I downloaded the newest (unstable version), 2.7....lots of bugs yet, and had to throw some files out of the GIMP 2.6 program to get the program to fire (lib, share, and some other folders).

Some real neat add-ons though.I am not particularly down with the new text editor , some applications wouldn't fire when it opened.Some missing dll, lib files and such. maybe parts of the text app was one.
The way it looks the font selector will be built into the text window now, and it will have a window pad like 2.6 but you will be able to switch from full window or classic your preference.

I was hoping it would have a decent layer group plugin, but i didnt see it, perhaps it isnt ready yet.
The interface looks almost exactly like 2.6 (stable version)
these are from what iv'e heard will be in the new version:
full window preferences
new text editor
new layer groups plugin (similar to that other program)
IWarp is kept and better than ever...yay!
the preview windows are larger...and they are
you can now add hue and saturation,levels, curves and other tools into your tool box, like the older versions 2.4 and such via the preferences dialog...i missed that

EDIT: it is still possible to add them via winows/tools...didnt see that.
some 100 or so other bug fixes

anyways , its just a test version without all the goodies yet, and im sure the new 2.7 will be worth waiting for. I for one can't wait till Dec 2010 when the first issue of GIMP 2.7 is supposed to come out. =) .. it wont be a stable version until 2011 though.

Hooray for the larger preview windows.

Thank you for the nice review, Rod!

i am going to keep tossing files here and there into it and see what happens =)
kinda fun to play with.It keeps telling me libtiff and libz are missing but they are in there...maybe the wrong place.ill keep fiddling with it. =P

ill keep you informed of the progress

this is a image of full window mode...pretty cool.
i believe it has tabbed images now too. =)

yup tabbed images on top now...far out

very nice Rod...... maybe a little white spec in the pupil would be nice too.

text tool still kinda funky though ;(
every time i go to move it it jumps to the top of the window....lol

wondering if i can replace the new one with the old text plugin?
dunno if thats possible.

here you go Molly...just for you. =)

only thing is when you save to any other format than xcf...you must export instead...kinda weird

hopefully they fix the side panel so you can open it more...seems thats as far as it will go in.

all in all it looks and acts pretty nice...very fast too it seems. The new GEGL possibly?
ahh well i will keep mesing with it ... have to keep the DOS window open at all times though or it will close the program...that kinda sux =)

Does this mean we can actually format our text in GIMP?

yeah that little space bar in the text tool is to pick your font...all text is typed on the canvas directly now...you can make it bold/italic...even use styles i think.

also i figured out the panel...if you open it at all...it wont retract (in other words you cant close it and get a bigger view of your work).

BUT, if you switch back to non single window mode, you can then close the tool dialog and then reopen the single mode window then retract the panel, and after that reopen the last closed dialog...whew...seems like alot of bother, i recommend not opening the dialog at all...lol

I think I'm with you on that.

I was wondering if gimp would ever get text formatting. That's a feature I really am happy to see.

yeah its good to see it in there, now if i can just catch it...lol

Do keyboard shortcuts work with it? Like Ctrl + B for Bold, Ctrl + I for Italics, Ctrl + U for Underline?

Can you highlight parts of the text and just format the selected part?

there is an option to use the editor instead...the old version...thank God i thought i was never gonna be able to type text...lol
i will keep trying to get it to work though. =)

Bold, Italic, underline and strikethru are all built into the editor...no keyboard shorts work as of yet.