What is the Pressure Sensitivity Option in GIMP?

It would be an understatement to say that GIMP’s new pressure sensitivity option is a game-changer. It makes it much easier to customize your design with the simple swipe of a stylus pen. In the article below, you’ll learn more about how to enable the pressure sensitivity option and use it.

The pressure sensitivity option allows you to customize line thickness and paintbrush type with the touch of a tablet screen. The program can be enabled in GIMP 2.10. 

Continue to the sections below to learn how to enable this feature on your device. Stay tuned for tips on how to further enhance your experience on GIMP with the pressure sensitivity option.

What Does The Pressure Sensitivity Option On GIMP Do?

If you haven’t used the pressure sensitivity option yet, then you’re missing out! Learn more below.

Easy Way To Change The Thickness of A Line

The pressure sensitivity simplifies line thickness customization. As long as you are using a touchscreen device, you can change the thickness of a line by applying more or less pressure. No longer is there a need to rifle through a bunch of settings options.

Change Your Paint Brush

This also opens the door to a whole new world of possibilities with paint brushes. You’ll see broad brushes, 3-d shapes, trails of dots, and much more. 

This adds that extra bit of definition to your piece that you’ve been looking for. While you’re at it, you’re encouraged to visit the design template site linked here. The site has a seemingly countless number of design mock-ups and templates.

This is more than just a good place to find inspiration for your next big project. It is also a great way to finish off a project you’ve hit the brick wall on.

How To Use Pressure Sensitivity In GIMP

Here’s how to enable the pressure sensitivity option and use it in GIMP.

How To Enable Pressure Sensitivity

Pressure sensitivity works in GIMP when using a tablet or device with a touchscreen. To enable the pressure sensitivity, you just simply navigate to the Edit tab at the top left menu inside the GIMP program.

Click on the Edit tab and:

  • Scroll down to Preferences and click to open the window.
  • Towards the bottom of the menu, you should find Input Devices
  • Pan to the right and select Configure Extended Devices
  • Pan to the left and enable the Tablet Pressure Stylus.

After this, you should be free to enable the pressure sensitivity option. You’ll also be able to select between a whole host of paint brushes variations on the left side of the screen.

How To Use The Brush Dynamics

The brush dynamics feature is what gives you access to a seemingly unlimited number of brush tools. To access this feature, you can either switch to a brush-like tool or use the keyboard shortcut P.

Once you have selected a paintbrush tool:

  1. Pan to the Tool Options panel, which is often located on the left side of the screen.
  2. Scroll towards the bottom of the panel to find Dynamics.
  3. Clicking the icon beside the Dynamics option will open up the Dynamics preset dropdown menu.

One of the options on the list should be Pressure Size. This is the option that allows you to change line thickness via the amount of pressure you apply to the screen. 

What’s Good About GIMP? How Can It Be Improved?

The GIMP design software offers several advantages to its users. It’s free to use and it’s simple to create high-quality images and designs.

Continue below to learn more about how to further enhance your experience on GIMP.

It’s Free To Use

Not only is GIMP free to use, but it’s also functional on a wide variety of operating systems. It’s compatible with macOS, Windows, and GNU/Linux.

Easy To Import Images into GIMP

It’s simple to import images from your computer’s file system into GIMP. This software is capable of both reading and writing most file types, including JPEG, GIF, PNG, and TIFF. Special file types are also accepted, such as multi-color-depth Windows icon files.

How To Improve Quality In GIMP

One of the best ways to improve resolution is to source your image from a website that offers high-quality images and templates. Placeit.net is a good place to start.

For a small annual subscription fee, you gain access to over 85,000 unique design and media assets. This includes fully-customizable logos and an online design mock-up inventory. You can also cancel anytime after 1 month if you decide that Placeit is not for you.

Final Thoughts

The pressure sensitivity option in GIMP allows you to change line thickness and customize your paintbrush with the simple swipe of a finger or stylus. This feature can be enabled from the settings menu below the Edit tab.