I've been using a 32-bit distro of Linux, and everything that I am interested in using seems to work. I am considering switching to the 64-bit version. One of the main reasons I am considering the switch is that I do use virtual machines (for an old 32-bit XP install I had), and sometimes do open beta-testing for LinuxMint, my distro of choice. I would like to expand my testing to include 64-bit distros and perhaps virtualizing an existing Vista 64-bit machine which I currently dual-boot - the catch being that in order to run a 64-bit VM client, you must already be running a 64-bit host.

So my question as it relates here is: how does Gimp run on 64-bit systems, and are there issues I need to look out for regarding plug-ins and such?

I appreciate all input.

I have Fedora 13 on my 64-bit laptop and so far I haven't had any problems but I don't know what to look at for you.

Actually, that's a pretty good start. I wanted to know if there were any problems with Gimp, its libraries or any associated bits and pieces that made a potential 64-bit convert like myself throw up their hands in disgust and go back to a 32-bit distro. Also if there were any "gotchas" like a piece of related hardware that didn't work - scanner, printer, graphics tablet - in general.

I know Fedora =/= Ubuntu and it's derivatives, but I just want to check on it. (Maybe I'm stuck too far in the past, when just because something worked in 32-bit didn't mean it would work in 64-bit. )

I haven't had any trouble so far with any of those. I haven't tried my Wacom tablet in it yet. Wacom drivers came with Fedora 12 and I expect they probably did for Fedora 13. All I need to do is plug it in. Will let you know as soon as I know.

I actually moved from Windows 64 to Ubuntu 64 because (for whatever reasons) Windows and GIMP didn't get along. Constant crashing and it would erase any progress (even if you saved the file). I haven't had any problems with GIMP using Ubuntu.

Spending tens of hours on photo repairs (even saving progress during this time) and then losing it all because of some "unknown" crash, wasn't working for me. I might add, moving to Linux was the best thing I could have ever done. I can reboot Ubuntu four complete cycles before Windows completes one boot cycle. (Yes, I put two desktops side by side to compare this - Ubuntu is just extremely fast compared to Windows)

Just a small warning for you, O: Leaving GIMP open for extended periods of time on Windows 7 will more than likely result in GIMP crashing, just so that you know that it's very possible, so instead of doing gradual saves of work progress (selecting File -Save), I recommend a hard save (Save As - add a digit to the file name or etc.) You can always delete the former files as you progress. I can't even count the number of projects I lost thinking File-Save would be sufficient.

Thanks for the heads up mahvin. I'll keep that in mind. Windows can certainly be cranky about some things but so can Linux. Win 7 ate my Firefox icon and replaced it with one of the standard replace icons. Weird.

Hey Mahvin; GIMP 32-bit still more then occasional locks up (ctrl alt del and then end GIMP which takes a huge amount of resources) on my Win7 64-bit OS. I tolerate this since I still can use GIMP most of the time. Sometimes weird issues (a filter won't let me select it, or I can do some other GIMP function) prior to this so I get a chance to save my work, close GIMP and re-open GIMP again. I have no idea what's causing this. Never had any issue like this in Win XP. Gave up waiting for a solution from the developers since I can't consistently find a way to replicate the problem.

I experienced those same problems as well. If you can't replicate what's causing them, its extremely hard to fix the problem. I'll still use GIMP in Win 7, I just know I can't keep repeating the same habits while doing so.

Thanks guys! This is all helpful.

@mahvin, that sound like Gimp has a memory leak.

I ran across this thread over at Fedora Forums just the other day. Don't know if it applies to your specific tablet but I haven't seen any solutions yet. Hopefully, this gets resolved soon because you really don't want to go through all that hassle whenever the kernel is updated.


Bob63, I'm not a 64-bit user but I do keep up with the all the 64-bit related threads over at Fedora Forums. What I've gleaned from my reading is that there are many 32bit device drivers (i.e. wireless network adapters) that have not been rewritten to support a 64bit architecture. The solution is to wrap the 32bt driver with a layer of code that interfaces to the 64 bit architecture. This works well for some and not so well for others.

Flash is an example of an app that seems to give some 64-bit users trouble. The extra layer of software slows things down, so instead of seeing a performance increase, you see a performance decrease. There is a 64 bit version of flash in the works and early reports on the beta version suggest it's really fast.

Why not install the 64-bit version on a spare drive and test it out? You might find it to be the cat's meow and if not, you still have your 32-bit version intact.

@GnuTux,

That's pretty close to where my mind is right now. I have only one "spare drive"; unfortunately it is the one I have my 64-bit Vista install on which I dual-boot*. I should probably just bite the bullet and do a major reorganization of my drives and partitions. It's not like I use my Vista install for anything except gaming anyhow. I'm really glad I saw the tip elsewhere about organizing Linux partitions in such a way root and home are in separate partitions. I've been trying to kick the bad habit of trying new things on perfectly good installs.

*Actually, that's not completely true. I have a very old 2 Gb HDD...I think you have to hand-crank it to make it work. And I think there might be a failed 40GB HD around here, but, well you get my point.

Hm. The Flash thing may make me wait, as if I'm not otherwise using my PC I do watch streaming video. How long has 64-bit technology been available and this is still an issue?

Update: I went to the Adobe Labs site and read up on the 64-bit Flash player. It is code-named "Square", is in its 3rd beta at this time, and is slated for release during the 1st half of 2011, if I read correctly. This is a bit more attractive, methinks.

Yeah, I do a lot streaming too, as well as playing hi-res DVD rips from the hard drive. I like to rip tracks from concert DVDs and play them video jukebox style. I usually rip as mpg or avi with either ADPCM stereo or Dolby Digital (AC-3) 5.1.

There's a few places I stream from which use .avi files. I can get the .avi downloading, let it buffer for a few minutes then play it directly from the drive as it streams using VLC player. That works well.

Flash is really bloated and slow but it contains the tools publishers need. You know, things like flash tracking cookies, the ability to overlay ADs and popups of all sorts, plus a bunch of other tools to thwart the end user (me) from having their way.

I hate flash but I guess we are stuck with it. What is needed is a FOSS alternative to be adopted.

Ubuntu 10.04, Lucid here. Gimp is awesome. But the iscan plugin sucks. I have been trying to find someone who can help me get it running better but I guess nobody is using iscan but me.

I am on Gentoo 64 bits now for ~2years after running 32 bits for more than 4 years.
Gentoo's package manager lets you make almost infinite choices as far as software is concerned.
So I installed it with "multilib" enabled.
Gimp never gave me any problems,neither did plugins unless they had an error in the code.
Since Gentoo compiles the sources of everything you install you'll never have probs with missing header files etc.
Gerard.

Edit:
@sofasurfer,
Why not use xsane?

gerard82,
Although I have a lot of time invested in my current setup, I don't have any objection to trying a new distro. I think I'll download a copy and take a look.

@Bob63,
Beware!
Installing Gentoo is a lot of work.
I suggest you take a look at the Gentoo Handbook first:
http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/
Pick your system and 32 or 64 bits.
If you want to get aquainted with Linux this one will give you a good start.
Gerard.

Edit: amd64 is also for Intel 64bit processors.
That's because AMD was the first one with 64 bits.

Update:
I decided (for the time being, at least) to stick with my same distro and move to the 64-bit. That was accomplished with surprisingly little sweat. I had to upgrade a few things for the various desktop widgets I like. As far as Gimp is concerned, I had to replace G'MIC with the 64-bit version, and maybe a few other plugins if available.

Since I how have a 64-bit host, I can further investigate other distros by way of VM.

Thanks for the input everyone.

I've never had any problems using a 64bit linux distro (Mainly Mint, or Ubuntu), but the only problem I really get a lot is problems with the adobe flash player, I try to watch 4 videos, 2 are paused 1 is music, and the other is just some parkour thing all the flash objects will close as is not be visible at all, the plays don't show up, or nothing, but I've only had that problem using 64bit.

I haven't tried Gentoo, cause I don't wanna compile from source, it takes awhile, and Ubuntu works fine for me.

@mikethedj4,
Which Flash player are you using?I went to the Adobe Labs site and got the beta3 version of the native 64-bit player from here. I occasionally get a little flicker - which could be something as simple as my Internet connection unable to keep up, or a load fluctuation in my cpu - or it could be something in the player. Also, I haven't "stress-tested" it by having multiple players open.