On first run, GIMP looks for data files, queries plug-ins, and attends to other housekeeping before actually launching the program, which can take a while. Wilbur, GIMP's world-famous cartoon mascot, greeted us when we launched the app. GIMP 2.8 requires Windows XP or later we ran it in 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium SP1. But don't be put off by GIMP's considerable talents: Not only is its layout logical, intuitive, and even attractive (in a form-follows-function way) but it also comes with tons of assistance from multiple Help files (Help Context Help User Manual) and considerable online resources such as a forum, FAQs, documentation, tips, source code, and much more. You can script virtually anything GIMP does, too. It's a paint and drawing tool, a photo retoucher, and a batch processing and conversion tool, all in one, with sophisticated features like layers, filters, and effects.
GIMP is modular in appearance and structure and accepts all kinds of plug-ins and tools. The latest version, GIMP 2.8, maintains the program's legacy as a powerful and up-to-date, yet totally free image editor. GIMP began life in the 1990s as the GNU Image Manipulation Program, and the free, open-source image editing tool has evolved in both complexity and ease of use alongside the personal computer, itself.
