Hi Ryan, GimpUsers:

RK> How can I configure the size of the new window containing a new image? I RK> have set my default new image to be 2000x1600 pixels, which I really like, RK> but when I hit Ctrl-N, it defaults to a zoom level of 33%, which is too RK> small on my screen. So, I am constantly having to drag the window bigger RK> each time I create a new image.

That is something I was curious about also. I did some checking. It looks like from the Image window, select Edit/Preferences. In the panel on the right look for, "Inital zoom ratio", and set to 1:1 (not Fit to Window).

Doc snippet:

Initial zoom ratio

You can choose either to have images, when they are first opened, scaled so that the whole image fits comfortably on your display, or else shown at 1:1 zoom. If you choose the second option, and the image is too large to fit on your display, then the image window will show only part of it (but you will be able to scroll to other parts). http://docs.gimp.org/2.6/en/gimp-pimping.html#gimp-prefs-image-window

Hi Ryan, GimpUsers:

RK> Thanks. I saw that option. Actually, 1:2 or 1:3 would be great, but 1:1 RK> doesn't work for what I am doing. Is there no other way? 1:1 would be too RK> big for my screen and I would still have to manually adjust the window size.

I'm not sure you can get exactly what you want in one step. If the "Initial Zoom Ratio" doesn't have the desired answer, maybe another tack might be to checkout the Zoom menu item ("+", "-", "0") on the Image View menu. You could open the image and then hit the "+" or "-" to adjust the image quickly.
http://docs.gimp.org/2.6/en/gimp-view-zoom.html

There is also the Zoom Tool in the Toolbox.

In Addition ~~~~~~~~~~~
Notice that Zoom In and Zoom Out have shortcut keys (-, +, 1). I actually changed the "+" to "=", and the "1" to "0", so I didn't have to hit the shift key, and all the keys were together on the right side of the keyboard.

You can get to the Shortcut keys via the Image Window, Edit/Keyboard Shortcuts or Edit/Preferences, Interface, "Configure Keyboard Shortcuts". I have the "Use dynamic keyboard shortcuts" set, which allows the user to change a menu shortcut key when the menu item is selected.
http://docs.gimp.org/2.6/en/gimp-pimping.html#gimp-prefs-interface

Hope that helps.

Hi Elwin, GimpUsers:

That's two great suggestions. I wasn't aware of the Navigation Dialog, even though I saw it in Windows/Dockable Dialogs. Whenever I saw the icons (a "t" with arrows) I just thought of the "Move" tool and never selected it. I've read tutorials where they suggest the New View.

Thanks for the additional knowledge.

EE> Another possibility might be to use the navigation dialog. It EE> has preset zoom levels you can click, as well as a slider that EE> lets you change the zoom level, and also a "box" that you can drag EE> around on an image thumbnail that will control what part of your EE> image is displayed in the canvas window.

EE> I sometimes like to have two versions of an image that I am EE> working on, particularly when doing rendering. So I will zoom the EE> canvas in, then do View>New View and get a second canvas of the EE> same image, but zoomed all the way out.