[HowTo] python plugins and GIMP with Windows

[Sagenlicht]

Hmm as it seems that some people got some problems to use python plugins with GIMP with windows I'll provide a short HowTo.

What do you need?
- Download and install Python. GIMP doesnt work with Python 3 nor with the latest Python 2 release (2.7). You need to download Python 2.6.6 *Link to source* - grab the MSI Windows Installer you need - either 32 or 64 bit version.

- Now you need install the PyGTK package. There is a complete all-in-one installer avaible at the project page. *Link to source* - grab the pygtk-all-in-one-2.24.0.win32-py2.6.msi file.

Afterwards reinstall GIMP and be sure to do either a full installation or a custom installation with activated Python elements. If the GIMP installer did grey out the python elements at least one of the above programs aint correctly installed.

Now GIMP is ready to use python plugins. In order to use them you just have to copy them into your plugin folder, which is normally located at C:\Documents and Settings\<Your windows user>\gimp-2.4\plug-ins. If it aint there you can check in GIMP where your custom plugins folder is located at.

I hope this short HowTo helps

EDIT: I updated the links.

[Karro]

A quick question... what will reinstalling GIMP do to my existing Script-fu plugins and custom brushes? Will I need to reinstall them as well?

[Sagenlicht]

As long as they are stored in your custom folders (in documents and settings if you use the default settings) you dont have to worry about them.

[stuamn]

I installed python from the above link - it's version 2.6. pyGTK+, pyCairo and pyGobthingy seem to need Python 2.5. Not sure at the moment whether to uninstall 2.6 and install 2.5 or wait for updates to the three pys.

GIMP 2.6 is out so i'll have a play with that before deciding

[Sagenlicht]

Hi Stuamn,

yep Python recently released 2.6 though if you scroll down a bit you'll find the link to 2.5.2 which is the version I would recommend at the moment.

Python 2.6 doesnt offer anything you need for GIMP, in fact the 2.6 release just prepares Python for its next major release (3.0). So if you plan to use python mainly for GIMP I would recommend to downgrade to version 2.5.2.

[stuamn]

Thanks, It works now. I uninstalled everything before starting. Gimp, GTK and python 2.6. Then I installed as per your instructions. I would rep you but it seems that I have already done so recently. I'll spread some about and rep you next time I see your name

stuamn

[RobA]

Also, python scripts actually are plugins, and have to be in the plugins folder, not the scripts folder (cause script-fu/tiny-fu is actually a plugin... Confusing, I know)...

-Rob A>

[Vandy]

Hello, All.

I have a general question for you. I noticed when I installed Inkscape that Python files were installed as well.

Is there anything I need to be concerned with before installing the Python files needed for GIMP or are the Python files installed with Inkscape okay or, what?

Thanks.

Regards,

Gary

[Karro]

The most important thing I found was you have to reboot after installing Python before you install anything else. Worst case scenario, install something without errors in the order listed and reboot before trying the next thing.

I did indeed restart after installing Python. The exact order I took was:

1) Uninstall GIMP
2) Download all the Python and GTK+ and Py-stuff
3) Install Python 2.5.4
4) Restart
5) Install GTK+
6) Install other Py-stuff
7) Make sure that shiny new scripts are all all in the script folder of GIMP
Reinstall (latest version of) GIMP [note: I had been running GIMP 2.4, upgraded to 2.6.5; I don't think I like that you can't minimize the tools and layers/palette windows anymore... sometimes I want to access my desktop, you know? I think I do like that it automatically opens a window for an image frame with all the menus centralized]

Also, python scripts actually are plugins, and have to be in the plugins folder, not the scripts folder (cause script-fu/tiny-fu is actually a plugin... Confusing, I know)...

-Rob A>

Ahh. Somewhere along the way I had gotten the impression that Python scripts belonged in the script folder along with script-fu scripts. I'll change them around tonight and check and see if that solves the problem, thanks!


Note: It changes my 8parenthesis into a bespectacled smiley; I'm just trying to enumerate, not to be cool

[jfrazierjr]

I did indeed restart after installing Python. The exact order I took was:

1) Uninstall GIMP
2) Download all the Python and GTK+ and Py-stuff
3) Install Python 2.5.4
4) Restart
5) Install GTK+
6) Install other Py-stuff
7) Make sure that shiny new scripts are all all in the script folder of GIMP
Reinstall (latest version of) GIMP [note: I had been running GIMP 2.4, upgraded to 2.6.5; I don't think I like that you can't minimize the tools and layers/palette windows anymore... sometimes I want to access my desktop, you know? I think I do like that it automatically opens a window for an image frame with all the menus centralized]



Ahh. Somewhere along the way I had gotten the impression that Python scripts belonged in the script folder along with script-fu scripts. I'll change them around tonight and check and see if that solves the problem, thanks!


Note: It changes my 8parenthesis into a bespectacled smiley; I'm just trying to enumerate, not to be cool

Install GTK, reboot.
Install all the other python stuff, reboot
Install GIMP and check the python option during the install.

I had trouble with this also, and originally blamed it on being Vista 64 bit after getting my new computer. For a few weeks, I was just bummed. I then went back to it and did several reboots between and got it working.