimp.org, open a photo, learn three things first (the toolbox, the Layers panel, and one adjustment like Colors → Brightness-Contrast), then export with File → Export As. Its interface is less polished than Photoshop’s, but it covers almost every everyday editing job for $0. For the paid standard, see how to use Photoshop.

What GIMP is — and who it’s for

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a raster editor, so it works on a grid of pixels. That makes it a real Photoshop competitor for cropping, retouching, colour correction, compositing, and web graphics.

The trade-offs are honest ones: GIMP’s interface is denser and clunkier than Photoshop’s, its RAW and print/CMYK workflow are weaker, and it has no Adobe-style generative AI. For most everyday work, none of that matters.

If you want a finished graphic in minutes from a template, Canva is easier — see how to use Canva. If you need real pixel-level control without paying, GIMP is the one.

Getting started

1. Go to gimp.org and download the installer for Windows, macOS, or Linux.
2. Run the installer and open GIMP. The first launch takes a moment while it builds its font and brush caches.
3. Open a photo with File → Open (Ctrl+O), or drag the file onto the GIMP window.

The layout: single-window mode

Older tutorials show GIMP as three separate windows — toolbox on the left, image in the middle, docked panels on the right. Since GIMP 2.8, single-window mode is the default, so everything sits in one window. Toggle it from the Windows menu → Single-Window Mode.

The interface tour

Your first edit, step by step

1. Open the photo: File → Open (Ctrl+O).
2. Resize it: Image → Scale Image. Enter a new width or height, keep the chain icon linked to preserve proportions, then click Scale. Use Image → Scale Image for the whole image — the Scale tool resizes only one layer. Need exact sizes? See how to resize an image.
3. Crop it: pick the Crop tool (Shift+C), drag a box around the part you want to keep, and press Enter. To crop to a selection, use Image → Crop to Selection.
4. Adjust brightness and contrast: Colors → Brightness-Contrast. Drag the sliders, then click OK. Ctrl+Z undoes it if you overshoot.
5. Save your project: File → Save (Ctrl+S) writes a .xcf file that keeps every layer.
6. Export the finished image: File → Export As (Ctrl+Shift+E), choose PNG or JPEG, and click Export.
7. Re-export after more edits: File → Overwrite (Ctrl+E) writes straight back to the same file and format, with no dialog.

Save vs Export (the mistake every beginner makes)

In GIMP, Save and Export are different commands, and mixing them up is the most common beginner problem. File → Save writes only GIMP’s native .xcf project format, which keeps your layers but won’t open in normal photo viewers. File → Export As flattens the visible image into a shareable format such as PNG or JPEG. Exporting never changes your working .xcf, so you can export as often as you like.

If you press Save and can’t find a JPG, this is why: save the .xcf, export the JPG.

The 6 essential tools for beginners

Layers, explained briefly

A layer is a transparent sheet stacked over the others, each holding part of the image. Because edits on one layer don’t touch the rest, layers are what make GIMP safe and flexible.

• New layer — Ctrl+Shift+N, or the plus icon at the bottom of the Layers panel.
• Duplicate — Ctrl+Shift+D, useful before a risky edit.
• Show/hide — click the eye icon beside a layer.
• Reorder — drag a layer up or down; higher layers sit on top.
• Opacity and blend mode — at the top of the Layers panel.

Common beginner mistakes

1. Pressing Save and expecting a JPG. Save writes only .xcf; use File → Export As for PNG or JPEG.
2. Editing the wrong layer. Check which layer is highlighted before you paint or delete.
3. Scaling the layer instead of the image. Use Image → Scale Image for the whole photo.
4. Cropping the canvas by accident. The Crop tool trims the canvas by default; enable Current layer only in Tool Options to change that.
5. Assuming it handles CMYK print files. GIMP works in RGB; true CMYK print output needs other software.

FAQ

Is GIMP really free?

Yes. It’s open-source (GPL), free for personal and commercial use, with no subscription, trial, or watermark.

Is GIMP as good as Photoshop?

For everyday photo editing, layers, retouching, and web graphics, yes. Photoshop has a more polished interface and stronger RAW, CMYK/print, 3D, and Adobe-integration features.

Why does GIMP only save as .xcf?

Because Save is for your editable project, so it keeps every layer. Use File → Export As to create a JPG, PNG, or other normal image.

What formats can GIMP open and export?

It opens PNG, JPEG, GIF, TIFF, WebP, PSD, and native XCF, and exports to PNG, JPEG, WebP, TIFF, PDF, and more. GIMP 3.0 can export CMYK (late binding) - it still can’t edit in CMYK mode, though.

Is GIMP hard to learn?

The core workflow — open, crop, adjust, add layers, export — takes about an hour. The interface is denser than Canva’s and less polished than Photoshop’s.