Gimp Free Photo Editor
For many years, GIMP (which stands for “GNU Image Manipulation Program”) has been the favorite image-editing software for proponents of free, open-source programs. These users appreciated the program’s ability to manipulate GIMP's scripts and code — and the fact that it is free — so much that they were willing to put up with what was once a slow, limited, often buggy and confusing program. But GIMP has matured, and now has a cleaner, more standard interface; improved performance; and a richer set of competitive features and tools. As such, it is now a contender among photo editing programs.
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However, GIMP will still appeal more to folks who enjoy the process of image editing and scripting than to consumers who want a program that’s easy to use or to serious photographers who need professional-level tools such as RAW processing and CMYK editing.
A More Standard Interface
On the surface, GIMP's interface conforms to the standard graphics-program layout. The toolbox is on the left, and the dockable palettes (layers, channels, brushes, colors, undo history, etc.) are on the right. In the center workspace, the new single-window mode docks all opened images as tabs. The tabs display very useful thumbnails of the pictures, rather than just the names as other photo editors do. One minor difference from the standard design is that the options for the selected tool are displayed in a palette below the toolbox rather than in the usual ribbon at the top of the screen.
Upon closer inspection, however, you’ll find that the underlying organization of the program isn't what you might expect. Key features are located in drop-down menus that aren't immediately logical. For instance, Brightness/Contrast is found under the Color menu, and the options for these menu-based commands are pop-up windows that can't be docked or otherwise kept open after you've applied the edit.
Editing Tools That Go Beyond the Basics
In fact, with the release of 2.8, Gimpshop has become preferred software for photo & image editing among more professionals than ever. Layers, channels, masks, filters, levels, advanced pattern matching—the remarkable feature list of Gimp is equal to Photoshop in every way except one: the price.
Although it’s missing the depth of Photoshop or Affinity Photo, GIMP has just about all of the essential photo editing tools, features and commands that most users want. These include special-effect filters; exposure controls, such as levels and curves; and color controls, such as hue/saturation;replace color, bucket fill, paintbrush, eraser, selection tools, and so on. For the most part, they work well and produce a nice-quality image.
GIMP began life in the 1990s as the GNU Image Manipulation Program, and the free, open-source image editing tool has evolved in both complexity and ease of use alongside the personal computer, itself. Feb 03, 2014 GIMP is a free and open-source image and photo editor. You can edit images, retouch and enhance photos, draw shapes, change or remove image backgrounds, combine photos, add text to images, plus so much more.
In addition, GIMP goes far beyond the basics to give you the controls for some rather advanced editing, such as channel manipulations. Although GIMP has layer masks, it doesn't have adjustment layers. On the other hand, it has a very nice 'open as layers' command, which places a photo into a layer of another image. What's more, layers can now be organized into groups. Of course, being GIMP, the layer groups are scriptable via a plugin API.
With the recent major revision, GIMP has made nice improvements to bring the program more in line with competitors. For instance, the revised Text tool works directly on your picture rather than in a separate window, with control over font, size, color, alignment, baseline offset and kerning.
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An Extensible System
What sets GIMP apart is that it’s open-source and easily extensible — or at least it's easy for those who know how to code. In fact, a large population of user/developers continues to explore and invent new extensions to GIMP.
Unlike most photo editing programs, GIMP doesn't support the many third-party Photoshop-compatible plugins. However, GIMP comes with a few dozen plugins, such as those in the Filters menu. In addition, GIMP's active community of user/developers has created a wide range of plugins. Although it can be a security risk to install a plugin from what may be an unknown source, any feature or command you think GIMP might be missing could very likely be available as a plugin. If it isn't, you can tap into the open-source community to learn how to create it yourself.
GIMP supports a variety of scripting languages, including Python and Scheme. Script-Fu (which is based on Scheme) is installed with GIMP and is what most people use to create macros of tasks they do frequently, such as resizing an image for the web.
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Steep Learning Curve
Many of GIMP's photo editing tasks and workflows don't work the way they do on other programs, so it takes some time to understand how to do even simple tasks. For instance, converting a selection to a layer mask involves first saving it as a channel and then applying that channel to a layer as a mask. In addition to being nonintuitive for most people who are used to other image editors' simple 'save selection' command, it's just too many steps.
GIMP offers practically no guidance. The Help menu depends on a user manual that has to be installed separately (and installation requires too many confusing steps). Though you can access the manual online, that version is difficult to navigate. What's more, while it covers just about everything, the manual has little depth. A novice user will probably end up with more questions than answers after reading it.
Given that GIMP isn't supported by a corporate structure, it depends on the community of user/developers to provide help for new users. On the bright side, a good number of video tutorials for GIMP are available on YouTube.
Compatibility
GIMP has no sharing options. However, it supports a wide range of file formats. It opens and saves all of the usual ones — JPEG, GIF, PSD, PNG and TIFF — plus a couple dozen others, such as AutoDesk FLC, PostScript, Targa, PaintShop Pro PSP and more.
As with most photo editing programs, if you wish to save all editing information, such as layers and transparencies, you’ll need to save your image in GIMP's proprietary file format: XCF.
GIMP can run on just about any operating system commonly (and maybe not so commonly) in use today — not just macOS/Mac OS X, Windows and GNU/Linux, but also FreeBSD, OS/2, Digital UNIX and others.
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Bottom Line
GIMP is often described as a possible Photoshop killer, but it really is not, nor is it likely ever to become one, given its complexity. Still, for geek photographers who enjoy working with an open-source program that may need some tweaking to fit their work style, GIMP provides a nice alternative that also happens to be just the right price: free. But serious photographers who need professional tools, such as RAW processing or CMYK support, or consumers who are more interested in results than process, won’t get much satisfaction from GIMP.
These free photo editors are the best of the best and will get you just as good results as the expensive Adobe Photoshop.
The free photo editors below have tons of features and tools that you let you change or enhance your photos in just about any way you can imagine. You can also customize the interface of many of the programs so you can get the perfect working environment for you.
This list includes free photo editors that you have probably heard of as well as some hidden gems that for sure are worth checking out.
If you're looking for more options for free photo editors, maybe a free online photo editor will have what you need; you can use one in your web browser without having to download the software. To edit photos on your phone or tablet, a free photo editing app is what you need. If you only want to resize some photos, there are resources for that, too.
GIMP
What We Like
Similar to Photoshop in interface and capabilities.
Add-ons, including those created for Photoshop, add great functionality.
Generate files in all common image formats.
What We Don't Like
Interface not as sleek or pleasing as Photoshop.
Can be a bit buggy.
Lacks layer grouping, adjustment layers, and some other common Photoshop elements.
GIMP is likely the most popular free photo editor program. It's full of professional features and provides a very friendly and flexible interface.
The toolbox, layers, and brushes panes of GIMP are separated from the main canvas so you can truly adjust how you want to work without losing any of the features you need access to.
Various input devices are supported, add-ons can be installed to extend GIMP's functionality, and file formats like TIFF, PSD, PNG, JPEG, and GIF are supported.
There are tutorials on the GIMP website if you need help along the way. You can learn about layer masks, asset folders, brushes, and more.
GIMP works with Windows (10 down through 7), Linux, and Mac operating systems.
Paint.NET
What We Like
Lots of plug-ins available.
Clean, easy-to-use interface.
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Good choice for intermediate users.
What We Don't Like
Windows only.
Lacks some advanced and commonly used features, such as burn and dodge.
Similar to GIMP, Paint.NET provides the ability to move its window panes around to customize the interface to your liking. Paint.NET also provides plug-ins to support new file formats and add new effects.
Included are layers, effects, and a whole host of basic and advanced things like a clone stamp, pencil, text maker, and paintbrush tool.
Several image file formats like BMP, JPEG, TGA, and DDS are supported.
Inkscape
What We Like
Gimp Photo Editor Free Download For Windows 7
Cross-platform compatibility.
Large, active community; lots of help and tutorials available.
Excels at detailed drawing and line-specific editing.
What We Don't Like
No PMS or CMYK color support.
Sizeable learning curve.
Rendering can take a while.
Inkscape is a vector graphics editor, more akin to Illustrator as opposed to a photo manipulation package, but still has a lot of useful features.
The interface can be a bit cluttered but that's only evidence of the vast number of tools it includes. Nearly all the tools you'll be using often are planted along both sides of Inkscape for easy access.
Circles, arcs, 3D boxes, ellipses, stars, spirals, and polygons can be created using Inkscape. You can also draw straight or freehand lines.
Tons of file types are supported both when opening and saving. Among many other useful features, you can work with layers, apply a huge number of filters to a picture, and use spell check along with the text tool.
Like most photo editing programs, Inkscape supports extensions.
Inkscape works with Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. Windows users can also download a portable version that's perfect for editing straight from a flash drive.
Adobe Photoshop Express
What We Like
Familiar interface for Photoshop users.
Control intensity of tool effects.
What We Don't Like
Limited format support.
Flash-based web access only.
Adobe has the free Photoshop Express program that you can use as a Photoshop alternative if you don't want to pay for their full software. Of course, it is missing some of Photoshop's features, so it's not as functional, but it still does a lot.
When you first open the Photoshop Express image editor, you can load an image from your computer or take a new one directly from your webcam. Once a photo is open in Photoshop Express, the menus on the left make it really easy to access all the one-click options like filters, crop tools, image corrections, the red eye remover tool, and more.
This photo editor also has borders, a spot healing brush for one-click touch-ups, effects like grain and fade, and a noise reducer. There's also a button you can click to quickly see the original photo for comparison with your edits.
Something really great about this image editor that you won't find in some similar programs is that with nearly every tool, you have full control over the intensity. This means you can slide a bar left or right to decrease or increase a tool's effect to get it just right.
Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Android, and iOS users can install Photoshop Express.
Krita Desktop
What We Like
Quick access to full-screen mode.
Particularly well-suited for comics and manga.
Lots of well-designed tools and brushes.
What We Don't Like
Cluttered interface.
Tool settings not easily accessible.
Lacks some features of other programs.
Krita Desktop is really easy to work with and is certainly an advanced image editor. Like some of these other programs, you can work with layers in addition to many other tools located in a floating toolbox off to the side of the program.
There are plenty of other features available as well, such as brushes and blending modes, advanced selection, and masking tools, drawing aids, filters, symmetry tools, and effects.
One thing worth mentioning is that, with the press of the Tab key, you can maximize the canvas to fit your entire screen, getting rid of all the menus and tools so you can have a huge space for working without any distractions.
Krita Desktop works with Windows (7 and newer), Linux, and Mac (10.12 and newer). There's also a portable version for Windows.
InPixio Photo Editor
What We Like
Broad format compatibility.
User-friendly interface.
What We Don't Like
Trial version applies watermarks to images.
Windows only.
This free photo editor from InPixio is designed for simplicity, but that doesn't mean it's void of helpful features. The program itself is easy to understand and navigate, and you can do everything from add frames and designs to crop, change the brightness, and more.
With the one-click presets and frames, a before and after view, and easy-to-access editing tools, you can finish editing in no time and even share your picture directly on Facebook or Flickr from the Share menu.
If you like how you've edited something and want to apply those same edits to another photo, it's as easy as making a custom preset.
Lots of image file types can be opened in this program, and if saving to your computer, you can pick from JPG, PNG, TIFF, JXR, and WDP.
If you need help using this photo editor, you can refer to their online tutorials.
Some features are only available in the premium version; those are marked off in the program with a large 'Premium' banner.
InPixio Photo Editor runs on Windows computers, iPhone, and iPad.
Pixia
What We Like
Compatibile with common file formats.
Open files directly from clipboard, camera, and scanner.
Rich enough in features to satisfy advanced artists.
What We Don't Like
Interface is outdated.
Windows only.
Pixia has an outdated and unappealing interface, but the functions and tools aren't at all undesirable for a free photo editor.
Layers and layer masks are supported, as well as creating shapes, selecting objects, and common photo editing tasks like changing the color adjustment and tone balance, color filling, and selecting from different paint brushes.
All the standard image file formats can be opened with Pixia including those with Photoshop's PSD extension. Images can even be opened directly from the clipboard, a camera, or a scanner.
Artweaver Free
What We Like
Full-featured and easy to use.
Supports layers.
Good variety of brushes and effects.
What We Don't Like
Photoshop plugins and screen playback work only with premium version.
No Mac version.
Artweaver manages to include tons of useful image editing tools in an easy to use program. It has a tabbed interface to avoid clutter, supports using pen tablets, and works with some of the most popular image file formats, such as JPEG and PSD.
Standard editing tools like a crop, text, paint bucket, and gradient tool, among others, are included, but Artweaver also lets you save and replay events, use brushes, create and work with layers, customize the layout of the palettes, and import images directly from a scanner or camera, among other things.
The screen mode can be changed from regular to fullscreen to have even more room to edit images.
PhotoScape
Gimp Free Photo Editor Software
What We Like
Easy to use.
Compatible with both Windows and macOS.
What We Don't Like
Lacks functionality typical of other programs.
Can be slow.
Only PhotoScape X still gets updated.
PhotoScape has several sections at the top of the program where you can open different tools to perform different actions. Viewer, Editor, Combine and Animated GIF are just some of PhotoScape's sections.
The editing feature has dozens of frames to choose from, each with the option to round the corners and adjust the margin and frame line settings of the frame.
You can also add objects and text and crop an image freely or use one of several presets (e.g., 16:9, Legal Ratio, and US business card ratio).
Some more tools included in PhotoScape is a red-eye remover, clone stamp tool, spot remover, paintbrush, and, among others, an effect brush (like grayscale, blur, darken, and brighten).
With each tool you select, a description of what it does and how to use it is displayed to the right, which is very helpful and not usually a feature included in programs like this.
PhotoScape is available for Windows 8–XP while PhotoScape X is for Windows 10 and macOS.
Unfortunately, another program attempts to install during setup, but you can easily skip this by deselecting it.
CinePaint
What We Like
Very powerful, despite being free.
Works with images and videos.
What We Don't Like
No Mac version.
Infrequently updated.
CinePaint's interface is very mundane, colorless, and boring, but that doesn't mean the tools aren't useful because they are.
Layers are supported so you can overlay images on each other, change their blend mode, and edit their opacity. You also get a selection tool with CinePaint, among many other common tools.
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The first thing you'll notice when you use CinePaint is that when you're opening a photo to edit, you're unable to preview it to know that you're selecting the correct one, which is too bad.