How To Install Resynthesizer in GIMP

GIMP, an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program, is a free and open-source graphics editor used for tasks such as photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring. One of the most powerful plugins you can add to your GIMP installation is Resynthesizer. This tool is similar to Photoshop’s Content-Aware Fill feature, allowing you to remove objects from your images, fill in gaps or extend backgrounds. In this article, we will guide you through the process of installing Resynthesizer in GIMP.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure that you have the latest version of GIMP installed on your system. If you haven’t, you can download it from the official GIMP website.

Installing Resynthesizer in GIMP

The installation process varies depending on your GIMP version and installation method. We’ll cover several scenarios below.

For GIMP <= 2.8:

1. Open your terminal.
2. Install the package “gimp-plugin-registry” by running the following command:

sudo apt-get install gimp-plugin-registry

The sudo command allows you to run the command as a superuser, while apt-get install is used to install the specified package.

For GIMP >= 2.10:

1. Download the Resynthesizer plugins: “resynthesizer”, “resynthesizer_gui”, and “plugin-heal-selection.py”. You can obtain these plugins by compiling the source from the project’s home page or by downloading an Ubuntu DEB file from the package “gimp-plugin-registry” here matching your architecture.
2. Copy these plugins to one of the defined plugin folders. It is recommended to use ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins in your home directory.

For GIMP installed via Flatpak:

1. Run the command flatpak search org.gimp.GIMP to search for available packages.
2. If the package “org.gimp.GIMP.Plugin.Resynthesizer” is listed, install it by running the following command:

flatpak install org.gimp.GIMP.Plugin.Resynthesizer

3. Open GIMP, and the Resynthesizer filters should now be available and functional.

For Ubuntu 20.04 and later with GIMP 2.10.18:

1. Install the “gimp-plugin-registry” package by running the following command:

sudo apt install gimp-plugin-registry

2. Note that due to Python 2.x no longer being supported, only the core Resynthesizer plugin is included, and the Python-based plugins like “Heal Selection” are not included.
3. To use the Resynthesizer core plugin, follow the specific steps outlined in the Resynthesizer documentation or user guide.

Alternative method (older versions):

1. Visit the following link: https://web.archive.org/web/20180225174428/http://registry.gimp.org/node/27986.
2. Download the Resynthesizer file and extract it.
3. Copy the extracted files to the GIMP plug-ins folder. To locate the folder, go to your home folder, press Ctrl+h to show hidden files, and search for the .gimp2.x folder (replace ‘x’ with your GIMP version number). Inside that folder, locate the “plug-ins” folder.

Final Steps

After installing Resynthesizer, remember to restart GIMP. If you encounter any issues, make sure the plug-ins folder is properly configured in GIMP by going to Edit > Preferences > Folders > Plug-ins.

Conclusion

Installing Resynthesizer in GIMP can significantly enhance your image editing capabilities. This plugin is a powerful tool that can help you remove unwanted objects from your images, fill in gaps, or extend backgrounds. Follow the steps outlined in this guide to install Resynthesizer in GIMP and start leveraging its features today.