GIMPRC(5)GIMPRC(5)NAMEgimprc - gimp configuration file
DESCRIPTION
The gimprc file is a configuation file read by the GIMP when it starts
up. There are two of these: one system-wide one stored in
/etc/gimp/2.0/gimprc and a per-user $HOME/.gimp-2.0/gimprc which may
override system settings.
Comments are introduced by a hash sign (#), and continue until the end
of the line. Blank lines are ignored.
The gimprc file associates values with properties. These properties
may be set by lisp-like assignments of the form:
(property-name value)
where:
property-name
is one of the property names described below.
value is the value the property is to be set to.
Either spaces or tabs may be used to separate the name from the value.
PROPERTIES
Valid properties and their default values are:
(temp-path "${gimp_dir}/tmp")
Sets the temporary storage directory. Files will appear here
during the course of running the GIMP. Most files will disap‐
pear when the GIMP exits, but some files are likely to remain,
so it is best if this directory not be one that is shared by
other users. This is a single folder.
(swap-path "${gimp_dir}")
Sets the swap file location. The gimp uses a tile based memory
allocation scheme. The swap file is used to quickly and easily
swap tiles out to disk and back in. Be aware that the swap file
can easily get very large if the GIMP is used with large images.
Also, things can get horribly slow if the swap file is created
on a directory that is mounted over NFS. For these reasons, it
may be desirable to put your swap file in "/tmp". This is a
single folder.
(stingy-memory-use no)
There is always a tradeoff between memory usage and speed. In
most cases, the GIMP opts for speed over memory. However, if
memory is a big issue, try to enable this setting. Possible
values are yes and no.
(num-processors 1)
On multiprocessor machines, if GIMP has been compiled with
--enable-mp this sets how many processors GIMP should use simul‐
taneously. This is an integer value.
(tile-cache-size 64M)
The tile cache is used to make sure the GIMP doesn't thrash
tiles between memory and disk. Setting this value higher will
cause the GIMP to use less swap space, but will also cause the
GIMP to use more memory. Conversely, a smaller cache size causes
the GIMP to use more swap space and less memory. The integer
size can contain a suffix of 'B', 'K', 'M' or 'G' which makes
GIMP interpret the size as being specified in bytes, kilobytes,
megabytes or gigabytes. If no suffix is specified the size
defaults to being specified in kilobytes.
(interpolation-type linear)
Sets the level of interpolation used for scaling and other
transformations. Possible values are none, linear and cubic.
(plug-in-path "${gimp_dir}/plug-ins:${gimp_plug_in_dir}/plug-ins")
Sets the plug-in search path. This is a colon-separated list of
folders to search.
(module-path "${gimp_dir}/modules:${gimp_plug_in_dir}/modules")
Sets the module search path. This is a colon-separated list of
folders to search.
(environ-path "${gimp_dir}/environ:${gimp_plug_in_dir}/environ")
Sets the environ search path. This is a colon-separated list of
folders to search.
(brush-path "${gimp_dir}/brushes:${gimp_data_dir}/brushes")
Sets the brush search path. This is a colon-separated list of
folders to search.
(brush-path-writable "${gimp_dir}/brushes")
This is a colon-separated list of folders to search.
(pattern-path "${gimp_dir}/patterns:${gimp_data_dir}/patterns")
Sets the pattern search path. This is a colon-separated list of
folders to search.
(pattern-path-writable "${gimp_dir}/patterns")
This is a colon-separated list of folders to search.
(palette-path "${gimp_dir}/palettes:${gimp_data_dir}/palettes")
Sets the palette search path. This is a colon-separated list of
folders to search.
(palette-path-writable "${gimp_dir}/palettes")
This is a colon-separated list of folders to search.
(gradient-path "${gimp_dir}/gradients:${gimp_data_dir}/gradients")
Sets the gradient search path. This is a colon-separated list
of folders to search.
(gradient-path-writable "${gimp_dir}/gradients")
This is a colon-separated list of folders to search.
(font-path "${gimp_dir}/fonts:${gimp_data_dir}/fonts")
Where to look for fonts. This is a colon-separated list of
folders to search.
(font-path-writable "${gimp_dir}/fonts")
This is a colon-separated list of folders to search.
(default-brush "Circle (11)")
Specify a default brush. The brush is searched for in the spec‐
ified brush path. This is a string value.
(default-pattern "Pine")
Specify a default pattern. The pattern is searched for in the
specified pattern path. This is a string value.
(default-palette "Default")
Specify a default palette. The palette is searched for in the
specified palette path. This is a string value.
(default-gradient "FG to BG (RGB)")
Specify a default gradient. The gradient is searched for in the
specified gradient path. This is a string value.
(default-font "Sans")
Specify a default font. The font is searched for in the font‐
config font path.
This is a string value.
(global-brush yes)
When enabled, the selected brush will be used for all tools.
Possible values are yes and no.
(global-pattern yes)
When enabled, the selected pattern will be used for all tools.
Possible values are yes and no.
(global-palette yes)
When enabled, the selected palette will be used for all tools.
Possible values are yes and no.
(global-gradient yes)
When enabled, the selected gradient will be used for all tools.
Possible values are yes and no.
(global-font yes)
When enabled, the selected font will be used for all tools.
Possible values are yes and no.
(default-image
(width 256)
(height 256)
(unit inches)
(xresolution 72.000000)
(yresolution 72.000000)
(resolution-unit inches)
(image-type rgb)
(fill-type background-fill)
(comment "Created with The GIMP"))
Sets the default image in the "File/New" dialog. This is a
parameter list.
(default-grid
(style intersections)
(fgcolor (color-rgba 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000))
(bgcolor (color-rgba 1.000000 1.000000 1.000000 1.000000))
(xspacing 10.000000)
(yspacing 10.000000)
(spacing-unit inches)
(xoffset 0.000000)
(yoffset 0.000000)
(offset-unit inches))
Specify a default image grid. This is a parameter list.
(undo-levels 5)
Sets the minimal number of operations that can be undone. More
undo levels are kept available until the undo-size limit is
reached. This is an integer value.
(undo-size 4M)
Sets an upper limit to the memory that is used per image to keep
operations on the undo stack. Regardless of this setting, at
least as many undo-levels as configured can be undone. The
integer size can contain a suffix of 'B', 'K', kilobytes,
megabytes or gigabytes. If no suffix is specified the size
defaults to being specified in kilobytes.
(undo-preview-size large)
Sets the size of the previews in the Undo History. Possible
values are tiny, extra-small, small, medium, large, extra-large,
huge, enormous and gigantic.
(pluginrc-path "${gimp_dir}/pluginrc")
Sets the pluginrc search path. This is a single filename.
(layer-previews yes)
Sets whether GIMP should create previews of layers and channels.
Previews in the layers and channels dialog are nice to have but
they can slow things down when working with large images. Pos‐
sible values are yes and no.
(layer-preview-size medium)
Sets the default preview size for layers and channels. Possible
values are tiny, extra-small, small, medium, large, extra-large,
huge, enormous and gigantic.
(thumbnail-size normal)
Sets the size of the thumbnail saved with each image. Note that
GIMP can not save thumbnails if layer previews are disabled.
Possible values are none, normal and large.
(install-colormap no)
Install a private colormap; might be useful on pseudocolor visu‐
als. Possible values are yes and no.
(min-colors 144)
Generally only a concern for 8-bit displays, this sets the mini‐
mum number of system colors allocated for the GIMP. This is an
integer value.
(marching-ants-speed 300)
Speed of marching ants in the selection outline. This value is
in milliseconds (less time indicates faster marching). This is
an integer value.
(resize-windows-on-zoom no)
When enabled, the image window will automatically resize itself,
when zooming into and out of images. Possible values are yes
and no.
(resize-windows-on-resize no)
When enabled, the image window will automatically resize itself,
whenever the physical image size changes. Possible values are
yes and no.
(default-dot-for-dot yes)
When enabled, this will ensure that each pixel of an image gets
mapped to a pixel on the screen. Possible values are yes and
no.
(initial-zoom-to-fit yes)
When enabled, this will ensure that the full image is visible
after a file is opened, otherwise it will be displayed with a
scale of 1:1. Possible values are yes and no.
(perfect-mouse yes)
When enabled, the X server is queried for the mouse's current
position on each motion event, rather than relying on the posi‐
tion hint. This means painting with large brushes should be
more accurate, but it may be slower. Perversely, on some X
servers enabling this option results in faster painting. Possi‐
ble values are yes and no.
(cursor-mode tool-icon)
Sets the mode of cursor the GIMP will use. Possible values are
tool-icon, tool-crosshair and crosshair.
(cursor-updating yes)
Context-dependent cursors are cool. They are enabled by
default. However, they require overhead that you may want to do
without. Possible values are yes and no.
(show-brush-outline yes)
When enabled, all paint tools will show a preview of the current
brush's outline. Possible values are yes and no.
(image-title-format "%D*%f-%p.%i (%t, %L) %z%%")
Sets the text to appear in image window titles. This is a for‐
mat string; certain % character sequences are recognised and
expanded as follows:
%% literal percent sign
%f bare filename, or "Untitled"
%F full path to file, or "Untitled"
%p PDB image id
%i view instance number
%t image type (RGB, grayscale, indexed)
%z zoom factor as a percentage
%s source scale factor
%d destination scale factor
%Dx expands to x if the image is dirty, the empty string other‐
wise
%Cx expands to x if the image is clean, the empty string other‐
wise
%l the number of layers
%L the number of layers (long form)
%m memory used by the image
%n the name of the active layer/channel
%P the PDB id of the active layer/channel
%w image width in pixels
%W image width in real-world units
%h image height in pixels
%H image height in real-world units
%u unit symbol
%U unit abbreviation
(image-status-format "%n (%m)")
Sets the text to appear in image window status bars. This is a
format string; certain % character sequences are recognised and
expanded as follows:
%% literal percent sign
%f bare filename, or "Untitled"
%F full path to file, or "Untitled"
%p PDB image id
%i view instance number
%t image type (RGB, grayscale, indexed)
%z zoom factor as a percentage
%s source scale factor
%d destination scale factor
%Dx expands to x if the image is dirty, the empty string other‐
wise
%Cx expands to x if the image is clean, the empty string other‐
wise
%l the number of layers
%L the number of layers (long form)
%m memory used by the image
%n the name of the active layer/channel
%P the PDB id of the active layer/channel
%w image width in pixels
%W image width in real-world units
%h image height in pixels
%H image height in real-world units
%u unit symbol
%U unit abbreviation
(confirm-on-close yes)
Ask for confirmation before closing an image without saving.
Possible values are yes and no.
(monitor-xresolution 72.000000)
Sets the monitor's horizontal resolution, in dots per inch. If
set to 0, forces the X server to be queried for both horizontal
and vertical resolution information. This is a float value.
(monitor-yresolution 72.000000)
Sets the monitor's vertical resolution, in dots per inch. If
set to 0, forces the X server to be queried for both horizontal
and vertical resolution information. This is a float value.
(monitor-resolution-from-windowing-system yes)
When enabled, the GIMP will use the monitor resolution from the
windowing system. Possible values are yes and no.
(navigation-preview-size medium)
Sets the size of the navigation preview available in the lower
right corner of the image window. Possible values are tiny,
extra-small, small, medium, large, extra-large, huge, enormous
and gigantic.
(default-view
(show-menubar yes)
(show-rulers yes)
(show-scrollbars yes)
(show-statusbar yes)
(show-selection yes)
(show-layer-boundary yes)
(show-guides yes)
(show-grid no)
(padding-mode default)
(padding-color (color-rgba 1.000000 1.000000 1.000000
1.000000)))
Sets the default settings for the image view. This is a parame‐
ter list.
(default-fullscreen-view
(show-menubar no)
(show-rulers no)
(show-scrollbars no)
(show-statusbar no)
(show-selection no)
(show-layer-boundary no)
(show-guides no)
(show-grid no)
(padding-mode custom)
(padding-color (color-rgba 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000
1.000000)))
Sets the default settings used when an image is viewed in
fullscreen mode. This is a parameter list.
(activate-on-focus yes)
When enabled, an image will become the active image when its
image window receives the focus. This is useful for window man‐
agers using "click to focus".
Possible values are yes and no.
(transparency-size medium-checks)
Sets the size of the checkerboard used to display transparency.
Possible values are small-checks, medium-checks and large-
checks.
(transparency-type gray-checks)
Sets the manner in which transparency is displayed in images.
Possible values are light-checks, gray-checks, dark-checks,
white-only, gray-only and black-only.
(snap-distance 8)
This is the distance in pixels where Guide and Grid snapping
activates. This is an integer value.
(default-threshold 15)
Tools such as fuzzy-select and bucket fill find regions based on
a seed-fill algorithm. The seed fill starts at the initially
selected pixel and progresses in all directions until the dif‐
ference of pixel intensity from the original is greater than a
specified threshold. This value represents the default thresh‐
old. This is an integer value.
(info-window-per-display no)
When enabled, the GIMP will use a different info window per
image view. Possible values are yes and no.
(trust-dirty-flag no)
When enabled, the GIMP will not save if the image is unchanged
since opening it. Possible values are yes and no.
(save-device-status no)
Remember the current tool, pattern, color, and brush across GIMP
sessions. Possible values are yes and no.
(save-session-info yes)
Save the positions and sizes of the main dialogs when the GIMP
exits. Possible values are yes and no.
(restore-session yes)
Let GIMP try to restore your last saved session on each startup.
Possible values are yes and no.
(show-tips yes)
Enable to display a handy GIMP tip on startup. Possible values
are yes and no.
(show-tool-tips yes)
Enable to display tooltips. Possible values are yes and no.
(tearoff-menus yes)
When enabled, menus can be torn off. Possible values are yes
and no.
(can-change-accels no)
When enabled, you can change keyboard shortcuts for menu items
by hitting a key combination while the menu item is highlighted.
Possible values are yes and no.
(save-accels yes)
Save changed keyboard shortcuts when the GIMP exits. Possible
values are yes and no.
(restore-accels yes)
Restore saved keyboard shortcuts on each GIMP startup. Possible
values are yes and no.
(last-opened-size 10)
How many recently opened image filenames to keep on the File
menu. This is an integer value.
(max-new-image-size 64M)
GIMP will warn the user if an attempt is made to create an image
that would take more memory than the size specified here. The
integer size can contain a suffix of 'B', 'K', 'M' or 'G' which
makes GIMP interpret the size as being specified in bytes, kilo‐
bytes, megabytes or gigabytes. If no suffix is specified the
size defaults to being specified in kilobytes.
(theme-path "${gimp_dir}/themes:${gimp_data_dir}/themes")
Sets the theme search path. This is a colon-separated list of
folders to search.
(theme "Default")
The name of the theme to use. This is a string value.
(use-help yes)
When enabled, pressing F1 will open the help browser. Possible
values are yes and no.
(help-locales "")
Specifies the language preferences used by the help system. This
is a colon-separated list of language identifiers with decreas‐
ing priority. If empty, the language is taken from the user's
locale setting. This is a string value.
(help-browser gimp)
Sets the browser used by the help system. Possible values are
gimp and web-browser.
(web-browser "mozilla %s")
Sets the external web browser to be used. This can be an abso‐
lute path or the name of an executable to search for in the
user's PATH. If the command contains '%s' it will be replaced
with the URL, else the URL will be appended to the command with
a space separating the two. This is a single filename.
(toolbox-window-hint normal)
The window type hint that is set on the toolbox. This may affect
how your window manager decorates and handles the toolbox win‐
dow. Possible values are normal and utility.
(dock-window-hint normal)
The window type hint that is set on dock windows. This may
affect the way your window manager decorates and handles dock
windows. Possible values are normal and utility.
(fractalexplorer-path "${gimp_dir}/fractalex‐
plorer:${gimp_data_dir}/fractalexplorer")
Where to search for fractals used by the Fractal Explorer plug-
in. This is a colon-separated list of folders to search.
(gfig-path "${gimp_dir}/gfig:${gimp_data_dir}/gfig")
Where to search for Gfig figures used by the Gfig plug-in. This
is a colon-separated list of folders to search.
(gflare-path "${gimp_dir}/gflare:${gimp_data_dir}/gflare")
Where to search for gflares used by the GFlare plug-in. This is
a colon-separated list of folders to search.
(gimpressionist-path "${gimp_dir}/gimpressionist:${gimp_data_dir}/gim‐
pressionist")
Where to search for data used by the Gimpressionist plug-in.
This is a colon-separated list of folders to search.
(script-fu-path "${gimp_dir}/scripts:${gimp_data_dir}/scripts")
This path will be searched for scripts when the Script-Fu plug-
in is run. This is a colon-separated list of folders to search.
PATH EXPANSION
Strings of type PATH are expanded in a manner similar to bash(1).
Specifically: tilde (~) is expanded to the user's home directory. Note
that the bash feature of being able to refer to other user's home
directories by writing ~userid/ is not valid in this file.
${variable} is expanded to the current value of an environment vari‐
able. There are a few variables that are pre-defined:
gimp_dir
The personal gimp directory which is set to the value of the
environment variable GIMP2_DIRECTORY or to ~/.gimp-2.0.
gimp_data_dir
Nase for paths to shareable data, which is set to the value of
the environment variable GIMP2_DATADIR or to the compiled-in
default value ${prefix}/share/gimp/2.0.
gimp_plug_in_dir
Base to paths for architecture-specific plugins and modules,
which is set to the value of the environment variable
GIMP2_PLUGINDIR or to the compiled-in default value
/usr/sfw/lib/gimp/2.0.
gimp_sysconf_dir
Path to configuration files, which is set to the value of the
environment variable GIMP2_SYSCONFDIR or to the compiled-in
default value /etc/gimp/2.0.
FILES
/etc/gimp/2.0/gimprc
System-wide configuration file
$HOME/.gimp-2.0/gimprc
Per-user configuration file
SEE ALSOgimp(1), gimptool(1), gimp-remote(1)GIMP Manual Pages Version 2.0.2 GIMPRC(5)
