Denounced for an interface too perplexing for newbies and non Gimp users, Gimp developers has finally taken some bold steps in adding new features to the upcoming Gimp 2.8. Gimp 2.8 will boast of better GEGL integration, however CMYK support has been dropped from TO-DO list of GEGL and at Libre Graphics meeting, some developers laid out plans for something even better than CMYK knows as plates which should debut with Gimp 2.10 / 3.0 ?



Now the first release for 2.8 i.e. 2.70(2.7 Alpha) is out in the wild, developers are loaded and ready to improve it further making it more feature laden than the previous version.



For starters the gimp will feature :

1. Text Editing on Canvas ( GSOC )
   
2. Improved GEGL integration (not yet complete - Gimp 2.10 will feature complete GEGL inetragtion and will remove all un-necessary codes and 8bit support)
   
3. Layer grouping
   
4. Single Window user interface
   
5. Improved brush dynamics and features.
   
6. New gradients and lots of overall improvements.
   

Gimp 2.8 will not be an outstanding release in any sense. So hoping Gimp 2.8 will provide better overall integration with KDE and Compiz desktops. The 2.10 will introduce some much awaited features .



Links : Layer Sets/Groups in GIMP 2.8! Preview Update! - News - gimpusers.com | Will GIMP 2.8 come in a single window mode? - News - gimpusers.com | Tutorial: Preview: GIMP 2.8 - the new features - gimpusers.com

Plates : m+mi works : blog : on interaction architecture: <acronym>GIMP</acronym>redux, enter: theschmuck | m+mi works : blog : on interaction architecture: <acronym>GIMP</acronym>redux, squaring the <acronym>CMYK</acronym> circle GIMP UI: taking some big issues by the horns

Awesome news. The UI is a major issue, mainly for those who want to migrate from Photoshop or other MS products. This should help in bridging the divide further