Strengths and Weaknesses

GIMP is a unique graphics tool with many great qualities and a few drawbacks. Here are some of them.

Strengths

 * Open-source and licensed under the GPL.
 * Roadmap for future versions is displayed clearly on GIMP's website. User's can help by contributing code and testing new versions.
 * Support for multiple open-formats allows for portability among other open-source programs such as Krita and Scribus to create a personalized workflow.
 * GIMP can be downloaded for free and used indefinitely without an account or subscription.

Weaknesses

 * Does not yet support high bit-depths. This feature is coming in GIMP 2.10 (Use 2.9 to test this feature).
 * Non-destructive editing of layers, similar to "Adjustment Layers." Implementation of non-destructive editing is planned for version 3.2.
 * There is a public perception that GIMP and free-of-cost software in general is of lower quality than its competitors.
 * Interface is due for a facelift. Version 3.0 will update GIMP to GTK 3.0.