How to set default save folder in Gimp

Question

Every time I want to export a file, gimp opens /tmp folder but I want to change this to ~/Downloads or any other folder.

How can I do this permanently?

Update:

Gimp seems to remember export folder for already exported files.

But when I use xfce4-screenshooter app to import the screenshot and then try to save it - the folder is set to /tmp.

Is there any way to point it to different folder in this case ?

I am not using any specific Desktop Environment - just i3 with a bunch of additional apps.

Answer 1

There does not appear to be a direct method to do this with Gimp but there is an acceptable work-around that may be enough for you. Use the following 3 steps:

1. Export the Image. First use the 'Export Image' as usual:

2. Set your preferred location. Next navigate to your preferred location and then use the '+' key at the bottom left of the screen to set this location permanently in the Gimp preferences. In my example here I am using ~/test:

3. Export your next image. Next time you Export an image you will see your desired location in an easily accessible, single click location:

Not perhaps a perfect solution but this will hopefully fulfil your needs...

Answer 2

It seems that Gimp has no config for it an uses an operational system setting.

Take a look at this reply for the same question:

Priority of default paths for Export: 1. Last Export path; 2. Path of import source; 3. Path of XCF source; 4. Last path of any save to XCF; 5. Last Export path of any document; 6. The default path (usually the OS 'Documents' path).

I tested the Documents path (for KDE: System Settings > Applications > Locations) and it worked. My Gimp was using that setting.

I also tested changing the working directory, according this reference (for KDE: KDE Menu Editor > Advanced tab > Work path), but not changed the default save/export dir.

Answer 3

I keep all versions of an image in the same folder. How can I make default save/export location the same as the folder containing the image I read before editing it? (Once I've saved the first image there, GIMP remembers that output folder.)

Answer 4

I was able to change the default export folder. What I did, thanks to one of the responses above, was do a SAVE AS to the folder I wanted as a default, saving as an XCF file (very important to use the xcf file format). Then the next time I did an EXPORT AS the default folder was now the folder where I had saved the XCF file. And it worked quickly. The other method of making a remembered folder in the left hand column works, but for me it took a while to load the folder EACH TIME, thus not very user friendly. But, once you do a SAVE AS to the folder (make sure you're saving a .XCF file), your default folder for EXPORT AS is now changed. Kind of a getting around your a.. to get to your elbow situation, but hey, it worked!!! Yea!