Gimp and Windows 7 x64

[Jerryc999]

I am looking forward (just started reading a text book) to learning Gimp. I just purchased a new desk-top unit that has Windows 7 x64. Based on the Microsoft Windows 7 compatability site, Gimp is shown to not be compatabile. The Gimp web site gives the latest Windows (32) download and a dowload link for an "unstable" 32/64 bit version.

Is anyone running Gimp on Windows 7 64? If so can you tell me what version you installed. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Jerry

 

[Mike Connor]

http://www.sevenforums.com/software/144056-gimp-windows.html#post1326768

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[Maxxwire]

Is anyone running Gimp on Windows 7 64? If so can you tell me what version you installed. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Jerry

I've been running GIMP on my Win 7 x64 computer ever since I got it last summer. I am currently running GIMP 2.6.10 x64 and I have never had a single problem!

~Maxx~

.

 

[Mike Connor]

I've been running GIMP on my Win 7 x64 computer ever since I got it last summer. I am currently running GIMP 2.6.10 x64 and I have never had a single problem!

~Maxx~

.

I also run the x64 BIT version on another machine, and have also never had a problem, but, you can not run quite a few of the add-ons on the x64 BIT versions. They just wont work. If you only use the basic GIMP, then it doesn't matter, if you want the add-ons then you need to install the x32 BIT version.

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[Maxxwire]

Jerryc999-So basically, yes GIMP x64 runs perfectly on Win 7 x64, but the 'add-ons' only run on the x32 version. I find GIMP so full featured that I've been running it for over 3 years without the need of an add-on.

~Maxx~

.

 

[Mike Connor]

Jerryc999-So basically, yes GIMP x64 runs perfectly on Win 7 x64, but the 'add-ons' only run on the x32 version. I find GIMP so full featured that I've been running it for over 3 years without the need of an add-on.

~Maxx~

.

Doubtless, but why limit yourself if you don't have to? Many people use GIMP precisely because of the add-ons. If they don't run, then the software is useless to them.

Furthermore, there is no support for GIMP x64, and the developers advise against using it. Even the installer is experimental;

GIMP - Windows installers

You get a warning when you install the x64 BIT version, that it might not work, and if it doesn't you must not bother the developers with it.

The x32 BIT version is stable, reliable, runs all the appropriate x32 BIT add-ons, and causes no other problems that I am aware of.

The guy asked for the best version, and even mentioned the unstable version.

In my opinion, installing unstable versions of anything at all is inadvisable, especially if they have limited functionality, and there is no good reason for doing so.

Your mileage may vary..........

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[Maxxwire]

Furthermore, there is no support for GIMP x64, and the developers advise against using it. Even the installer is experimental;

GIMP - Windows installers

You get a warning when you install the x64 BIT version, that it might not work, and if it doesn't you must not bother the developers with it.

In my opinion, installing unstable versions of anything at all is inadvisable, especially if they have limited functionality, and there is no good reason for doing so.

Regards....Mike Connor

I also run the x64 BIT version on another machine, and have also never had a problem.

Regards....Mike Connor

?????

 

[Mike Connor]

Furthermore, there is no support for GIMP x64, and the developers advise against using it. Even the installer is experimental;

GIMP - Windows installers

You get a warning when you install the x64 BIT version, that it might not work, and if it doesn't you must not bother the developers with it.

In my opinion, installing unstable versions of anything at all is inadvisable, especially if they have limited functionality, and there is no good reason for doing so.

Regards....Mike Connor

I also run the x64 BIT version on another machine, and have also never had a problem.

Regards....Mike Connor

?????

What is the problem? Do you have a question you would like to ask me?

Are you having trouble reading or understanding my posts?

Advising beginners to use unstable versions of anything is not sensible.

I already explained in quite some detail why it is not a good idea for him to use the x64 version, the developers of the system also advise the same thing.

Why you would persist in this after having the reasons carefully explained to you is not sensible either.

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[Maxxwire]

I also run the x64 BIT version on another machine, and have also never had a problem.
Regards....Mike Connor

You have clearly stated that you use GIMP x64 BIT and recommended it to the OP in the statement above by saying that you have never had a problem running x64 BIT GIMP so how is it that you now make all of these claims of the program's instability?

~Maxx~

.

 

[Mike Connor]

I also run the x64 BIT version on another machine, and have also never had a problem.
Regards....Mike Connor

You have clearly stated that you use GIMP x64 BIT and recommended it to the OP in the statement above by saying that you have never had a problem running x64 BIT GIMP so how is it that you now make all of these claims of the program's instability?

~Maxx~

.

So either you do have difficulty reading and understanding my posts, or you have not read them. I expressly DID NOT RECOMMEND the x64 version. If you had read my posts you would know that. I have made no claims whatsoever about instability, the DEVELOPER OF THE SYSTEM WARNS THAT IT IS UNSTABLE.

What part of;

QUOTE
Yes, the GIMP is first class. It is not the same as Photoshop, but you can do a very great deal with it, and there is nothing else even nearly as good for free!. It is not easy to get it set up exactly as you want it on Windows. If you try it, don't get the 64 BIT version. It works fine by itself, but many of the available add-ons and plugins wont. Get the latest 32 BIT version (2.6), and the paint studio add-on;
UNQUOTE

From my initial reply to the original poster

http://www.sevenforums.com/software/144056-gimp-windows.html#post1326768

don't you understand? Or have you not read it?

I don't advise ANYBODY AT ALL to install the x64 version of GIMP on Windows. The installer is unstable as stated by the DEVELOPER OF THE SYSTEM, and a warning is also given when you try to install it.

It works fine on one of my machines, as far as it goes, BUT I DO NOT RECOMMEND USING IT!!!! Also for the other reasons I gave in regard to important programs and plugins which will not run on the x64 BIT version of GIMP.

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[Maxxwire]

Thank you for finally addressing the issue of how you yourself run GIMP x64 BIT, but are not willing to recommend it to others even though as you said you "have never had a problem" running it.

~Maxx~

.

 

[Mike Connor]

Thank you for finally addressing the issue of how you yourself run GIMP x64 BIT, but are not willing to recommend it to others even though as you said you "have never had a problem" running it.

~Maxx~

.

I run a great many things which I would not recommend to anybody else.

There is no "issue", I merely pointed out that the x64 BIT version runs without any problems on one of my machines. That is not a recommendation, merely a statement of fact.

What I expressly recommend for beginners with GIMP for Windows is that they use a stable version and a stable installer, as recommended by the developer, and which also works with other programs, plugins, and add-ons, which many people like to use.

That is also the version running on my main production machine.

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[Maxxwire]

There is no "issue", I merely pointed out that the x64 BIT version runs without any problems on one of my machines.

Regards....Mike Connor

I agree about there not being an issue as I've been running GIMP 2.6.10 x64 almost every day since August 2010 on my Windows 7 x64 computer and I've published 100's and 100's of photos as well as many graphics projects without any issues whatsoever.

Everyone must make up their own minds as to what programs they install on their computer. Eight months ago I decided to give GIMP 2.6.10 x64 a try because I had a new Win 7 x64 computer and I had run only x32 GIMP prior to that and it really paid off in that there hasn't been so much as a small hiccup since I went from x32 bit to x64 bit GIMP in fact I had more problems in some of the officially stable v2.6.4 through v2.6.8 x32 bit versions of GIMP that I ran in the past than I have with GIMP 2.6.10 x64!

~Maxx~

.

 

[Mike Connor]

You seem very determined to make an issue out of nothing.

I wish you good luck with it.

End of thread for me.

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[Maxxwire]

I wish you good luck with it.

Regards....Mike Connor

I don't need luck, I've got GIMP 2.6.10 x64 for the tons of my photos and graphics I work with each day!

~Maxx~

.

 

[Jerryc999]

Guys,


Thanks for all your input. I appreciate the thought in both of your opinions. Of course I do have to admit that I am further along in clearing the fog as to what approach to take. My exhaustive web search has yielded little results. I have found some that stated that 32 bit GIMP on Widows 7 x64 resulted in periodic freezes. Some also claimed that it took a an extraordinary amount of time to load GIMP upon execution. The sample size is much smaller for 64 bit GIMP, but those that I found claimed it worked great, except for the add-ons.


I am a retiree on a tight budget (lost my wife to cancer 4 years ago), so my main concern is not corrupting my new desk-top. It has a good processor and 6 GB of memory. Based on the YouTube demos and just skimming my new book, I really want to get GIMP'ing.


IF nothing else I did find the WindowsSeven Forum, and what a superb resource that is.


Thanks to you Both
Jerry

 

[Maxxwire]

f you use it and it works then you already had a lot of luck.
Mike Connor

No luck needed at all, I just installed GIMP 2.6.10 x64 8 months ago and it has been an important part in producing several 100's of pictures which continue to get 1,000's of views on line each and every day.

~Maxx~

.

 

[Maxxwire]

Jerry- The accounts of GIMP taking a ling time to initialize could be referring to GIMP's slow start when its App Data Temp files have been deleted and they must go through the slow process of being replaced. When these files are present GIMP x64 usually takes 3 seconds to fully initialize on my Win 7 x64 computer, but it took twice as long for GIMP x32 on my Vista laptop.

Its impossible to tell from other people's accounts how GIMP x64 will run on your computer. Nevertheless just after I bought my Win 7 x64 computer last summer I wanted to run some x64 programs on it and GIMP x64 was one of the few programs and the only image management program that I found an x64 version for and as I said before GIMP x64 has run like a dream ever since which is more than I can say for some of the many x32 versions of GIMP that I ran over the years.

Regardless of which version of GIMP you choose to run I'm sure that you will find it a great benefit to whatever image management tasks you ask it to perform.

~Maxx~

.

 

[Mike Connor]

Guys,


Thanks for all your input. I appreciate the thought in both of your opinions. Of course I do have to admit that I am further along in clearing the fog as to what approach to take. My exhaustive web search has yielded little results. I have found some that stated that 32 bit GIMP on Widows 7 x64 resulted in periodic freezes. Some also claimed that it took a an extraordinary amount of time to load GIMP upon execution. The sample size is much smaller for 64 bit GIMP, but those that I found claimed it worked great, except for the add-ons.


I am a retiree on a tight budget (lost my wife to cancer 4 years ago), so my main concern is not corrupting my new desk-top. It has a good processor and 6 GB of memory. Based on the YouTube demos and just skimming my new book, I really want to get GIMP'ing.


IF nothing else I did find the WindowsSeven Forum, and what a superb resource that is.


Thanks to you Both
Jerry

Hi Jerry,

well I hope it gave you some info at least. If you want to you can try both versions and see what suits you best. It is not really a big deal. The most major reason for me finally deciding to use the 32 BIT version, was this;

Enhance GIMP’s Image Editing Power with Gimp Paint Studio - How-To Geek ETC

It is a really great add-on for GIMP, indeed it is more than that, it enhances the interface and functionality considerably, and it wont run on the 64 BIT version.

As I wrote, I had no problems running the bare x64 BIT version, but most of the add-ons I wanted to use would not run on it. There is no noticeable difference in speed on my machines, and I have had no "freezes" or anything like that on either system.

May be useful to you;

http://code.google.com/p/gps-gimp-paint-studio/wiki/Installation

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[Jerryc999]

Hey Guys,

I noticed that the GIMP help files are a seperate downloadable .exe package. Is the help system a seperate application or is it cnnected to the GIMP application. Will the help package work with either the 32 or 64 bit versions? As a new user I will need the Help files.

Thanks