Advertisement Photoshop is the most popular image editing app out there and GIMP is the best free alternative to it. Choosing which one to use isn’t always easy. Most people don’t want to spend money on an app if they don’t have to, especially when it involves paying monthly. Which app is right for you depends on what you need it for. Let’s have a look at who should use GIMP and who should use Photoshop. Use GIMP If You Love Linux There is one situation when GIMP is the undisputed champion: on a Linux system.
Of course, you could use one Adobe’s official Android apps: Adobe Photoshop Express or Adobe Photoshop Mix. More than 50,000,000 users have downloaded them, and the apps remain some of the best options in the Google Play Store. Though Photoshop is the first choice of most of them for manipulating the pictures and design job, there (Mac Only). Pixlr Editor. This software is internet based with a design that looks similar to This software will give you the feel of Photoshop. It is mixed up with Facebook, Flickr, Picasa.
While there are Is there any way to get Windows software working on Linux? One answer is to use Wine, but while it can be very useful, it probably should only be your last resort.
Here's why., it’s a lot of hassle and unreliable with something like Photoshop. If you’ve gone to the effort of setting up your own Linux machine, you’ve more than demonstrated you can handle the vagaries of open source software, and especially, open source forums. There’s a good chance you’re against the idea of paying for software when there’s a decent open source alternative so GIMP is definitely the app for you. Use Photoshop If You Love Your Phone Over the last few years, Adobe has really begun to develop tools for smartphones.
Their first apps weren’t particularly good (largely because the phones just weren’t powerful enough) but their latest attempts are great. Lightroom Mobile brings most of the best features of Lightroom to your smartphone. Photoshop Fix and Photoshop Mix put some of the most useful Photoshop tools at your fingertips. Even better, with the Adobe Cloud, all the work you do on your mobile syncs back to your computer. If you take loads of photos with your phone or want the ability to work on the go, Photoshop — along with all the extra apps it supports — is the better choice.
Use GIMP If You’re on a Budget While Photoshop isn’t an expensive app — Photoshop and Lightroom together cost just $10 a month — it is an ongoing commitment. If you don’t need what Photoshop offers or only use it occasionally, it can be hard to justify the expense. There are plenty of other awesome ways to spend ten dollars that can offer far more bang for your buck. Yes, almost anyone can stretch to paying ten dollars a month for a tool they use every day, but if you don’t use Photoshop that much, or are conserving money for other reasons, then GIMP is the better app simply because it’s free. Use Photoshop If You’re a Professional If you can count Photoshop as a business expense, or even better, get your boss to pay for it, then it’s the obviously the tool to use.
This is the category I fall into. The whole Creative Cloud costs me around €50 a month and I use many of the apps on a daily or weekly basis. While I haven’t (yet) convinced someone else to pick up the bill, it’s still a tax write off at the end of the year. The best thing about being a writer is that almost everything can be a tax write off—all you’ve gotta do is write about it. — Upstart Harry Guinness (@HarryGuinness). Adobe’s tools are also the ones of choice for other professionals.
If you’re working with someone else, they might send you a PSD or other Adobe proprietary format. If you don’t have the tools to handle the files, you won’t be working with them very long. If you’re a professional, unless you fall into one of the other categories, there’s no reason to GIMP and GIMP can do a lot of what Photoshop can do, but there are some areas it falls short. Here is a summary of the key differences. Use GIMP If You Don’t Need It All the Time GIMP, despite its flaws, is a more powerful tool than many of the other free photo-editing apps. It might not be the simplest tool to use but you can do a lot with it. If you occasionally need powerful tools then GIMP is probably the app for you.
Plenty of apps will let you crop images or add some brightness or contrast, but with GIMP you can do some real edits. For most people, apps like Apple’s Photos or even Instagram will be enough for their editing needs, but if you want more, you can’t go wrong with GIMP. Use Photoshop If You’re a Designer If you’re a designer, then GIMP really isn’t an option. While GIMP, it doesn’t hold a candle to Illustrator or InDesign — two of the other apps in the Creative Cloud. Also, if you’re designing for print, GIMP’s lack of CMYK support is a deal breaker. For a quick logo mockup GIMP might get by, but for anything else you’ll need the full features of Photoshop and its companion apps.
Use GIMP If You Dislike Adobe While this might be a niche category, there are a lot of people who don’t like Adobe as a company. One of the big issues people have is with Adobe Flash. It’s one of the most common vectors of attack for hackers.
While Adobe has now killed it off it’s still The Internet's relationship with Flash has been rocky for a while. Once, it was a universal standard on the web. Now, it looks like it may be headed to the chopping block.
What changed? It might be a little irrational to hate Photoshop because of Adobe’s other products but, if you do, then GIMP is obviously the better option. Use Photoshop If You’re a Photographer Editing is just one part of post-processing for Photographers; you also have to sort through however many hundreds of pictures you’ve taken. In a few hours shooting, I can easily capture 1,000 images. Many of them will be sketches or failed shots, but there will be at least five or ten images that are worthy of further attention. With Photoshop you also get Lightroom which is the best app available for sorting through lots of images and pulling out the keepers.
![Apple photoshop for mac Apple photoshop for mac](/uploads/1/2/5/3/125383874/513651026.png)
You also get a powerful RAW processor which you don’t get with GIMP. For editing an image here or there, GIMP is fine, but if you’re a serious photographer then you need to invest in Photoshop and Lightroom. Wrapping Up Choosing between GIMP and Photoshop gets a lot easier if you consider what you need it for. If you’re a professional or someone who is going to We've rounded up the best graphic design tablets and software to use if you want to break into cartoons and other forms of digital art.
Then Photoshop is the obvious tool. If you have a Linux machine, are on a budget, or only need to use the app occasionally then GIMP is the app to go with. And if you do use GIMP, we’ve covered We'll show you how to install GIMP brushes and several free and useful ones to get you started. and In this guide to using GIMP plugins, we'll walk you through where to get the best GIMP plugins and how to install them. I’ve only touched on some of the many situations where you’d use one app over the other. Which one do you use and why?
Let us know in the comments. Explore more about:,.
. Image editing control feels limited. Lacks design tools such as CMYK or RAW support. No history panel or non-destructive effects Summary: Pixelmator is a destructive image editor and digital painting app that corners the market on high-quality amateur Photoshop alternatives for Mac. It has an interface simple enough for you to learn without extensive tutorials, and is fairly powerful when it comes to editing images through color adjustments and manipulations.
The app offers an array of filters that create interesting effects on the image, from kaleidoscope and tiling to multiple types of distortion. It also features a great set of tools for digital painting, supporting custom and imported brushes. The app is best suited for amateur or occasional image editors and designers. It's designed to work on one project at a time, and you can't expect to batch edit dozens of photos or work with RAW files.
However, for those looking to engage in occasional graphic design, painting, or photo editing, Pixelmator is a great option. The tools are intuitive and well designed, and the features match up to those offered in more expensive competing tools.
My name is Nicole Pav, and I remember first using a computer around the age of seven. I was fascinated then, and I've been hooked ever since. I also have a passion for art, which I engage in as a hobby when I have a few spare hours. I value honesty and clarity, which is why I write specifically to provide first-hand information on programs I have actually tried. Like you, I want to make the most of my budget and thoroughly enjoy the product I end up with. For several days, I worked with Pixelmator to test as many features as I could.
For the digital painting features, I used my (comparable to larger Wacom tablets) while the photo editing features were tested on a few photos from a recent trip of mine. I obtained a copy of Pixelmator through their free trial option, which allows you to use the program completely free for thirty days without an email or credit card. Throughout my experimentation, I created a couple files and even contacted their support teams to get a deeper understanding of the program (read more on this in 'Reasons Behind My Review & Ratings'). What Is Pixelmator?
Is a destructive photo editor and digital painting app for MacOS. This means that you can adjust color tones in your images, make transformations and other manipulations to your images using the app. You can also create a blank document and use the painting tools to design your own picture, whether freehand or using shape tools. It is a bitmap program and does not support vector graphics. Pixelmator will also release a new version of the program sometime during Fall 2017 called Pixelmator Pro 1.0 Whirlwind. It is advertised as a program with better editing tools and workflow, designed specifically for photo work by professionals.
MacRumors has with a brief description, and you can also check out the original from the official Pixelmator site. If you want to sign up for news about this release, try the homepage. Is Pixelmator like Photoshop? Yes, Pixelmator is similar to.
As someone who has used both, I see several connections between interface, tools, and processing. For example, consider how similar the tool panel for Photoshop (left) and Pixelmator (right) appears at first glance.
While Photoshop has condensed a few more tools, Pixelmator has almost every tool to match. However, it is important to note that there are differences between the two programs. Photoshop is an industry standard program, supporting the creation of animations, non-destructive effects, and CMYK colors. On the other hand, Pixelmator is considered a Photoshop alternative for the Mac and lacks these more advanced features.
Pixelmator is not intended to replace Photoshop for working professionals, but it does make a great resource for students, hobbyists, or occasional designers. Is Pixelmator Free? No, Pixelmator is not a free program. It is available for, which is the only place you can purchase the program. If you aren't sure you want to buy it, the Pixelmator site offers a free trial that allows you to download the program and use all of its features for 30 days. You do not have to include an email or credit card. After 30 days, you will be restricted from using the program until you buy it.
Is Pixelmator Available for Windows? Unfortunately, Pixelmator is not available for Windows at this time and can only be purchased from the Mac App Store. I contacted their info team by email to ask if they had any plans for a PC application in the future and received the following response. It appears Windows users are out of luck on this one. However, the 'Alternatives' section below contains several other options that function on Windows and might list what you're looking for. How to Use Pixelmator? (Tutorials) If you've already worked with a photo editing or painting app such as Photoshop, Pixlr, or GIMP, you can dive right in with Pixelmator.
The interfaces are very similar across all of these programs, even down to hotkeys and shortcuts. But even if you're brand new to editing, Pixelmator is a very easy program to get started with. The Pixelmator creators offer a great set of 'getting started' tutorials on almost every topic you can think of,. If you're more of a video person, there are plenty of tutorials for you, too. The Pixelmator offers video lessons on many of the same topics covered in print.
If you'd rather have your information all in a single dose, this lengthy but informative video will throw you right into editing and get you on your feet. Last but not least, offers new Pixelmator tutorials on a regular basis and already has a large stockpile that you can look through if you need an answer to a specific question. Pixelmator: What's in It for You?
(My Experimentation) Tools & Interface When first opening the program, those using the trial version will be greeted with a message detailing how many days of use are left. Once this message is clicked through, both purchasers and experimenters will be sent to the following startup screen. The options are fairly self-explanatory. Creating a new image will present a blank canvas with dimensions and specifications you choose, opening an existing image will prompt you to choose a picture from your computer, and opening a recent image will only be relevant if you want to open a file you were previously manipulating in Pixelmator. Regardless of what you choose, you'll be forwarded to the same interface for working. Here, I've imported a picture of a large fish from an aquarium I visited. It definitely isn't a stellar photo, but it gave plenty of room to make adjustments and experiment.
With Pixelmator, the interface isn't confined to a single window, which has its pros and cons. On one hand, this makes everything very customizable. You can drag editing panels wherever you need them, which could greatly enhance your workflow. Panels can be added or removed at will to free up space, and everything is resizable. On the other hand, any background windows you have open will remain just behind your work, which can be distracting or cause you to accidentally switch windows. Also, minimizing the image you are working on doesn't minimize the editing panels, which will be visible until you click out of the program.
Each panel contains a set of tools related to a specific function, and panels can be hidden or shown from the VIEW drop-down menu. By default, the program displays the toolbar, the layers panel, and the effects browser. The toolbar contains all of the basic tools you would expect from an editing and painting program, from 'move' or 'erase' to various selection options, retouching choices, and painting tools. In addition, you can edit what appears in this toolbar by opening the program preferences and dragging and dropping.
This allows you to remove tools you don't use or rearrange the panel into something that better fits your workflow. From here, you can make changes using the chosen effect. The small arrow in the bottom corner will reset the effect to its original values.
I could not find a way to compare the original and edited image side by side or perhaps over only half the images, which was slightly frustrating. But the effects did do what they said they would. There is a functional curve editor, as well as levels, a few black and white effects, and a color replacement tool that works very effectively.
The drag and drop method also has its positives and negatives. It's disorienting at first not to have every option at my fingertips.
The lack of visibility as to what I've already done is also strange. However, it does provide a great method of isolating certain effects. Note that these effects do not appear as separate layers or otherwise differentiate themselves once they have been applied. All effects are immediately applied to the current layers, and there is no history panel that allows you to revert to a specific step in the past. You'll need to use the undo button for any mistakes.
Photo Editing: Distortion and Special Effects There are a few main categories of effects that do not directly deal with color and tone adjustment. First are the more artistic filters, such as several kinds of blur filters. While it usually wouldn't make sense to slap this on an entire image, it would be great for creating special effects or specific visual appearances. Aside from the traditional transform tool, there are a plethora of more unorthodox effects that could be described as distortions or fall under a 'circus fun house' theme. For example, there is a 'ripple' or 'bubble' tool that creates a fisheye effect over a section of your image, which can be used to change the shape of an object. There's also a Kaleidoscope effect, as well as several less symmetrical but functionally similar alternatives that were fun to play with.
For example, I was able to take a picture of some penguins sitting on rocks and turn it into this mandala-like creation. This, of course, might not seem inherently useful, but it would actually be pretty versatile if manipulated to create more abstract images, photo manipulation compositions, or on a part of the image rather than the entire picture.
Pixelmator does not contain a tool to match the Photoshop 'warp' feature, but with a variety of distortion and fun filtering options, you'll definitely have a lot of creative freedom when it comes to applying effects to your image. Digital Painting As an artist by hobby, I was excited to try the painting features of Pixelmator. I was not disappointed with the brush customization settings available, and the default brushes were great to work with as well (shown below). While my image isn't exactly a masterpiece, during painting I didn't experience any bugs, unwanted jittering, or other annoyances.
All of the brushes functioned very smoothly, and the customization options are almost identical to what you would see in Photoshop or another painting program. Overall, Pixelmator has very well-rounded painting features that are comparable to more expensive programs. It was easy to manipulate and uses an interface that is almost universal in painting applications, meaning you'll have no problem using it if you choose to switch from another program. Export/Share Once you're done editing your image or creating your masterpiece, there are a couple of ways to move the final project out of Pixelmator. The most simple one is the classic 'save' (CMD + S), which will prompt you to pick a name and location for your file.
Saving creates a reusable Pixelmator file, which stores your layers and edits (but not your edit history - you can't undo things from before you saved). It creates a new file and does not replace your original copy. Additionally, you can choose to save an additional copy in a more common format such as JPEG or PNG. Alternatively, you can choose to export your file if you're done making edits or need a specific file type. Pixelmator offers JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PSD, PDF, and a few tertiary options such as GIF and BMP (note that Pixelmator does not support animated GIFs).
The process for exporting is fairly simple. Just choose FILE EXPORT and you'll be prompted to pick a file type. Each one has different customization settings due to their individual capabilities, and once you specify these and choose NEXT, you'll need to name your file and choose the export location. Once this is done, your file is saved and you can either continue editing or move forward with the new file you've created. Pixelmator does not appear to have a built-in option for exporting to a specific platform such as an image sharing site or cloud file servers. You will need to export as a file and then upload to those sites and services of your choice.
Reasons Behind My Review and Ratings Effectiveness: 4/5 Pixelmator does a great job providing an intuitive place for you to edit and create graphics, making it a very effective program. You'll have access to color correcting tools and editing features that will ensure your final image looks sharp.
Painters will enjoy a good default brush library and the ability to import custom packs as needed. However, I did feel a little limited when it came to making adjustments. Especially after just using a dedicated photo editor with a plethora of fine-tuning tools, I felt slightly limited by Pixelmator’s editing tools.
![Comparable to photoshop mix for mac mac Comparable to photoshop mix for mac mac](/uploads/1/2/5/3/125383874/279595740.jpg)
Maybe it's the slider arrangement or the available adjusters, but I felt like I wasn't getting as much out of it as I could have. Price: 4/5 Compared to similar programs, Pixelmator is extremely low priced. Whereas Photoshop costs around $20 per month, and only by subscription, Pixelmator is a one-time purchase of $30 through the app store. You're definitely getting a great program with your purchase, and it should meet the needs of most users.
However, it isn't the cheapest program on the market with several competing open source options that offer similar features. Ease of Use: 4.5/5 The interface is extremely well-designed.
Buttons are clear and thoughtful, with intuitive uses. The panels that are shown by default are the right ones to get you started, and you can insert those you need on your screen by adding them from the VIEW menu. Although it did take a few minutes to learn how to use some features, especially those related to image adjustments, I enjoyed using the program overall. Support: 4/5 Pixelmator offers several forms of support. Their community forum and written tutorials are the primary ways of getting information, which can be found by visiting their site and dropping down the tab that says 'Explore'.
It did take me a bit to find the email support option, which is located in a slightly obscure location at the bottom of one of the support forums. It also produced two emails: [email protected] and [email protected]. I emailed both and got responses in around two days. My question regarding the color picker (sent to support, not info) received the following response.
I found this to be generally satisfactory though not particularly insightful for a response that took a couple days to communicate. Either way, it answered my question, and the other support resources are always available as well. Alternatives to Pixelmator (MacOS & Windows) For $19.99 per month (billed annually), or as part of an existing membership plan, you'll have access to an industry standard software that can meet professional needs in photo editing and painting. This is a great alternative if Pixelmator seems to fall just short of your needs.
(MacOS) Mac users looking for a photo-specific editor will find Luminar meets all of their needs. It's clean, effective, and offers features for everything from black and white editing to Lightroom integration. You can read here, and pick up an exclusive SoftwareHow discount code as well.
(MacOS, Windows) Supporting the important file types and multiple color spaces, Affinity weighs in about $50. It matches many of the Pixelmator features and offers a variety of tools for image adjustment and transformation. (MacOS, Windows, & Linux) For those who are leaning towards the raster painting and design aspects of Pixelmator, Krita expands upon these features by offering a full-featured painting program with support for drawing, animation, and transformation. It is free and open source. Conclusion Pixelmator is an exemplary Photoshop alternative, proving you don't need to pay boatloads for an effective and intuitive program. It comes with dozens of features that Photoshop is known for but at a much lower price. The layout is perfect for beginners and advanced users alike, making use of the classic editing interface.
The app is very customizable which means you'll be able to arrange your workspace as needed for maximum efficiency. Photo editors will enjoy the adjustment features and unique filters that come with the program. Brushes and other features necessary for painting are highly developed and work with ease. Overall, Pixelmator is a great purchase for casual editors and digital painters who are looking to upgrade a current program or switch from something that's too pricey or not meeting every need.