[Cyrilshark]

Last Update: March 29, 2011

This is a rewritten and updated guide of Aeps guide found here.

1. Gimp and alternatives on Mac
2. X11
3. Themes on Mac
4. Random tips

1. Gimp and alternatives on Mac:
There are a few different versions of Gimp for Mac, each with their own pros and cons.

X11 Gimp
Pros:
•Separate versions for OS X 10.4 (Tigers), 10.5 (Leopard), and 10.6 (Snow Leopard)
•Usually very stable
•Easy to install
•Quick updates when Gimp is updated

Cons:
•Doesn't use the menu bar at the top of the screen, which may take some getting used to for Mac users.
•Very Windows 98 looking by default, though themes can be installed.
•Requires X11 to be installed (Installed by default in OS X 10.5+, if you're using 10.4, you have to install it from the installation DVD)
•Since it used X11, you need to double click on the different GIMP windows; once to bring the window into focus, once more to actually click what you want to click.
•The meta key is control instead of command, which will be extremely weird for most Mac users.
(Note: fixes for the last two cons are included in part 4. Random Tips)

Quote

X11 Gimp download:

There are version of the latest GIMP (2.6.11) for Mac OS X Tiger, Leopard, and Snow Leopard.

http://gimp.lisanet....e/Download.html

Gimp.app 2.6 (Formerly AquaGimp?)
Pros:
•The last two cons of X11 Gimp aren't problems, since Gimp.app doesn't run through X11.
•X11 isn't required.
•Doesn't look like Windows 98, but it does look like Tiger, an older Mac OS. Again, this can be changed through themes.

Cons:
•Rarely if ever up to date with the X11 Gimp.
•Less stable, but still not bad.
•LIttle to no support. Compatibility with older Mac OS's isn't stated anywhere I could find.
•Only the latest, 2.6, is Native, and it has lots of bugs.

If Gimp.app was formerly AquaGimp:
*2.4RC3 BUGS* (Unknown if they were fixed in 2.6.0 Experimental Release [Latest])
* Typing is does NOT work (you'll have to copy paste)
* Cursor stays a black, noisy square whatever you do

Quote

Gimp.app download:

Downloads:
Gimp 2.6 Native Experimental (No X11 required)
Gimp 2.4RC3 (Release Candidate) (X11 and Intel required)
Gimp 2.2.11 (X11 Universal [which means PPC or Intel] )

http://gimp-app.sourceforge.net/

Seashore (Native)
This isn't a port of Gimp, but it is closely based off it.

Pros:
•Completely Mac OS X Native, the last two cons of X11 Gimp aren't a problem here either.
•Beautiful GUI. Screenshots.
•Great for people who aren't too serious, and just want to do basic photo editing.
•Brush and plugin filter support.
•Uses XCF save format, so Gimp can open the same files.
•Tablet support.
•Can use GIMP brushes and textures

Cons:
•Lacking a lot of features Gimp has.
•Not suggested to be used by more experienced users.
•No Dodge and Burn tools
•No bezier line tool

Quote

Seashore download:

The latest Beta, 0.5, which makes huge changes to the functionality and UI, required OSX 10.4.11+.
If you're using below that, you have to use the latest stable, 0.1.9, which supports 10.3 to 10.5.

http://seashore.sour...t/Download.html

2. X11:

X11 is too complicated to explain, so I'll just show you how to get it.

If you're running 10.4, Tiger:
When you installed Tiger, there was an option to install X11. if you haven't installed it, there are two ways to install it, neither of which I've tested since I don't use Tiger. Use at your own risk

If you still have your installation DVD, you should be able to just insert the disk, and choose the Optional Installs.mpkg or something like that, and install X11. If you lost your Tiger install DVD, I've found this link:
http://roundhere.net...er-without-dvd/
Again, I haven't tested them. The first should be completely safe, since that's what it's for.
Not sure about the second method though.

If you're running 10.5, Leopard, or 10.6, Snow Leopard:
Unless you chose otherwise, X11 was installed by default.

If you chose not too, then insert the Installation DVD, and open the Optional Installs folder, and run the Optional Installs.mpkg installer.

3. Themes on Mac:

X11 Gimp:

Quote

To install themes for X11 Gimp, follow these steps:

1. Make a new folder wherever you want, called 'GimpThemes' or similar. (Alternatively you could navigate to /User/Library/Application Support/Gimp/Themes and use that one)
2. Download any themes from here - http://art.gnome.org/themes/gtk2/ (Some may not work, I guess they haven't been updated for the latest Gimp or something...)
3. Decompress the theme using the built in Archive Utility, or download the Unarchiver, which is my preferred decompressor. Drag the themes folder to the folder you made in step 1.
4. Open Gimp, go to Edit>Preferences, and locate the Folders tab at the bottom of the left panel.
5. Maximize the tab, and click on Themes (there's a Themes tab on the top of the left panel, that's not what you want).
6. In the Themes tab, click the button with the blank paper or whatever it is, which will open a file browser. Brose to the folder with the themes in it, and hit Done.
7. Close restart Gimp. Now, back in Preferences, go to the Themes folder at the TOP of the left panel. If you've done it right, you will see your new themes in the theme browser.

Gimp.app:
I'm not sure how to. If anybody wants to write a short guide, please do so.

4. Random Tips:

Fix the problem if needing to double-click in X11 Gimp:

Quote

Open Terminal in Macintosh HD/Applications/Utilities/Terminal
Wait a few seconds for it to load, and then type the following without quotes:

"defaults write org.x.X11 wm_click_through -bool true" (you can copy and paste)

Restart X11, and it should work!

Reassign the meta key in X11, meaning all shortcuts that would normally be Control (Control-S for save, for instance) would be replaced with Command (Command-S for save), which is what most Mac users should be used to. If you're not comfortable creating or editing a hidden file, do not attempt this!

Quote

Open X11.app (Macintosh HD/Applications/Utilities/X11.app)
Go to X11/Preferences and under the Input tab, turn off/uncheck these two settings:
•Follow system keyboard layout
•Enable key equivalents under X11

Now go to X11/Terminal. In the input window that popped up (terminal window) within X11, type in without the quotes:

"vi ~/.Xmodmap"

Press enter. This will open a hidden folder in your home directory called '.Xmodmap'.
Once it's open, hit 'A', to switch to Insert mode.
Then, type in the following without the quotes, hitting enter after each line:

"! ~/.Xmodmap
clear Mod2
clear control
keycode 63 = Control_L
keycode 67 = Control_L
add control = Control_L"

After you've done that, hit the Escape button to go back to command mode.
Now type the following without quotes:

":wq"

Finally, type the following without the quotes:

"xmodmap ~/.Xmodmap"

You should now have successfully switched the X11 meta key! This doesn't change only GIMP though, it will affect Inkscape, Open Office, or most if not all other programs run through X11

Thanks to Aep, who I got lots of this post from. All I did was rewrite it and add a few things.
If you have any questions, feel free to post here or PM me. If anything here is wrong, please let me know preferably with some sort of evidence ;D

Cyril

(ps: I appreciate +rep if you found this useful ;D)

[PhotoComix]

i seldom use mac (only to help my father when he has problem with his Tiger)anyway this looks as a good and exaustive guide

[Cyrilshark]

Thanks PC

[GimpentoshFX]

Cyril This is amazing! Thank you!

Edit: I can say that Gimp.app is probably not formerly aqua gimp. My mouse didn't look like a pixelly square.

[Cyrilshark]

[Cyrilshark]

Were you using 2.6 or 2.4RC3?

[GimpentoshFX]

Considering I got it about ummm... 4 weeks ago 2.6. It was the Gimp.app sourceforge website if that is what you mean.

[Cyrilshark]

If you still have it, can you check? Did you download it from the link I posted?

[GimpentoshFX]

Yes it was the website you gave. I deleted it after noticing there were no shortcuts... I NEED shortcuts!

[Cyrilshark]

There aren't? I should add that to cons. o.o

[GimpentoshFX]

I would probably still use it if there were shortcuts. Although maybe it is the same because if there are no shortcuts maybe there is no typing...

[Cyrilshark]

You need to figger out what version you were using please

[GimpentoshFX]

Oh... 2.6.0 it is!

[Cyrilshark]

EDIT: nvm

[Abu_Allawi]

To evolution , Gimp

[akkadia]

just found this thread...look forward to more info though I personally dont find any of it relevant really...been a GIMP user on mac for a couple of years. Only real issue I had recently was installing G'MIC, but nutted that out..and wrote a tutorial re same. .and a few obscure scripts might not work but there are plenty of great things about GIMP on mac. Currently using Mac OS X 10.6.7

[Stabilizer]

I'm in an office with a very tight IT budget so I try to push open source wherever possible. For basic image editing, I've turned some people onto Gimp. One frustrating aspect of Gimp—because it runs under X11 and is not a native Cocoa application—is that ever time you want to choose a tool from the toolbox, you have to click the toolbox to select it, and then click again to select the tool. It's frustrating when all I want to do is make a simple edit. I've just located this solution.....

[Partha]

Stabilizer, on 12 December 2011 - 11:16 AM, said:

I'm in an office with a very tight IT budget so I try to push open source wherever possible. For basic image editing, I've turned some people onto Gimp. One frustrating aspect of Gimp—because it runs under X11 and is not a native Cocoa application—is that ever time you want to choose a tool from the toolbox, you have to click the toolbox to select it, and then click again to select the tool. It's frustrating when all I want to do is make a simple edit. I've just located this solution.....

I know this is an old thread but I wanted the Mac users to know that there is an alternative. You can now run Gimp natively on your Mac. See the thread I started here.

Thanks,
Partha
www.partha.com

[arleneangle]

What you said it is very useful.

[akkadia]

Partha, on 12 August 2012 - 05:17 AM, said:

Stabilizer, on 12 December 2011 - 11:16 AM, said:

I'm in an office with a very tight IT budget so I try to push open source wherever possible. For basic image editing, I've turned some people onto Gimp. One frustrating aspect of Gimp—because it runs under X11 and is not a native Cocoa application—is that ever time you want to choose a tool from the toolbox, you have to click the toolbox to select it, and then click again to select the tool. It's frustrating when all I want to do is make a simple edit. I've just located this solution.....

I know this is an old thread but I wanted the Mac users to know that there is an alternative. You can now run Gimp natively on your Mac. See the thread I started here.

Thanks,
Partha
www.partha.com

Works like a charm too…looks good and feels good. I'm very happy with it.

Just read through some of the other stuff…first, for parthas native version, you do not need X11 to run it. Secondly, I have recently purchased a macbook pro running Mountain Lion, it runs on both Mountain Lion and Lion. It also has gmic included.

This post has been edited by akkadia: 13 August 2012 - 08:47 AM