GIMP Version: 2.8.14
Operating System: Linux
OS Version: Zorin OS 12
GIMP Experience: Intermediate Level
URL or Image link: https://snag.gy/szJEdv.jpg

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hello,


I have a smaller laptop monitor, my resolution is 1366x768. No matter what OS I use (I've used chaletOS, fedora, and now Zorin OS), GIMP can not fit on my display. It runs off the bottom and I miss some features, including the side scroll. I am unable to resize it to avoid this problem. Help needed!

I run Gimp 2.8.18 in a netbook same size, running Bodhi linux no problem The basics for any:

1. You do not need all the tools showing. Edit -> Preferences -> Toolbox and untick the ones you will never use.
They are always avavilable from the tools menu or a right click on the canvas.

2. Adjust the width of the docks. This is the one that is possibly stopping your resizing the whole gimp window. Make the toolbox and tool options side wider. There are hotspots to click and drag on the edges.

3. Got a dialog that is too long and off the screen. Alt-click and drag to get to the ok button.



When you have it set up, remember to use Edit -> Preferences -> Window Management. Un-tick save window positions on exit. Click on save window positions now.

edit: This is my Bodhi linux netbook, a screenshot of the desktop inside of Gimp on the desktop almost a droste. If you have a menu bar or systems tray that can autohide, might be worth invoking that, but not absolutely necessary.

Use the default small theme and tweak the interface. I´d remove the not-so-often-used tools from toolbox and make it 2-columned
And move the tool options away, think about what you are using most and tweak based on that.
Or install some custom theme that´s optimized for small screens? I´m sure someone has created them, though I´ve not searched.
If you don´t care about how the interface looks, the theme that makes 2.8 look sort like Photoshop could work well

Also in Linux based OS´s I suggest changing font and the size from Settings/Appearance/Fonts (Xubuntu)
A good font will give you more space and the vertical size of menus will be lot shorter. 8px looks ok, depends on the font.
That makes the interface much better, because if you have more entries in menu than vertical space in screen
You´ll get a triangle on bottom/top and that is awful to scroll. I got this problem with Audacity on a mini laptop.
And that´s why you also want to edit the location (and maybe titles) of custom plugins and scripts with geany.

Maybe your problem is with your desktop manager. Gimp maximizes to whatever it is allowed to. If your desktop has a permanent bar at the bottom, then it should give applications a smaller height. Or there is some way to hide the desktop bar that you aren't aware of.

Now, nothing says that you have to run Gimp maximized, even in single-window mode.

I dragged my taskbar from the top of the screen, to the side of the screen, to make more room on my screen for a Gimp window.

Yep that's the best place to have the taskbar on a laptop. I found Single Window mode best.