Shares 290 We recently took a look at the Adobe Creative Suite, breaking down, but there’s one glaring fact we didn’t mention: not every designer has access to these programs. For designers who are just starting out, still in school or operating on a tight budget, Adobe Photoshop might be a luxury that you just can’t afford. But if you find yourself in one of these categories, breathe easy; there are several free photo editing programs out there that can deliver close to the same results as Photoshop with none of the added cost. You’ll probably end up upgrading to photo editing software with a little more power at some point in your career.

However, if you need something to work with now and you can’t spend any money, using these free Photoshop alternatives as a substitute can be a lifesaver. Cross-Platform, Open Source Alternatives to Photoshop You can’t have a list like this one without including GNU Image Manipulation Program, or GIMP to those who know it. Audio for chromecast mac 2017 review. There’s a lot to love about GIMP—it features Photoshop staples like layers, masks, gradients, text tools, plug-in support and more.

Renting Photoshop and/or Illustrator can be expensive, especially for software you'll never own. But drawing software doesn't have to empty your piggy bank. Some of the best free drawing software.

Best of all, it’s open source software with a large community of users, so there are plenty of GIMP tutorials and add-ons out there to help you overcome any of the program’s limitations. Be aware that GIMP cannot output CMYK files by default, so if you’re in 4-color, you’ll need an additional. If you really need to work in a Photoshop-like environment, Gimphoto is a version of GIMP that imitates Adobe’s layout while still keeping it open source. The menus, terminology, and basic interface have all been tweaked to give Photoshop veterans a more familiar working environment.

Unlike the similarly-interfaced, Gimphoto includes many extra features, such as new brush styles, layer styles, and support for standard Photoshop plug-ins. CinePaint is deep image editing software that is primarily used in video editing, but it’s also a useful tool for retouching photos because it can work with images of higher color fidelity. A higher quality image produces better results in your print projects, so this might be a program worth looking into. Inkscape uses a vector-based environment, so it’s a much better option for illustration than most other free alternatives to Photoshop; in fact, it’s almost more of an Illustrator alternative (though it can still be used for basic bitmap edits like photo retouching). The program’s native format is Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), so you don’t have to worry about your project looking fuzzy if you try to resize it.

Overall, Inkscape is a great choice for any designer who wants to learn vector illustration on a tight budget. Photoshop Alternatives for Mac Seashore is open source Mac-only editing software based on GIMP, but with an interface designed to match the MAC OS X aesthetic. The result is a good-looking program that may not exactly be equivalent to Photoshop, but ultimately produces attractive results with ease. The good news is that ChocoFlop is a formidable design tool made exclusively for the Mac OS, and there is a freeware beta version available. The bad news is, the designers decided not to continue forward with the project and will not be releasing any more versions or support for the program.

However, it’s still a worthwhile tool, especially with its unique non-destructive image editing capabilities. This simple photo editor for Mac offers multi-touch support and non-destructive filters as well as some essential drawing tools. The newest version of LiveQuartz does cost a few bucks on the App Store, but if you’re really strapped for cash, you can still download older freeware versions. Photoshop Alternatives for Windows PCs Paint.NET might not be fancy, but it has an intuitive interface and plenty of the same features as Photoshop—though you might find yourself missing those features that it lacks. Despite the name, Paint.NET is really best used for photo editing since it doesn’t have many illustrative tools, though it’s also open source with an impressive support base.

Photo Pos Pro is a freeware program for Windows that’s great for beginners. The interface is easy-to-use, there’s a low learning curve and the software even provides helpful pop-up tips. These are the sort of things that might make a more experienced designer lose their mind, but can be a major boon for those who are just starting out.

Many designers look at Serif PhotoPlus as a serious contender with Photoshop. Unfortunately, the advanced version does cost money (though not as much as the Adobe products will set you back.) However, there is a basic freeware version of PhotoPlus that might not have as many features, but still gives you the basics at a comparable quality to Photoshop, along with a simple, user-friendly interface. PhotoFiltre is an easy, intuitive program for photo editing and manipulation. True to its name, the program has a wide range of filters that make it easy for novices to jump right in and alter their images, but there’s plenty here for the seasoned pros to find appealing, too. Pixia is a Japanese program which has found popularity in the west and has since been translated into English. Pixia was created mainly for digital illustrations (specifically for manga and anime artists), but it has plenty of useful features for design and photo manipulation as well.