Several IRC channels and mailing lists are available for discussing GIMP-related topics. There is also a Discord server. IRC offers real-time communication, but be aware that there may be long periods of silence in the channels when other users are busy or away from their keyboards. When you join the GIMP IRC channels, please do not ask if somebody can help you. If you have a question, ask directly and then wait patiently to see if someone answers. Other recommendations can be found at the bottom of this page.
The official GIMP IRC channels are on GIMPNet (irc.gimp.org) and have existed for more than 20 years. Many channels related to GTK+ and GNOME are also on GIMPNet.
- irc://irc.gimp.org/#gimp-users
- The main support channel for GIMP users. This is probably the right
place to ask questions (but please see the hints at the
bottom of this page). This channel might be less scary than #gimp,
especially for new users…
- irc://irc.gimp.org/#gimp
- This is the main GIMP channel, created in early 1997. Both users and
developers hang around, and almost any question about GIMP is ontopic. From
a user’s point of view, this can be a downside: discussion often focuses on
GIMP development and the bleeding edge version of GIMP.
- irc://irc.gimp.org/#gimp-web
- A channel devoted to this web site and related GIMP sites. Most active
when the migration from classic.gimp.org happened a few years
ago, it is pretty quiet now. But if you have suggestions or issues with the
current website, this channel is for you.
Other networks
The main GIMP IRC channels described above are on GIMPNet (irc://irc.gimp.org/), the official network for topics related to GIMP and GNOME. However, several channels also exist on other IRC networks, though sometimes also operated by core team members, more often by third-party community members.
The community is very welcome to discuss about GIMP anywhere, on other IRC channels as well as on other networks, chat protocols and forums. Nevertheless our channels on GIMPNet stay so far the only instant conversation means officially operated by the GIMP project (as this has been the case for many years).
There is also a Discord server.
Rules and hints
- Don’t expect to be greeted. Start talking or listen.
- Don’t ask to ask, just ask. Questions like “May I ask a question?” are redundant since you have obviously joined the channel to do something. Questions like “Can someone help me?” cannot be answered until you have described your problem. Be direct and describe your problem or question immediately.
- Be patient. This is not a phone support line.
- Don’t ask frequently asked questions. Using a search engine, visiting this web site, the developer site and reading the documentation will help you to determine if your question falls into this category. It’s not forbidden to ask the question, though, but you should be prepared for answers like “RTFM” or “use Google”.
- Be respectful towards other users. An occasional joke is ok (unless your sense of humor is really weird), but try to keep a minimum of maturity.
- Don’t make fun of other people’s problems with the language. English is the language used in the main GIMP-related channels and it might not be the native language of some users.
- Don’t assume that you can break the rules if others seem to do so. There are a few users in #gimp who have been granted a jester’s license. Additionally, there is an unwritten rule that you may talk off-topic up to the amount of your ontopic contribution.
- In #gimp on IRC (the main channel), the GIMP developers have special privileges and may use and abuse them. If you are not comfortable with that, then you should join #gimp-users instead.
- Say what you want, tell us what you’ve done, and be precise about it.
