GIMP from a game controller
The GIMP layout is built into InputConfig, free on the Mac App Store. You don't have to make an account, there are no subscriptions, and nothing is locked. Optimized for Apple silicon.
On a Mac: GIMP for Mac uses Command where GIMP on other systems uses Control, and this layout sends the Command versions for undo, redo, save, export and fit.
Yes, you can paint and edit in GIMP on a Mac from a game controller. GIMP's tool keys are single letters, which is what a controller likes: paintbrush, pencil, eraser and move on the face buttons, brush size on the bumpers, and undo on the D-pad. GIMP on a Mac uses Command where other systems use Control, and this layout sends the Command versions.
On this page: 7 sections
The layout, control by control
How the layout thinks
- Pick a tool. Paintbrush (P) on the bottom face button, Move (M) on the right, Pencil (N) on the left, Eraser (Shift E) on the top.
- Brush size. [ and ] on the bumpers.
- Zoom and undo. D-pad up and down zoom. Left and right undo (Command Z) and redo (Command Y).
- Fit, export, save. Fit image in window (Shift Command J) on the left stick click, Export As (Shift Command E) on Share or View, Save on Options.
- Paint and point. The left stick is a pointer, the right stick scrolls the canvas, the right trigger paints, and the left trigger is a right click, which on GIMP's canvas opens the image menu.
Undo on the D-pad is where your thumb already is. Single-letter tools are a controller's best case.
Tune it for GIMP
- Color picker. O selects it. Put it on a spare button, or hold Command while painting, which GIMP uses to pick a color with paint tools.
- New layer. Put Shift Command N behind a chord.
- A slower pointer. Lower the Pointer speed slider on the preset's page for selections.
- A MIDI knob for brush size. A knob in Turn mode on the bracket keys steps the size per click. The MIDI input page explains Turn mode.
If you changed GIMP's shortcuts, Scan the matching row and press yours. GIMP only sees ordinary key presses, so any shortcut you set can go on a button.
The short version
- Use it as is. The Command shortcuts are already the Mac ones.
- Add the color picker. Put O on a spare button.
- Undo does nothing. You changed GIMP's shortcut. Scan the undo row.
Krita and Inkscape have their own entries. Tools, size and undo under your thumbs, the canvas under the pointer.
Get it in two clicks
- Get InputConfig free on the Mac App Store, open it, and click Smart Preset Maker on the welcome screen.
- Search for GIMP and pick it. The layout is created as a preset in your sidebar, named and ready.
- Press Activate. Every row can be changed afterwards: the editor's Scan button rebinds any control the moment you touch it.
Every binding, as a table
| Controller | Sends | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Left stick right | Mouse motion right (speed 16) | Move cursor right |
| Left stick left | Mouse motion left (speed 16) | Move cursor left |
| Left stick down | Mouse motion down (speed 16) | Move cursor down |
| Left stick up | Mouse motion up (speed 16) | Move cursor up |
| Right trigger | Left click | Paint / left click (LMB) |
| Left trigger | Right click | Color picker / right click (RMB) |
| A / Cross | P | Paintbrush tool (P) |
| X / Square | N | Pencil tool (N) |
| Y / Triangle | Shift (Left), E | Eraser tool (Shift+E) |
| B / Circle | M | Move tool (M) |
| LB / L1 | [ | Decrease brush size ( [ ) |
| RB / R1 | ] | Increase brush size ( ] ) |
| D-pad up | = | Zoom in ( = ) |
| D-pad down | - | Zoom out ( - ) |
| D-pad left | Command (Left), Z | Undo (Command Z) |
| D-pad right | Command (Left), Y | Redo (Command Y) |
| L3 (left stick click) | Shift (Left), Command (Left), J | Fit image in window (Shift Command J) |
| Right stick down | Scroll down | Scroll canvas down |
| Right stick up | Scroll up | Scroll canvas up |
| Back / Share / Select | Shift (Left), Command (Left), E | Export As (Shift Command E) |
| Start / Options | Command (Left), S | Save / overwrite (Command S) |
Button names follow the Xbox / PlayStation pair shown in the editor, so A / Cross is the bottom face button on either pad. On a Switch Pro Controller the bottom button is labeled B; the mapping still fires on position.
Questions
Undo does nothing. Why?
GIMP on a Mac uses Command Z. If you changed GIMP's shortcuts, Scan the undo row and press yours.
Can I use a MIDI controller with GIMP on a Mac?
Yes, through InputConfig. A pad can pick a tool and a knob can step the brush size with the bracket keys. GIMP only sees ordinary key presses.
Related
Completely free. You don't have to make an account, there are no subscriptions, and nothing is locked. Optimized for Apple silicon. Open source on GitHub.
Updated