How to Install gThumb on Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04 or 20.04

This guide will demonstrate how to install gThumb on Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04, or 20.04 LTS using the command-line terminal with APT or Flatpak from Flathub.

gThumb is a versatile image viewer and browser designed for Ubuntu users seeking an efficient and user-friendly tool for managing their digital images. It stands out due to its comprehensive feature set, which caters to both casual users and photography enthusiasts. gThumb offers an intuitive interface with powerful functionalities that enhance how you interact with your photo collections.

Here are some key highlights of gThumb:

• Extensive File Compatibility: gThumb supports a wide range of image formats, ensuring seamless viewing and management of your photo library.
• Image Editing Capabilities: gThumb offers basic editing tools like crop, rotate, and resize, which allow for quick photo adjustments within the application.
• Metadata Management: View and edit image metadata to keep your photo collection organized and searchable.
• Integrated Exporting: Easily export images to various social media platforms or file storage services directly from the viewer.
• Slideshow Feature: Create and customize slideshows to showcase your images in a dynamic format.
• Batch Processing: Apply edits to multiple photos simultaneously, saving time and effort.
• Cataloging Tools: Organize your images into catalogs for easier retrieval and browsing.
• Extension Support: Enhance gThumb’s functionality with various extensions to tailor it to your needs.

As we transition into the technical how-to, it’s important to clearly understand gThumb’s capabilities and how they can enhance your image viewing and management experience on Ubuntu.

Now, let’s delve into the installation process.

Install gThumb on Ubuntu via APT

Updating Ubuntu Before gThumb Installation

The first step in any software installation process is ensuring your Ubuntu system is up-to-date. This avoids potential conflicts during the installation and ensures that you’re benefiting from the latest security patches and system enhancements.

To proceed, open your terminal and enter the following command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Install gThumb via APT Command

The gThumb version in the APT repository is typically stable and secure. While it might not be the most recent release, experts have thoroughly tested it and recommend it for most users.

To install gThumb with APT, type the following command into your terminal:

sudo apt install gThumb

This command instructs APT to install the gThumb package. sudo allows the command to run with administrative privileges necessary for system-wide installations. apt install is the command to install a package, and gThumb is the name of the package we’re installing.

To stay updated with the newest version of gThumb, install it using the Flatpak method which is covered below.

Install gThumb on Ubuntu via Flatpak and Flathub

Flatpak offers a compelling alternative to traditional package management systems like APT. It’s a universal package management system that allows applications to run consistently across different Linux distributions. This means you can have the same version of an application with the same dependencies, regardless of the Linux distribution you’re using. It also often hosts more recent versions of applications, offering a distinct advantage for users wanting to stay on the bleeding edge of software updates.

Note: If your system does not have Flatpak installed, you can refer to our guide on “How to Install Flatpak on Ubuntu” for step-by-step instructions on installing the most recent supported version of Flatpak.

Enabling Flathub For gThumb

Before you can install gThumb using Flatpak, you need to enable the Flathub repository on your system. Flathub is the de facto source for Flatpak applications, hosting a large selection of applications that are available for installation.

To enable Flathub, open your terminal and enter the following command:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

This command adds the Flathub repository to your Flatpak configuration if it’s not already present (--if-not-exists), ensuring you have access to a wide range of Flatpak applications, including gThumb.

Install gThumb via Flatpak Command

With Flathub now enabled, you’re ready to install gThumb using Flatpak. You can do this by executing the following command in your terminal:

flatpak install flathub org.gnome.gThumb -y

This command instructs Flatpak (flatpak install) to install the gThumb application (org.gnome.gThumb) from the Flathub repository (flathub). The -y option automatically answers ‘yes’ to any prompts, allowing the installation to proceed without further user interaction.

Launching gThumb on Ubuntu

After successfully installing gThumb using either the APT or Flatpak method, the next step is to launch the application and start enjoying its robust image viewing and editing capabilities.

CLI Methods to Launch gThumb

To launch gThumb from the terminal, type the following command and press Enter:

gthumb

This command tells your system to execute the gthumb application.

For those who installed gThumb using Flatpak, you can also launch it from the terminal with a slightly different command:

flatpak run org.gnome.gThumb

This command instructs Flatpak to run the org.gnome.gThumb application.

GUI Method to Launch gThumb

Alternatively, if you prefer using a graphical interface, you can easily launch gThumb from your desktop’s Applications menu. Just follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the Activities menu located in the top-right corner of your screen.
2. Select Show Applications. This will display all the installed applications on your system.
3. Scroll through the list or use the search bar to locate gThumb. Click on the gThumb icon to launch the application.

First-Time Tips with gThumb on Ubuntu

Once you’ve installed gThumb and become familiar with launching the application, it’s time to delve deeper.

General Tips with gThumb

Let’s start with some general tips to make your experience with gThumb smoother and more efficient:

• Understanding the Interface: gThumb has an intuitive interface, but it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the three main areas: the file browser, the image viewer, and the toolbar. The file browser allows you to navigate through your directories, the image viewer displays the selected image, and the toolbar provides quick access to various functions like zoom, rotate, and fullscreen.
• Using Keyboard Shortcuts: Speed up your workflow with keyboard shortcuts. For example, press Ctrl+D to delete an image, Ctrl+R to rotate it, or Ctrl+Shift+P to start a slideshow. You can find a full list of shortcuts in the gThumb Help menu.
• Batch Processing: gThumb allows you to perform operations on multiple images simultaneously. This feature can be a real time-saver when you need to resize, rotate, or rename a large number of images.

Customization Tips with gThumb

Now, let’s explore how you can customize gThumb to suit your preferences:

• Changing the View: You can customize how your images are displayed in the file browser. Go to View > Thumbnails to display images as thumbnails, or View > List to display them as a list with detailed information.
• Setting Preferences: gThumb offers a range of options to tailor your experience. Navigate to Edit > Preferences to adjust settings like the image background color, zoom quality, and thumbnail size.
• Creating Custom Keyboard Shortcuts: If the default keyboard shortcuts don’t suit your workflow, you can create your own. Navigate to Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts to set up custom shortcuts.

Other Tips with gThumb

And here are a few additional tips to enhance your gThumb experience:

• Using the Slideshow Feature: gThumb’s slideshow feature is a great way to showcase your images. Select the images you want to include, then go to View > Slideshow or press Ctrl+Shift+P.
• Editing Images: gThumb isn’t just an image viewer, it also includes basic image editing tools. You can crop, resize, and rotate images, adjust brightness and contrast, and even apply filters like sepia and black-and-white.

Remember, the best way to become proficient with gThumb is through practice. Spend time exploring the application, customizing the settings, and experimenting with different features.

Additional gThumb Commands with Ubuntu

After you’ve installed gThumb on your Ubuntu Linux system and begun exploring its many features, you might wonder how to keep the application updated or remove it should you no longer need it.

Update gThumb

Keeping your applications up-to-date is important for ensuring optimal performance, security, and access to the latest features. gThumb is no exception. Depending on how you installed gThumb, you’ll use a different method to update it.

APT Update Method for gThumb

If you installed gThumb using the APT package manager, you would use the following command in your terminal to refresh the list of available packages and update your system:

sudo apt update

This command checks the repositories for updated packages and prepares your system to install them. It doesn’t perform the update itself.

Flatpak Update Method for gThumb

If you installed gThumb as a Flatpak, you can use this command to update all your installed Flatpak applications, including gThumb:

flatpak update

Remove gThumb

There may come a time when you no longer need gThumb on your system. In such cases, you can uninstall the application. As with updates, the method you use to remove gThumb depends on how you installed it.

APT Remove Method for gThumb

If you used APT to install gThumb, this is the command you’ll use to uninstall it:

sudo apt remove gthumb

Flatpak Remove Method for gThumb

If you installed gThumb as a Flatpak, use the following command to uninstall it:

flatpak remove  --delete-data org.gnome.gThumb -y

This command removes the gThumb application and deletes its associated data.

Final Thoughts

In this guide, we walked you through the steps to install gThumb on Ubuntu, exploring its key features, first-time tips, and customization options. We hope you now feel equipped to leverage gThumb’s capabilities to manage and enhance your image collection effectively. As a final recommendation, take some time to play around with the various settings and features; there’s no better way to learn than by doing. Remember, gThumb is a powerful tool that can significantly streamline your photo management process, so dive in and make the most of your new setup!