Although you might be using Photoshop for quite some time, there are other picture editing programs that can be an alternative to it. So, yes, Photoshop is the world’s most famous editor, however, a lot of people do not like Adobe’s subscription packages. Other editors might offer the same thing, but, completely free or for a small price.
If you are looking for an alternative for your current editing program, you might find this article quite helpful. In the text below, you will be able to read about the top image editors that you can opt for. However, before we take a look at the list, you will be able to see what you should look for an editing program.
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What to Know Before Choosing a Program
source:ghacks.net
Now, one of the first things you will want to think about is how experienced you are with using these programs. If you just need to make a few changes like improving the colors or blurring the background, and online website might help you with those things. However, if you are interested in editing your pictures in an advanced way, then you will want to download a desktop program that should have various tools like masks and layers.
For example, if you need to edit a few pictures, having a program on your PC is better – especially since some of them can have an option for editing several pictures at once, which means that you will be able to save a lot of time. Also, the desktop programs are more reliable than an online one. For example, an online tool might not clip something on the picture as precisely as a desktop one. Hence, you will be able to do your job better. If you want to see what clipping editor you can opt for, check out Backgroundremove.photos.
source:ghacks.net
You will also want to consider what you will use the pictures for. Most online websites do have an option for exporting pictures in the JPG format, however, that might not be a good option if you want to print the pictures since the resolution will be low. So, now that you know what are some things that you should think about, let’s take a look at what editors you can opt for.
What Editors Can I Opt For?
There is a wide range of programs that you can choose from, however, the ones you should seriously consider include:
1. GIMP – Works on Ubuntu, Mac, and Windows Computers
source:ghacks.net
This is perhaps one of the most cherished and used editors out there. When you open it, you will see a wide range of picture-enhancing tools, and the best thing about it? New tools are added to it almost every week. It will also allow you to use layers, levels, masks, and curves. With its amazing tools, you can remove any flaws in a matter of seconds, people can create their own custom brush, as well as change the perspective if needed.
Now, you should know that it is an open-source program, meaning that its community of developers and users make a wide range of plugins that only improve and boost its performance and use. Many plugins are added to it in advance, meaning that you will only need to download it from the official website and you are good to go. The one downside of it might be that you will probably need some time to learn everything there is about this program.
2. Canva – Works on Windows, Mac, and Ubuntu Computers
source:canva.com
This photo editing software works on web browsers and it is perfect for improving your pictures, as well as turning them into posters or invitations. It is most commonly used for improving pictures that people post on their social media pages, hence, if you are looking for something that will improve your online presence, you might want to get Canva.
You can opt from two packages, the free and premium one, and if you want a simple tool to use at home, definitely opt for the free package. The process is simple – you will need to sign up and you will get 1GB of storage space, as well as over 7.000 templates that you can use for editing.
There might not be as many advanced tools, but, it is perfect for simple things like sharpening your pictures, improving the brightness and colors, as well as adding various effects. You can also add text to your snaps and there are various background settings that you can use for completing your design.
3. Paint.New – Works on Windows Computers
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When you think about it, more is not always better. And, the fact that this program is simple is what makes it so popular with users – it is fast, reliable, easy to navigate, and it is free. Now, when you look at the name, the basic Paint that we used as a toy when we were little comes to mind, however, it is so much more than that – it is a real photo editor.
Although it might remind you of Paint because of its name and interface, it features a wide range of advanced tool that you can use for editing your pictures such as layers, various filters and effects, a lot of plugins, as well as an amazing 3D rotate/zoom options that is quite useful when working on your snaps. The disadvantage might be that it only works on Windows platforms.
4. Pixlr X – Works on Windows, Mac, and Ubuntu Computers
source:pcworld.com
If you ever used the basic Pixlr Editor, this program is its successor – and for most people, it has been one of the favorites amongst online editors. It is quite different from the previous version, to begin with, it runs on HTML5 instead of the previously used Flash, which means that it can work on almost all browsers today.
With it, you can change the colors, you can also blur or sharpen your photos, apply various effects and frames, as well as combine several pictures into one. Now, one of the most interesting things about this editor is that it supports layers – which is something that you cannot find in other online programs. It might be useful for advanced editing as well.
Conclusion
Of course, there are other editors that you can use online and offline, however, the ones listed above are amongst the favorites people use. So, now that you know what you can opt for, do not waste any more time, choose an editing software that will fit your needs and start improving your snaps right away!
