PhotoGIMP Tutorial: Transform GIMP into a Photoshop Clone

Transitioning from Adobe Photoshop to GIMP can feel like learning to drive all over again. Thankfully, there is a way to get the best of both worlds—combining GIMP’s completely free, powerful open-source engine with a workspace you are already familiar with. The PhotoGIMP GitHub repository provides an interface modification patch that brings Photoshop-style keyboard shortcuts, tool organization, and screen decluttering right into GIMP. By dropping in the PhotoGIMP config folder, you instantly unlock hundreds of new fonts, powerful Python plugins (like “Heal Selection”), and a much faster workflow.

Follow the step-by-step guide below to install PhotoGIMP and drastically speed up your editing workflow. Step 1: Install and Launch Base GIMP

PhotoGIMP operates as an interface patch over a base GIMP installation.

Download and install the latest stable version of GIMP from the Official GIMP Downloads Page.

Open GIMP at least once and then close it. This step is crucial because it forces the program to generate the necessary user data folders needed for PhotoGIMP to take effect. Step 2: Download the PhotoGIMP Patch

Head over to the Diolinux PhotoGIMP GitHub Repository and click the “Code” button to download the latest .zip file, or visit their dedicated release page. Extract the contents of the zip file to your desktop. Inside, you will find a folder named 3.0 (which houses the custom settings). Step 3: Install the PhotoGIMP Files

Depending on your operating system, you will need to replace GIMP’s default configuration files with the PhotoGIMP files. For Windows: Open the Run dialog box by pressing the Windows Key + R. Type %APPDATA%\GIMP and hit Enter.

Locate the 3.x folder (or 2.10 folder, depending on the version you are using). We highly recommend copying this folder to your Desktop as a backup so you can revert your changes later.

Paste the 3.0 folder you downloaded from PhotoGIMP into this directory. When prompted, select “Replace the files in the destination”. For macOS: How to Install PhotoGIMP (Windows)