Using Adobe Photoshop is widely recognized as one of the most powerful image editing programs for photographers, photo editors, and graphic designers.
Likewise, it is a professional tool for manipulating and retouching images that you see every day in advertising and business. However, most of us are not professional image editors or photographers.
Moreover, a tool as complex and comprehensive as Photoshop can be overkill, especially if you pay more than $9.99 per month for it.
Investing in a paid app does have its advantages, for example, a clearer user interface, the inclusion of cloud services, and a wider selection of tools and effects. Nevertheless, many open-source programs offer just as many features free as Photoshop, if not more.
Below are three of some of our favorite free alternatives to Photoshop.
Top Photo Editing Software Free Of Charge: GIMP
First of all, GIMP, the GNU Image Manipulation Program, is more than just an image editor. Also, it has sophisticated image editing tools that make it appealing to professionals and casual users alike.
In fact, there are many of the basic features you would expect in GIMP, like cropping and straightening, adjusting brightness, contrast, and color balance.
Additionally, more advanced tools such as layers, resizing content, animation, and even the ability to add effects such as blur, noise, and distortion. Effectively, GIMP offers most of the features of Photoshop, even though there are no color modes other than RGB and no non-destructive editing is possible.
Still, even better, the GIMP interface is highly customizable and its features are extensible. Since it is open-source software, plug-ins can be created by members of the GIMP community, who often create and share this plug-ins with the rest of the community free.
Free Image Editing Software For Low-Powered Computers; Pixlr Editor
Pixlr Editor is a great image-editing tool if you have an old, underpowered system or are using a computer with limited memory, such as a Chromebook. On top of that, there is enough functionality for those who want to create graphics and edit existing files.
Pixlr supports layers, masks, and a range of filters, including blur, noise, sharpen and distort. There are all the basic editing features users need too, from adjusting brightness, contrast, shadows, and highlights to adjusting the hue, saturation, and vibrancy.
Tools are also available for spot treatment, masking, burning, blurring, and optimizing. For the most part, the interface is more minimalist than Photoshop’s, so that even those with little experience in image editing will not be confused.
Simultaneously, the user interface is reminiscent of Photoshop, so those who are familiar with Photoshop should have no problem switching to this tool.
However, its features are perhaps not as comprehensive as those of Photoshop. It doesn’t support the RAW format, for example, which is essential for advanced image editing. Also, some manipulation and retouching tools, such as Liquify, are missing.
Nevertheless, Pixlr certainly has more than enough features to meet most people’s image editing needs.
Photo Editing Software Free Of Charge, Ideal for Beginners; Photoscape X
PhotoScape X features a beautiful interface and is a free photo editor. Simply open an image and it starts. Choose a folder of photos and you will see thumbnails of each image in a container. Just select the image you want and it will appear in the editing window.
Moving on to the next image is as simple as opening the tray with the folder full of images and selecting the next image.
Note that the editor screen is neatly labeled, with no clutter. If you select an element or setting, such as sharpness or shadows/highlights, the app automatically analyses, adjusts the photo, and shows you how to further adjust that setting.
Using the before and after sliders, see how changing a setting will affect the original photo before you start editing.
Furthermore, PhotoScape X supports RAW files, so advanced photographers who want to switch to RAW don’t have to switch to another photo editor to edit RAW.
For professionals, you should upgrade to the Pro version ($39.99, Windows 10 only), which includes very useful tools such as layers, curves, clone stamps, chromatic aberration, and lens correction. However, for beginners, PhotoScope X is a great free image-editing program to learn how to become a better image editor.
