GIMP enthusiasts often argue that the program doesn't need to "be like Photoshop" because it's already a powerful and capable tool on its own. But if the past few months have taught us anything with these "Linux transformed into Windows" and other similar projects, it's that going against the "muscle memory" that users develop doesn't always make sense. That's how we arrive at the repository of the Brazilian site Diolinux and its PhotoGIMP project, which converts a standard GIMP 2.10 installation into a rather convincing Photoshop clone.
Online guides and tutorials recommend it endlessly: if you can't afford a Photoshop subscription, GIMP is the number one alternative. But GIMP is... different. It has a different vision, a different development philosophy. That also brings significant changes to its interface and functions, which not all users end up embracing. However, GIMP's open source nature enables truly remarkable modifications that can change its appearance and behavior.
Convert GIMP into a Photoshop Clone with PhotoGIMP
That takes us to the GitHub repository of the Brazilian portal Diolinux, where a project called PhotoGIMP appeared. In essence, what PhotoGIMP does is modify several aspects of the conventional GIMP 2.10 to turn it into a Photoshop clone. In other words, PhotoGIMP rearranges the physical position of tools, installs hundreds of new fonts, includes and installs filters like "Heal Selection", and restores keyboard shortcuts following Adobe's official documentation.
It all sounds great so far, but to install PhotoGIMP you have to get your hands dirty. While the Linux edition coordinates the whole process using Flatpak, Windows users will have to close GIMP, download the zip file, extract its contents to a temporary folder, and enter a long chain of subfolders:
"PhotoGIMP by Diolinux v2020 for Flatpak\.var\app\org.gimp.GIMP\config\GIMP\2.10\"
The second step is to take all the contents of that "2.10" folder and dump it into:
"C:\Users\(yourusername)\AppData\Roaming\GIMP\2.10\"
Confirming to Windows that it should rewrite and replace all files it finds along the way. Once the copy is done, open GIMP, and the effects of the patch will be immediate. It even takes the trouble to replace the program's splash screen.
I admit the patch is a bit awkward to install on Windows, but it's definitely worth it, and being honest, we've done far worse hacks in the past. The rest is a matter of seeing how convincing the conversion from standard GIMP to a Photoshop clone is for you. Load up a virtual machine and give it a try.
Official site and download: Click here
