Can I hide this window?

[SpaceCrawler]

Whenever I open Gimp and do not have an image open the annoying grey window that says "GNU Image Manipulation Program" remains, blocking my desktop. If I close it, it quits the program. Is there a way to hide that large center grey window without quitting the program?

Also, with the latest update whenever I open an image it only opens a sliver of the image, rather than the full image (see 2nd photo).


   

   

[rich2005]

(09-22-2026, 11:12 PM)SpaceCrawler Wrote: Whenever I open Gimp and do not have an image open the annoying grey window that says "GNU Image Manipulation Program" remains, blocking my desktop. If I close it, it quits the program. Is there a way to hide that large center grey window without quitting the program?

As far as I know, that is not possible.  In multi-window mode the main window is GIMP
Not true of the toolbox/docks they can be closed.  Used to be a favourite question with Gimp 2.2 / 2.4 on usenet. Closed them, how do I get them back ?  Mostly fixed when single window mode came in with Gimp 2.8
You do need that main window. You can access most functions from the drop down menus.

Best I can suggest is look for a desktop function called "shade" which "rolls-up" a window.  You best do your own research but for OSX there was this:  https://windowshade-x.apponic.com/mac/  Old utility, probably does not now work, do a search.  In linux it looks like this, nothing to do with Gimp, it is a function of the OS desktop manager.

   

Edit: There is this https://windowmizer.com/windowmizer/ but it costs $$$$

Quote:Also, with the latest update whenever I open an image it only opens a sliver of the image, rather than the full image (see 2nd photo)

I have no clue, probably an effect of your messing about with window size. By defaut Gimp remembers window size and position of the last session.  What happens if you use Gimp in single window mode ?

[sallyanne]

Why do you want the other boxes open and not the canvas area? If you don't want to use Gimp for a bit, try what rich said and put it in one window mode then when not in use - minimise the whole window. Should then still be open on the taskbar or to wherever your things minimise to in mac.
As to add about your image sizes - do you have scroll bars when an image is opened? Sometimes when at full size you wont see the entire image but the scroll bars will help or you can view the size at 50% or 33% etc; if the image is large. Doesn't change the size of the actual image, only the view.
If you find that it is not showing the entire image try resetting your gimp.
In preferences you can also set it to display your whole image or have it at 100% = 1.1 all the time. You should have on the bottom of your gimp a place to change the viewing size or do this in the view menu at the top, under zoom.

If you just want the illusion of having it open on your desktop without the centre window - canvas, do this. Take a snapshot of it while open. Then paste that in a graphics program, even gimp can do this. Making sure your image has an alpha channel and cut out the centre area, leaving the centre transparent, export it as a png file. (jpg's do not support transparency) Then you can use that as your desktop image.
Or to make it look like it is on top of your current desktop image you will have to put that image (desktop image) in your usual graphics editor (hopefully gimp) and then paste the picture of gimp over it and export as a png file. Now open as your final desktop image.