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PhotoGIMP vs GIMP

PhotoGIMP is not a different program. It is GIMP 3.2.6 with a different set of settings: the same features, filters and file formats, arranged and keyed for people who know Photoshop. The question is not which is better, but whose habits GIMP should follow: Photoshop’s or GIMP’s own.

Checked with PhotoGIMP 3.1 · GIMP 3.2.6Updated October 31, 2026Tested on Windows, macOS and Linux

On this page 5 sections

Side by side
Every key that changes meaning
Who should use which
The middle ground
Questions

Short answer

The difference in one line each

Same: every tool, filter, menu, file format and plug-in. No performance settings change. Same GIMP version.
Different: toolbox order and shape, new keys for 29 commands, the dock layout, a few preferences and the splash screen.
Choose PhotoGIMP if your hands know Photoshop. Stay with stock GIMP if they know GIMP, or if you follow GIMP tutorials, which use GIMP’s own keys.

Stock GIMP 3.2.6 before PhotoGIMP: tools in a grid, the Brushes dock top right. — Real screenshots · Linux (Ubuntu 24.04, X11) · GIMP 3.2.6 AppImage Same GIMP, same photo, from our Linux test. Drag to compare.

PhotoGIMP 3.1 on GIMP 3.2.6 after our repair: the Photoshop-style toolbox is back. — Real screenshots · Linux (Ubuntu 24.04, X11) · GIMP 3.2.6 AppImage Same GIMP, same photo, from our Linux test. Drag to compare.

Side by side

Compared	GIMP 3.2.6 as installed	With PhotoGIMP
Program and features	Identical. PhotoGIMP contains no program code.
Toolbox	A grid of tool groups at the top left	One column in Photoshop’s order: Move, Rectangle Select, Free Select, Fuzzy Select, Crop, Color Picker, Healing…
Tool keys	GIMP’s: `M` Move, `R` Rectangle, `P` Paintbrush, `U` Fuzzy Select	Photoshop’s: `V` Move, `M` Rectangle, `B` Paintbrush, `W` Fuzzy Select
Command keys	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`D` duplicate layer, `Shift`+`T` transform, `Ctrl`+`Shift`+`A` select none	`Ctrl`+`J`, `Ctrl`+`T`, `Ctrl`+`D`
Window	Single-window mode	Single-window mode, toolbox narrowed to one column, Tool Options and brushes top right, Layers bottom right
Around the image	Theme color, yellow layer outline, canvas outline	Dark grey (RGB 27, 27, 31), no layer or canvas outline
Opened JPEGs	No transparency: the eraser paints background color	Alpha channel added: the eraser makes transparent holes
Snap to canvas edges	Off	On
Layer thumbnails	Medium	Extra large
Minimum undo steps	5	8
Splash screen	GIMP artwork	PhotoGIMP artwork
On GIMP 3.2	Works	Release 3.1 needs a small fix to keep its toolbox

Every preference, with GIMP’s default next to it, is on What PhotoGIMP changes.

Every key that changes meaning

This is the real cost of PhotoGIMP: GIMP keys you may already know now do something else. Read from PhotoGIMP 3.1’s shortcutsrc and GIMP 3.2.6’s defaults. “(still)” means GIMP keeps its own command on that key as well, so one key triggers two bindings; in our test, the PhotoGIMP command won for Ctrl+D and Ctrl+E.

Key	Stock GIMP 3.2	With PhotoGIMP	The stock command is now on
`{`	Tool's Size: Decrease by 10	Brush Hardness (Editor): Decrease by 0.1	Tool's Size: Decrease by 10: no key
`}`	Tool's Size: Increase by 10	Brush Hardness (Editor): Increase by 0.1	Tool's Size: Increase by 10: no key
`A`	Airbrush	Add Paths to Selection	Airbrush: no key
`B`	Paths	Paintbrush	Paths: no key
`C`	Clone	Crop	Clone: `S`
`E`	Ellipse Select	Eraser	Ellipse Select: `Shift`+`M`
`F`	Free Select	Fullscreen	Free Select: `L`
`H`	Healing	nothing	Healing: `J`
`I`	Scissors Select	Color Picker	Scissors Select: no key
`J`	nothing	Healing	—
`L`	nothing	Free Select	—
`M`	Move	Rectangle Select	Move: `V`
`O`	Color Picker	Dodge / Burn	Color Picker: `I`
`P`	Paintbrush	nothing	Paintbrush: `B`
`R`	Rectangle Select	Smudge	Rectangle Select: `M`
`S`	Smudge	Clone	Smudge: `R`
`U`	Fuzzy Select	nothing	Fuzzy Select: `W`
`V`	nothing	Move	—
`W`	Warp Transform	Fuzzy Select	Warp Transform: no key
`F11`	Fullscreen	nothing	Fullscreen: `F`
`Ctrl`+`,`	Fill with FG Color	nothing	Fill with FG Color: `Alt`+`Backspace`
`Ctrl`+`.`	Fill with BG Color	nothing	Fill with BG Color: `Ctrl`+`Backspace`
`Ctrl`+`0`	Open Recent Image 10	Fit Image in Window	Open Recent Image 10: no key
`Ctrl`+`D`	Duplicate	Duplicate (still), Select None	—
`Ctrl`+`E`	Export…	Export… (still), Merge Visible Layers…	—
`Ctrl`+`J`	Shrink Wrap	Duplicate Layers	Shrink Wrap: no key
`Ctrl`+`M`	Merge Visible Layers…	nothing	Merge Visible Layers…: `Ctrl`+`E`
`Ctrl`+`T`	Show Selection	Unified Transform	Show Selection: no key
`Shift`+`B`	Bucket Fill	nothing	Bucket Fill: `Shift`+`G`
`Shift`+`C`	Crop	nothing	Crop: `C`
`Shift`+`D`	Dodge / Burn	nothing	Dodge / Burn: `O`
`Shift`+`E`	Eraser	nothing	Eraser: `E`
`Shift`+`G`	Cage Transform	Bucket Fill	Cage Transform: no key
`Shift`+`M`	Measure	Ellipse Select	Measure: no key
`Shift`+`R`	Rotate	Blur / Sharpen	Rotate: no key
`Shift`+`S`	Scale	nothing	Scale: `Shift`+`T`
`Shift`+`T`	Unified Transform	Scale	Unified Transform: `Ctrl`+`T`
`Shift`+`U`	Blur / Sharpen	nothing	Blur / Sharpen: `Shift`+`R`
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`C`	nothing	Canvas Size…	—
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`I`	nothing	Scale Image…	—
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`A`	Select None	nothing	Select None: `Ctrl`+`D`
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`D`	Duplicate Layers	nothing	Duplicate Layers: `Ctrl`+`J`
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`J`	Fit Image in Window	nothing	Fit Image in Window: `Ctrl`+`0`
`Alt`+`Backspace`	nothing	Fill with FG Color	—
`Ctrl`+`Backspace`	nothing	Fill with BG Color	—

The table shows PhotoGIMP 3.1 as released. With our GIMP 3.2 fix, B is the Paintbrush only: the release’s line that removes GIMP’s own B for Paths uses the GIMP 3.0 name, and the fix makes it work again.

Some GIMP commands lose their key without getting a new one, such as Airbrush, Scissors Select, Warp Transform and Measure. They are still in the Tools menu and the toolbox, and you can give them any free key in Edit → Keyboard Shortcuts.

Who should use which

PhotoGIMP

You used Photoshop for years and want V, B, Ctrl+J and Ctrl+T to just work.
You switch between Photoshop at work and GIMP at home.
You follow Photoshop tutorials and translate them to GIMP.
You want the dark canvas surround and an eraser that makes transparency without extra steps.

Stock GIMP

You already know GIMP’s keys.
You learn from GIMP tutorials or the GIMP manual: they use GIMP’s keys and toolbox.
You customized GIMP and do not want those settings replaced.
You use a small screen and do not want PhotoGIMP’s saved window sizes (see why).

The middle ground

You do not have to take all of PhotoGIMP. Its files are independent, so you can copy only shortcutsrc for the keys, only toolrc for the toolbox, or skip sessionrc to keep your window layout. Which file does what. And switching back is quick: remove PhotoGIMP or restore the backup our install command makes.

Questions

Is PhotoGIMP better than GIMP?

It is GIMP. PhotoGIMP only changes settings, so it cannot be more capable. It is better for someone with Photoshop habits and worse for someone with GIMP habits.

Is PhotoGIMP slower than GIMP?

No. It changes no performance settings and adds no plug-ins. The larger layer thumbnails make the Layers panel slightly busier, nothing more.

Can I use GIMP tutorials with PhotoGIMP?

Yes, but translate the keys. Menus are unchanged, so menu paths in tutorials still work; tool letters and some shortcuts differ. The shortcuts page shows both.

Can I have PhotoGIMP and normal GIMP side by side?

Not in the same GIMP version and user account, because both use the same settings folder. A portable GIMP with its own settings folder is one way to keep both.

Keep going

What it changesFile by file: tools, panels, shortcuts and settings PhotoGIMP touches.ReviewOur tested verdict: who PhotoGIMP is for, and who should skip it.ShortcutsEvery PhotoGIMP shortcut on a live keyboard, with the Photoshop key next to it.Make GIMP look like PhotoshopPhotoGIMP or by hand: every setting that matters.Install guideFind your exact GIMP settings folder and the commands for it.Uninstall & resetRemove PhotoGIMP, restore a backup, or reset GIMP to defaults.

Found something wrong or out of date? Tell us: hello@photogimp.org. We fix mistakes within a day.

#Side by side

#Every key that changes meaning

#Who should use which