New PC

Ella · **Joined:** May 17, 2014 **Posts:** 1560

GIMP Version: 2.8.14
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: Experienced User

Hi everyone, I have a new Windows 11 computer and want to install GIMP on it.
Which version is stable and currently the best one to download?

diagrajamal1 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 21, 2026 8:23 am **(#2)**

Hi,Ella
I am using GIMP 2.10.38 (1) Revision. It may not be possible to install some plugins in newer versions. It might not work even if you take the course.
Have a good time.

Wallace · **Posted:** Sun Jun 21, 2026 8:48 am **(#3)**

How wonderful to hear!

I have access to a few different versions of GIMP,
due to the different workflows they provide or don't.
:hehe

Depending on how you wish to utilize it,
might give you some clue as to which version is right for you.

I have access to versions 2.8, 2.10 and 3.
My go-to, or everyday driver is 2.8.18,
installed along side version 3 and a portable version of 2.10.

sallyanne · **Posted:** Sun Jun 21, 2026 9:14 am **(#4)**

Good for you Ella. Stay with 2.10 if you want the scripts and plugins for it. 3x is good if you are able to do many things from scratch.
I need a new computer too. One I have now is over 8 years old and is very go slow.

Ella · **Joined:** May 17, 2014 **Posts:** 1560

Diagrajamal1, Wallace and Sallyanne, thank you for your advice.
I think I'll stick with 2.10 as well.
When I went to the GIMP download page, version 3 was suggested, which is why I came here to ask for advice.

Sallyanne, good luck finding a new PC that meets your needs. :clover

lylejk · **Joined:** Sep 24, 2010 **Posts:** 12780

If you do upgrade to 3.X, you won't be able to use Mathmap anymore; main reason why I've not bitten the bullet yet. Not sure about PSPI, either (or even User Filter for that matter) and since I'm a filter guy, I like programs that work for me. I know I should at least download/run the portable version of 3.X but still haven't felt compelled to do so since 2.10.38 works for me like it is. I was old school before but guess I'm really old school now. lol

Rod · **Joined:** May 16, 2010 **Posts:** 16041

I am using Gimp-2.10.38 as well. That is my every day go to. I do have Gimp-3 installed along side but i don't use it much.

@Lyle. It would be nice if the Gimp team could come up with a way to run 8BF files in Gimp-3.
If the Custom Font plugin, 8BF, and ALL previous Gimp-2.10 scripts, and executables would work in Gimp 3 i might switch over.

It is nice to have non destructive layers and vector layers in Gimp-3 but not being able to run the Custom Font plugin is a clincher for me. I thought of re-writing it for Gimp-3 but i wouldn't know where to begin, and Tran doesn't seem to be around anymore. Heck i've only re-written one of my own plugins and i lost interest after that. Possibly i may re-write Chewed Text as i use it quite a bit creating Custom Fonts. I may give it a good ole Gimp Chat try anyways. LOL.
Thing is that most script and plugin authors just don't seem to either want or can't re-code their filters for Gimp-3.
You know what would be really cool is if the Gimp team came up with a plugin that would write code for you.
I heard they may be adding something like an Action something like Photo Shop, but i believe that is way down the line.
Something like that would be a great addition to Gimp-3. You could record all your steps for your own older plugins and viola! you have a new re-written plugin you can redistribute for the newer Gimp-3 versions.

Lyle i don't know if you know it or not but MareroQ has written a type of Shellout filter for Gimp-3 that calls, Inkscape, Photoshop, and Filter Forge. They are 3 separate scripts but they work well. And if you can call PS then you can use most 8BF filters.

Skinnyhouse · **Posted:** Mon Jun 22, 2026 1:06 am **(#8)**

Best of luck Ella - enjoy the new PC power.
You can have both versions of Gimp so that would be the best of both worlds.
:2thup

Ella · **Joined:** May 17, 2014 **Posts:** 1560

lylejk, I'm afraid I'm getting too old for too many changes :oops:

That's exactly why I'm sticking with version 2.10.

Rod, thanks for your comment.

Skinnyhouse, thank you, a new PC and a new version of GIMP at the same time, a bit too much of a good thing :crash

(By the way: I'm doing really well with the new laptop.)
Maybe I'll check out version 3 later.

:tyspin

lylejk · **Joined:** Sep 24, 2010 **Posts:** 12780

Rod wrote:

I am using Gimp-2.10.38 as well. That is my every day go to. I do have Gimp-3 installed along side but i don't use it much.

@Lyle. It would be nice if the Gimp team could come up with a way to run 8BF files in Gimp-3.
If the Custom Font plugin, 8BF, and ALL previous Gimp-2.10 scripts, and executables would work in Gimp 3 i might switch over.

It is nice to have non destructive layers and vector layers in Gimp-3 but not being able to run the Custom Font plugin is a clincher for me. I thought of re-writing it for Gimp-3 but i wouldn't know where to begin, and Tran doesn't seem to be around anymore. Heck i've only re-written one of my own plugins and i lost interest after that. Possibly i may re-write Chewed Text as i use it quite a bit creating Custom Fonts. I may give it a good ole Gimp Chat try anyways. LOL.
Thing is that most script and plugin authors just don't seem to either want or can't re-code their filters for Gimp-3.
You know what would be really cool is if the Gimp team came up with a plugin that would write code for you.
I heard they may be adding something like an Action something like Photo Shop, but i believe that is way down the line.
Something like that would be a great addition to Gimp-3. You could record all your steps for your own older plugins and viola! you have a new re-written plugin you can redistribute for the newer Gimp-3 versions.

Lyle i don't know if you know it or not but MareroQ has written a type of Shellout filter for Gimp-3 that calls, Inkscape, Photoshop, and Filter Forge. They are 3 separate scripts but they work well. And if you can call PS then you can use most 8BF filters.

Shellout's great and do use it often enough, but still prefer to use PSPI if it works for that PS filter. Also, haven't delved into it but not sure if User Filter (gufs) work in GIMP3X. Not sure if Bevel Reflect Logo (which I definitely still often use) works, either. Then there's Mathmap which I do most (might as well say all even though G'MIC can do this as well; my crutch is Mathmap) of my Droste renderings with. Just too many things keep me from using 3X. If they would have added an interpreter to support older GIMP functions, then it would have been a no brainer for sure, Rod, but they did not. Similar issues happened in previous GIMPS but most of those issues got addressed quickly; not so with 3X. Everyone eventually likes a crutch, so I guess I used mine for way too long to get rid of now. lol