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Published Oct 27, 2024 ⦁ 8 min read
5 Custom GIMP Workspace Layouts

5 Custom GIMP Workspace Layouts

Want to work faster in GIMP? Here are 5 ready-to-use workspace layouts for different tasks:

Layout Type Best For Key Features
Photo Editing Image retouching, color correction Histogram, Color Balance, Layers
Digital Art Painting, illustration Brushes, Color Palette, Tool Options
Web Graphics UI design, web assets Grid, Export tools, 72 DPI settings
Basic Layout Quick edits, learning GIMP Minimal panels, core tools only
Dual Screen Professional work Split tools across monitors

Quick Setup Steps:

  1. Pick your layout based on your main task
  2. Open Windows > Dockable Dialogs
  3. Drag panels to your preferred spots
  4. Hit Tab to show/hide panels instantly

Pro Tips:

Each layout in this guide comes with:

Skip to your preferred layout section to get started right away.

Photo Editing Layout

Let's set up GIMP with a layout that puts every tool exactly where you need it.

Panel Location Tools to Include
Left Side Crop Tool, Heal Tool, Clone Tool
Top Right Histogram, Color Balance, Exposure
Bottom Right Layers, Channels

Here's your setup process:

  1. Open Windows > Dockable Dialogs
  2. Add these panels:
    • Histogram
    • Sample Points
    • Color Balance
    • Exposure
    • Levels

Get rid of these tools - you won't need them for photos:

Must-Know Shortcuts:

Action Shortcut
Show/Hide Panels Tab
Brightness & Contrast Colors > Brightness-Contrast
Color Correction Colors > Levels
Apply Changes Enter

Quick Tips:

Make these tweaks for better control:

Final Setup Steps:

That's it. This setup means less clicking around and more actual editing.

2. Digital Art Layout

Here's how to set up GIMP for digital painting and illustration:

Panel Location Tools to Include
Left Side Brushes, Paint Tool, Smudge Tool
Top Right Color Palette, Swatches
Bottom Right Layers, Paths Dialog
Bottom Left Tool Options

Setting up your workspace takes just a few clicks:

  1. Go to Windows > Dockable Dialogs
  2. Drag these panels into place:
    • Brushes
    • Tool Options
    • Color Palette
    • Paths Dialog
    • Layers

Get rid of these extras - you won't need them:

Action Shortcut
Switch Brush Size [ and ]
Flip Canvas F
Reset Colors D
Toggle Brush Panel Shift + B

Clean up your workspace:

"One of the advantages of working digitally as opposed to paint and canvas is the safety net that software provides." - Margot Dinardi, Art Tutorials Author

Key settings for better artwork:

Your essential toolkit:

This setup puts everything you need within reach while keeping your canvas the main focus. No distractions - just you and your art.

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3. Web Graphics Layout

Here's a simple GIMP setup for web and UI design:

Panel Location Tools and Dialogs
Left Side Selection Tools, Move Tool, Text Tool
Right Side Layers, Tool Options, Paths
Top Grid and Guides
Bottom Color Palette, Swatches

Let's get your workspace ready:

Setting Value
Default Grid 32x32 pixels
Resolution 72 DPI
Color Mode RGB
File Format PNG/JPG

Here's what to do:

  1. Click Windows > Single-window Mode
  2. Open Windows > Dockable Dialogs
  3. Add these panels:
    • Layers
    • Tool Options
    • Grid
    • Paths
    • Text Tool settings
Common Web Tasks GIMP Tools
UI Elements Rectangle Select + Gradient
Icons Paths + Stroke Path
Buttons Layer Effects + Text Tool
Logos Vector Tools + Export

Want to optimize your images? Here's how:

  1. Go to Image > Scale Image
  2. Pick your width/height
  3. Set to 72 pixels/inch
  4. Choose Cubic interpolation
  5. File > Export as PNG/JPG
Export Settings Web-Optimized Values
JPG Quality 75-85%
PNG Compression 9
Color Profile sRGB
Metadata None

Speed up your workflow with these shortcuts:

Action Shortcut
Show Grid Ctrl + '
Snap to Grid Shift + Ctrl + '
Export Ctrl + E
Scale Tool Shift + T

Remove these to keep things clean:

That's it! This setup keeps your workspace clean and helps you focus on creating web graphics.

4. Basic Layout

Let's set up a GIMP workspace that puts everything you need right where you want it.

Here's what goes where:

Panel Location Essential Tools
Left Side Toolbox (Selection, Paint, Transform)
Right Side Layers, Tool Options
Bottom Color Picker, Brushes
Hidden All other panels

Setting it up is super simple:

  1. Click Windows > Single-window Mode
  2. Hit Windows > Dockable Dialogs > Reset
  3. Pick core panels from Windows > Dockable Dialogs
  4. Turn off status bar in View > Show Status Bar

These shortcuts will save you TONS of time:

Action Shortcut
Toggle Fullscreen F11
Zoom In/Out + / -
Undo/Redo Ctrl + Z / Ctrl + Y
Save Ctrl + S
New Layer Ctrl + Shift + N

Keep these 5 panels front and center:

Hide everything else - you won't need it for most tasks.

This setup works like a charm for:

Task Type Why It Works
Quick Edits Everything's within reach
Photo Touch-ups Core tools ready to go
Simple Graphics Zero distractions
Learning GIMP Keeps things simple

Need a hidden tool? No problem:

That's it! A clean, focused workspace that lets you get straight to work.

5. Dual Screen Layout

Here's how to set up GIMP across two monitors:

  1. Go to Windows menu and uncheck Single-window Mode
  2. Open Windows > Dockable Dialogs
  3. Right-click tabs and pick "Detach Tab"
  4. Drag what you need to your second screen

Here's what works best on each screen:

Screen What Goes There
Main Monitor Canvas, Toolbox, Tool Options
Second Monitor Layers, Colors, Brushes, History

"If you move the layers panel outside the main GIMP window, you can make it as big as you want. Just remember it might block other stuff if you keep it inside GIMP's main window." - GIMP User

Fixed Common Problems:

Problem How to Fix It
Tablet pointer not lining up Switch tablet from "Window" to "Screen" mode
GIMP shows up on wrong screen Update to GIMP 3
Can't resize panels Detach them first

"Getting pointer offset with your tablet? That happens in 'Window' mode. Just switch to 'Screen' mode in Configure Extended Input Devices." - Michael J. Hammel, Graphics Muse

Quick Shortcuts:

If you work with colors, grab a screen calibrator (like Datacolor Spyder5) to match both monitors. This keeps your colors looking the same everywhere.

Conclusion

Here's how to pick the right GIMP workspace layout for your needs:

Task Type Best Layout Choice Key Features to Enable
Photo Editing Photo Layout Layers, Curves, Color Tools
Digital Art Art Layout Brushes, Tool Options, Color Palette
Web Graphics Web Layout Export Dialog, Scale Tool, Grid
Basic Tasks Simple Layout Toolbox, Layers
Multi-Monitor Dual Screen Split Tools Across Screens

Setting up your workspace is simple:

  1. Pick a layout that matches your work
  2. Move panels to fit your workflow
  3. Save your setup
  4. Test it on a real project

A few tips to make your workspace work better:

"I don't think there's one single proper, smooth way to learn Gimp. It all depends on what you are trying to do, and everyone's path into graphics manipulation is different." - Anonymous User

"Then like Ofnuts, un-learn Photoshop and learn the GIMP interface, all the help will come with GIMP short-cuts and GIMP interface screenshots which you might not find after transforming your GIMP in Photoshop alike." - PixLab, GIMP User

That's it! Pick a layout, customize it, and start creating. The right workspace setup makes GIMP easier to use and helps you work faster.

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