gimp-photoshop

Making GIMP 2.10.38 work more like Adobe Photoshop

Layer via Copy/Cut

Plugin to recreate Photoshop's <control> j functionality.

Installation:

1. Copy plug-ins/layer-via-copy-cut.py to your plug-ins folder.

   • For Flatpak, look here: ~/.var/app/org.gimp.GIMP/config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins/

2. Make it executable.

3. Start GIMP and look under the Layer menu for the last items.

4. [optional] add keyboard shortcut:

   • Edit > Preferences
   • Type in "layer via copy" and assign to <control> j
   • Type in "layer via cut" and assign to <control> <shift> j

5. Make sure "Save keyboard shortcuts on exit" is checked, then save and restart GIMP.

Keyboard shortcuts

• http://epierce.freeshell.org/gimp/gimp_ps.php
• Here is a clone of the menurc file (in case the link above dies).

Make "Snap to Canvas Edge" the Default

Something I find really frustrating in GIMP is that by default, layers don't snap to the edge of the canvas (or the grid) when I move them. Even worse, you have to enable it every single time you open an image.

• Edit > Preferences > Image Windows > Snapping
• Select "Snap to Grid" and "Snap to Canvas Edges" for both modes.

Disable "Show Layer Boundary" by Default

Something I never got used to in GIMP is the yellow and black dotted line that surrounds the active layer. Though it can be helpful at times, I definitely prefer to have it disabled by default.

1. From the main menu, navigate to Edit > Preferences > Image Windows > Appearance

2. Uncheck "Show Layer Boundary" for the modes you like.

3. Restart GIMP

You can always temporarily turn it back on by clicking on View in the main menu and choosing Show Layer Boundary.

Make the Move Tool Function Like Photoshop's

By default, the Move Tool in GIMP is set to Pick a Layer or Guide. With this option set, it behaves a bit more like Inkscape or Illustrator because you can also move things that are not on the current layer (like the background). If you are a long time Photoshop user, this is very strange.

To make it function like Photoshop, you can set the default behavior to Move the Active Layer.

1. Select the Move Tool from the Tool Box in the left panel

2. In the Tool Options dialogue box check Move the Active Layer

3. From the main menu navigate to Edit > Preferences > Tool Options > Save Tool Options Now

4. Restart GIMP

Paste as new layer

In GIMP, pasting into an image creates some strange floating layer thing that then needs to be converted to a layer.

You can reassign <control> v to Edit > Paste As > New Layer

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TODO: Add specific configuration file setting for items above.

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Much of this guide was taken from these sources:

• https://www.linuxuprising.com/2018/11/configure-gimp-210-to-use-photoshop.html
• https://lifehacker.com/how-to-make-the-gimp-work-more-like-photoshop-1551318983
• https://github.com/cttynul/gimpshop-reloaded
• http://epierce.freeshell.org/gimp/gimp_ps.php
• http://gimpchat.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4424