Pixlr recognizes the main graphical file formats such as JPEG, GIF, and PNG and also allows you to view some PSD files, although those larger in size or complex in nature may not open. The Pixlr Express and Pixlr Editor web apps will run in most modern browsers as long as you have Flash 10 or above installed they offer a significant number of integrated filters along with limited layer support. Layer masks tool is cumbersome to use at first.Ī browser-based alternative to Photoshop, Pixlr is owned by well-known software developers Autodesk and is quite robust when it comes to available features and allows for progressive editing and enhancing as well as original image design. As always, download at your own risk when dealing with repositories not from Adobe. With that said, if you're only looking for the very basics in a raster-based graphics editor then GIMP may actually be a little too much and you may benefit from one of the simpler alternatives on our list.Īvailable in almost twenty languages for the Linux, Mac, and Windows platforms, GIMP recognizes almost all file formats that you'd expect from a paid editor like Photoshop including GIF, JPEG, PNG and TIFF among others, as well as partial support for PSD files (not all layers may be readable).Īlso similar to Photoshop, a large number of external plugins are available that enhance GIMP's functionality further. While not always as intuitive as Photoshop in terms of functionality and design, GIMP makes up for some of its perceived clumsiness with several in-depth tutorials for both beginning and advanced users that help you use the majority of its components with little or no pre-existing knowledge of the open-source application. With a very active developer community that has historically listened to user requests and feedback, this free option continues to advance as raster editor technology expands. They say that you get what you pay for, but in GIMP's case, that idiom doesn't necessarily ring true. One of the most full-featured Photoshop alternatives, GIMP (short for GNU Image Manipulation Program) offers such a large set of features that even the most complex tasks can be achieved without any strain on your budget.

Limited support for layers, macros, and custom shapes.Ĭluttered UI with annoying floating windows.

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