GIMP layer effects plugin for 2.10

GIMP 2.10 Layer Effects Plugin | Free Download

GIMP 2.10 Layer Effects Plugin | Free Download 1024 602 Nick Saporito

In this post I’ll be demonstrating how to download and install the GIMP 2.10 Layer Effects plugin — a third party tool that adds neat features to GIMP, like Bevel and Emboss.

Layer Effects Plugin

The Layer Effects plugin adds a new sub menu to the bottom of the Layers menu in GIMP.

GIMP layer effects menu

It adds an assortment of features — many of which now come standard in newer versions of GIMP — but the one feature that I really like is the Bevel and Emboss tool. Here’s a tutorial that makes good use of it…

 

At some point in the past you may have come across a similar GIMP tutorial that utilizes Layer Effects, but when you followed the download link, you were probably greeted with an error page…

Registry error on the download page

I ran into this problem the other day and it was quite frustrating, so I figured I’d make a post sharing my findings after doing a bit of digging around.

As it turns out, I was able to find a Reddit post where someone shared a download link that someone had uploaded to DropBox.

The plugin can be downloaded here: Layer Effects

All credit goes to Jonathan Stipe, the creator of the plugin.

How To Install Layer Effects in GIMP 2.10

For Windows users, to install the Layer Effects plugin in GIMP 2.10, simply grab the layerfx.py file from the .zip folder and place it in the following directory…

Local Disc (C:) > Program Files > GIMP 2 > lib > gimp > 2.0 > plug-ins

File directory for installation

Now go ahead and restart GIMP. The Layer Effects sub menu should appear at the bottom of the Layers menu in the toolbar.

For users of other operating systems: unfortunately I can’t say for sure whether or not this will work. I do know that the file needs to be placed in the plug-ins folder, but I can’t say for sure if the pathway is the same.

If you have any questions or run into any problems, please leave a comment below and I’ll see if I can help.

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Nick Saporito

Hi, I'm Nick— a Philadelphia-based graphic designer with over 10 years of experience. Each year millions of users learn how to use design software to express their creativity using my tutorials here and on YouTube.

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Mark Kamekona
Mark Kamekona
December 28, 2021 9:42 AM

I extracted the file cut and pasted it .Into the plug-ins rebooted computer a started Gimp but I did not get the layer effects in the layer drop down menu . What should I do ?

Eddy
Eddy
October 29, 2021 8:24 AM

As of October 2021, gimp updated to 2.10.28 and is not working on linux. i have put lightfx.py on both directories and it doesnt seem to install

Bill
Bill
October 21, 2021 6:20 AM

I just got finished downloading GIMP 2.10.28 – it doesn’t install in Programs or Programs (x86). It installs in Users/AppData/Local/Programs/GIMP 2, and looking through the folders I finally found some with the py suffix, but after the above path, these are added (and there are py files in another place as well – I’m still looking through all the folders) – anyhow, after GIMP 2 above, these follow – GIMP 2\lib\python2.7\bsddb – and that’s only one place where there are py files.

I’m running the Windows Home 10, latest updates.

Any ideas? I sure would appreciate the help (especially since my Photoshop seems to have taken a dump, so I’ll have to try to reinstall that, too, if my no-DVD player, won’t recognize external DVD players PC recognizes the installation disk).

Thanks for your time and efforts.

Tzivia
Tzivia
September 4, 2021 3:42 PM

Still works beautifully as of GIMP 2.10.24, thank you!!

SL
SL
February 16, 2021 11:46 PM

I was not able to install the Layerfx.py plugin on my Manjaro system, but I was able to install the Layerfx.scm.
I dropped the layerfx.scm in my /home/.config/Gimp/2.10/scripts directory. Restarted gimp and there it was, under Scipt-fu.
The only difference between the .py and .scm version is the preview option. I have installed the .py version on my mac and that’s the only difference between the two versions.

I’m running gimp 2.10.22 on Manjaro and I can confirm that the .scm works. Also, if you don’t have thte .config folder, you can simply create a folder with such name. Just make sure you have “show unhidden files” ticked on your home folder options.

rubenrcs
January 30, 2021 2:29 PM

got iy easy THANKS a Zillion, yours !

Tabi
Tabi
November 12, 2020 3:31 PM

This doesn’t work. I have the Script-Fu in the menu bar, the layerfx.scm file is in the scripts file and the layer layerfx.py file is in the plug-ins folder. I’ve restarted GIMP, but when I follow your instructions to bevel and emboss, it flashes and goes through the motions like it’s going to do something and then turns the text into a layer, but leaves the text entirely normal like it didn’t do anything. I’ve repeated everything and can reproduce the problem each time.
I’m running GIMP 2.10.14.

Does anyone know what I’m doing wrong?

Nicholas
Nicholas
Reply to  Tabi
November 17, 2020 2:08 PM

Same issue. Any progress?

Jessy
Jessy
August 2, 2020 3:07 AM

some of the scripts wont wont for me. which is disheartening. the bevel/emboss, and anything done to inner portion of text.

Carlos
Carlos
May 23, 2020 10:53 AM

Hello, this script works for GIMP 2.10.18
is this: layerfx.2.8.py.zip
https://www.gimp-forum.net/Thread-gimp-2-10-18-plugins

Hrq
Hrq
Reply to  Carlos
July 13, 2020 9:27 PM

No, it doesn’t. I tried installing it now and no Layer Effects optiosn appear!

Hrq
Hrq
May 10, 2020 8:45 PM

Plugin doesn’t work. Don’t appear on the Layer menu.

Rome DC
Rome DC
December 11, 2019 12:23 AM

Hi Nick!

I was able to install the link you provided however whenever I try to change the color of a certain layer it gives me this error:
Plug-in crashed: “layerfx.py”
(C:\Program Files\GIMP 2\lib\gimp\2.0\plug-ins\layerfx.py)

The dying plug-in may have messed up GIMP’s internal state. You may want to save your images and restart GIMP to be on the safe side.

I dunno what to do anymore. Thanks

Antonio
Antonio
November 23, 2019 8:03 AM

Hi, Nick.
I’ve problems with 2.10 Layer Effects Plugin. I’ve two different computers, with W10 pro. This plugin worked properly with Gimp 2.10.12 in both machines. Since I upgraded to Gimp 2.10.14, this plugin doesn’t work properly. Stroke abd drop shadow works fine. Instead, bevel and emboss doesn’t work. The filter adds two empty layers, “GIMP-shadow” and “GIMP-highlight”, with no results. I kept the basic settings in the basic menu of bevel and emboss. I tried the file .py and that .scm. I’ve placed any filter in both c:\users… and c:\program files…
Nothing to do though.
Any suggestions?
Best regards.
Antonio from Italy

Jan
Jan
Reply to  Nick Saporito
May 4, 2020 5:35 AM

The issue is GIMP not having this god damn crucial feature builtin. I can’t even use gimp to edit a simple whatever file i get sent by somebody using proper software withGIMP. Affinity for 50bucks is miles ahead GIMP in 2020…so disappointing and no improvement in sight. I mean, i took em how many years to steal adobes dark color theme?

AC
AC
Reply to  Antonio
December 7, 2019 11:50 PM

Hi there…. the issue is with the Bumpmap and Add Bevel functions in GIMP 2.10.14 itself – ie nothing to do with the plug-in. The manual filter is not working.

Current solution is to revert back to 2.10.12 – or wait for Devs to get to a workaround

Robin Soon
Robin Soon
October 15, 2019 10:24 AM

Thanks Nick for the plug-in link. It’s in my GIMP program. Just started to watch your GIMP tutorials. Good job.

Thanks again.

One question tho. When I start my GIMP theres a lot of error messages concerning plug-ins for resynthesizer, Gmic and other stuff. My Gimp has the resynth and GMIC plug -in but the error messages still appear. Do you have any ideas about that? My version is the latest 2.10.12

Hope you can help. Thanks in advance.

Robin

AC
AC
Reply to  Robin Soon
November 17, 2019 9:34 PM

The Bevel and Emboss options have stopped working 🙁

Janjan
Janjan
September 28, 2019 12:54 PM

It works! Thank you so much.

George
September 1, 2019 10:37 PM

For those who can’t install the layer effects plugin .

1) Go here and download the file https://web.archive.org/web/20171022174131/http://gimpscripts.com/download/utilities/layerfx.scm

2) Go to : C:\Program Files\GIMP 2\share\gimp\2.0\scripts\ and paste the file you downloaded . Restart GIMP .

Hope i helped .

Brian Richardson
Brian Richardson
Reply to  George
February 14, 2020 11:43 AM

Hey Thanks George! The (SCM) file in scripts finally worked for me. Cheers!

Hrq
Hrq
Reply to  George
July 13, 2020 9:35 PM

Doesn’t work. Simply.

Mary
Mary
August 7, 2019 5:36 PM

I’ve been looking how to do this on Gimp and kept running into dead links, so thank you for this!!

Jumbojet
Jumbojet
July 28, 2019 1:04 PM

Hi, I have put the plugin as you said but it is ;not visseble in Gimp. What can I do? I restarted and even restarted my system but it doesn’t work.

Jeff Jolley
Jeff Jolley
Reply to  Jumbojet
July 29, 2019 10:12 AM

Nick, I’m having the same problem with Gimp on Linux. I’ve placed the python file in ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins and nothing happens. Then I tried to start gimp with “gimp –verbose –console-messages” and there is nothing in the log regarding my home plugin directory or “layerfx”. Any ideas?

Anonymous
Anonymous
Reply to  Jeff Jolley
July 21, 2020 7:20 PM

That folder worked for me.
Filename = layerfx.scm
Save it in the ~/.config/GIMP/2.0/scripts folder (Ubuntu 20.4)

Tofi
Tofi
Reply to  Jeff Jolley
July 21, 2020 7:21 PM

This worked for me:
Filename = layerfx.scm
Save it in the ~/.config/GIMP/2.0/scripts folder (Ubuntu 20.0.4)

Jeff Jolley
Jeff Jolley
Reply to  Jumbojet
July 29, 2019 10:53 AM

I did some more research and found this info which should help on Linux (I don’t use Windows, so I’m not sure how this would apply):

1: Place the python script into the plug-ins folder in your home directory. I haven’t done any research on putting this in the global plug-ins folder.
2: Make sure the python script is executable: “chmod +x layerfx.py” (see: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/17334993/gimp-python-script-not-showing-in-menu)
3: Make sure that the gimp-python package is installed (ubuntu: “sudo apt-get install gimp-python”) (see: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gimp/issues/3314)

Nick: Thank you very much for your work!!

Kristine Jane
Kristine Jane
Reply to  Jeff Jolley
October 11, 2020 5:51 AM

Thank you very much for this! it works, I am a linux user and this have been very helpful for me.

Quote Pilgrim
July 3, 2019 1:14 PM

Instead of putting the plug-in inside the Program Files folder, I would highly recommend you rather use %APPDATA%\GIMP\2.10\plug-ins

It is rarely a good idea to put stuff inside a program’s main directory, and most programs will have a folder under %APPDATA% or %LOCALAPPDATA% (or the user’s home directory, for Linux and Mac users) specifically for that purpose. It is not without reason that Windows requires administrator privileges to modify data under the Program FIles folder.

Of course, installing a plug-in should be harmless, but messing with a program’s main directory is a bad habit to get into, so you should avoid it whenever possible.

Jeff Jolley
Jeff Jolley
Reply to  Quote Pilgrim
July 29, 2019 2:04 PM

I’m back again. I was able to see the menu under Layers, and I can see the Layer Effects menu, but every item is grayed out/disabled. Does anyone know how to fix this?

Scott Hollingsworth
Reply to  Jeff Jolley
December 1, 2020 1:05 PM

you need to have a layer selected for the effects menu to show up. A layer of an appropriate type as well.

Ami Awolf
Ami Awolf
May 24, 2019 12:58 PM

Love your stuff!

Emma I. Effiong
Emma I. Effiong
Reply to  Ami Awolf
June 24, 2019 7:19 AM

I put the Python file in the specified folder but I did not see the layer effects sub menu at the bottom of the layers menu. Please what can I do?

Michael
Michael
March 31, 2019 8:32 PM

Hi there. I’m trying to use Layer Effects with 2.1 on Win 10. Seems to load correctly but when I try to use the stroke function and select a color, the plugin errors out. any ideas?