How to use numpy in Python scripts in GIMP

Software GIMP
1

Hi,

I have found the way to use numpy in Python scripts or Python-fu console in GIMP.

Prerequest: uv is already installed

Steps:

1. Confirm the version of Python which your GIMP uses.

You can confirm it with Python-fu console.

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2. Make virtual environment in appropriate directory with uv and install numpy in the venv.

In following explanation I use ~/scripts/gimp as venv installed directory. However you can use your favorit directory name. If you use a different directory name, please substitute it for this name.

In home directory

$ mkdir -p scripts/gimp (In Windows > mkdir scripts\gimp)

Make directory to install vertual environment.

$ cd scripts/gimp

Change the current directory to gimp

$ uv venv --python 3.13

Make vertual environment with uv specifying the version number.

3.13 must be the same number as Python version number GIMP uses.

$ source .venv/bin/activate (In Windows: > .venv\scripts\activate)

Activate vertual environment.

(.venv)$ uv pip install numpy

Install numpy

(.venv)$ deactivate

numpy is installed under the directory below.

~/scripts/gimp/.venv/lib/python3.13/site-packages

3. Add numpy installed directory as reference path in a Python script or Python-fu console.

Add following commands.

import sys

sys.path.insert(0, “/home/username/scripts/gimp/.venv/lib/python3.13/site-packages”)

(In Mac OS: the directory name will be like “/Users/username/scripts/gimp/.venv/lib/python3.13/site-packages”)

(In Windows: the directory name will be like “C:\\Users\\username\\scripts\\gimp\\.venv\\lib\\python3.13\\site-packages”)

import numpy as np

4. Use numpy.

You can confirm if the numpy usable with the command below.

print(np.__version__)

If you see the version number of numpy with this command, you can use numpy.

2

I feel a bit of a numpty but what is numpy and what benefit does it bring to the average gimp user?
And thanks for this even though I haven’t a clue about numpy!

3

Hi,
This post is mainly for GIMP plug-in developers.

Numpy is an extension library for performing high-speed, efficient numerical calculations in Python. Python processing speed is slow, so in general if complex mathematical processing is needed, programmers usually use C instead of Python. However if numpy is available, programmers can write those programs with Python and no need to build them for each OS.

If more programmers use numpy to write GIMP plug-ins, this information may be also meaningful for non-programmer users.

1 Like
4

If people had to follow instruction to utilize numpy for Python in GIMP, I don’t think it’s useful as people who use your scripts will need to do that. Now, if it is just for yourself, it’s useful.