If we restrict ourselves to free software, however, the field narrows considerably. Is there a better alternative?Ĭlearly, the first alternative that comes to mind is Photoshop, which is arguably better. GIMP will run on Windows, Mac, and UNIX/GNU. If you make GIMP your mission, you’ll undoubtedly get lots of support in the process and, since it’s free, what is there to lose? Where can you run this program? It seems to be surrounded by a really enthusiastic and helpful community. GIMP takes effort to get to know and use but the people who love it REALLY love it. Once you get more familiar with it, you can set about customizing the interface and options so you create a UI that is quick and efficient for the tasks you want to perform, rather than everything that’s on offer, all of the time. The GIMP community is active and helpful, and the developers are great at solving problems and squishing bugs fast.

If you’re determined to get to grips with GIMP, there are plenty of tutorials, videos, and extra help that will set you on the road. GIMP will also have a good go at opening a vast number of file formats, and you can add functionality and assorted features via a range of plug-ins that changes all the time.

It also deals with layers and layer masks, just like Photoshop, and can offer you a whole host of filters, color options, and tools like transform and text. So, what can GIMP offer you? Well, it is a raster editor and supports RAW images. Beyond that, however, you’re going to have to go back to square one, because although both programs use similar terminology, there are significant differences in the way you will use them and the depth of editing you can perform. If you’ve used Photoshop before, the general layout of the interface, which has a pretty traditional Windows vibe going on, will be familiar and not terribly cool. Although downloading and installing GIMP is very easy (it has a traditional Windows installer), taking your first steps will be more of a challenge. For the less ambitious among us, simply using it will be enough - much like cousin Photoshop, this app has a steep learning curve. This wonder-app has been around since 1996 and still manages to be the number one in its category when we’re talking about free ways to edit your pictures, photos, and images.Īs an open-source app, you’re not only able to download and use it for free but you could also, if you felt inclined, modify it to your particular uses. If it’s not Photoshop, it’s got to be GIMPĮvery so often we talk about classic pieces of software, but GIMP really takes the biscuit.

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