GIMP 3.4 to Adopt Compressed XML Project Format

The GIMP development team announced a significant architectural shift for the software's project handling in a progress report released August 16, 2026. The update signals a move toward a more flexible infrastructure designed to expand the tool's creative capabilities.

According to the GIMP.org announcement, the upcoming GIMP 3.4 release will introduce a new default project file format based on compressed XML. While these features are slated for the 3.4 milestone, the development team confirmed that the updates will first be available to users in the GIMP 3.3.2 development release. This transition marks a departure from the project's traditional handling of internal data.

Modernizing the Core

GIMP is currently navigating a transition period as it moves toward the 3.4 milestone. For years, the software has relied on its proprietary XCF format, which served as the backbone for layer-based editing in the open-source community. The shift to a compressed XML-based system is part of a broader effort to modernize the core infrastructure, ensuring the software can handle more complex data structures without sacrificing stability.

Expanding Creative Scope

This architectural change is not merely technical; it unlocks new functional capabilities for users. The new compressed XML format explicitly supports multi-page documents and animations, addressing long-standing limitations of the previous system. By integrating these features, GIMP is evolving from a static image editor into a more versatile tool capable of handling sequential art and motion graphics.

For the industry, this move brings GIMP closer to the feature sets found in professional proprietary competitors. The ability to manage multi-page projects within a single file streamlines workflows for designers and illustrators who previously had to manage multiple separate files for a single project. This modernization reduces friction in the creative process and expands the software's appeal to a wider range of professional artists.

The Road to 3.4

As the project moves forward, the focus remains on the stability of the 3.3.2 development release as a testing ground for these changes. While the transition to XML is a primary pillar of the August update, the community will be watching to see how the new format performs under heavy workloads. Further details on the full rollout of GIMP 3.4 and additional UX improvements are expected as the development cycle progresses.