Buried in GIMP’s codebase was a bug in the XCF format that nobody had touched since 1999. With version 3.2.4, released on April 19, the team finally squashed it, along with a batch of other fixes and minor improvements.

What got fixed

XCF is GIMP’s native project file format. The problem, open for nearly three decades, was about how the software handled data internally. The fix also ensures that files created both with and without the bug load correctly, so existing projects won’t break.

On the XCF front, version 3.2.2 had unintentionally introduced a separate issue that made some text layers read-only after reopening a file. That’s been resolved too.

Several security researchers flagged potential problems in the image import plugins. Affected formats include APNG, PNG, DDS, PSD, PSP, and others. The project maintainers turned those reports into specific patches.

Scanner support returns on Windows

GIMP 3.2.2 dropped support for 32-bit Windows, which meant losing the scanner plugin that relied on 32-bit TWAIN drivers. Version 3.2.4 brings a replacement based on Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) API, accessible from the same menu spot: File > Create > Scanner/Camera. The interface might look different than before, and you may need updated WIA drivers for your scanner.

Interface and performance

The welcome window now handles long filenames correctly. Intersection mode selections on large images are noticeably faster: instead of recalculating the entire image, the engine now considers only pixels already selected. Tool cursors no longer vanish on Wayland during movement, and the color picker on macOS now uses the ScreenCaptureKit API on systems running version 12 and up.

Looking toward GIMP 3.4

The team notes that the 3.2 series is approaching maturity. Soon the stable and experimental branches will split, opening the door for work on features planned for GIMP 3.4. From that point on, 3.2 will only receive bug fixes and security updates.

GIMP 3.2.4 is available for Linux (AppImage, Flatpak, Snap), Windows, and macOS on the official site.