Best open source/free photoshop clone?

[slackerinabox]

Looking for something for an intern, so I'd like it to be as close to photoshop's UI as possible to keep it simple - I've used gimp and that's fine, but wondering if there's a newer/better alternative.

 

[lxskllr]

Not that I'm aware of. Gimp is Gimp. It doesn't try to clone PS, but it's a powerful package. They have a unified window option now which some people seem to like. When I first used Gimp, I thought I wanted a unified window, but after getting used to the floating toolboxes, I don't want to go back. I tried it unified briefly, and just set it back to the way it was. It's more flexible that way.

Edit:
Paint.NET is a good package. Not as powerful as Gimp or PS, but it does a lot. If your needs align with it's features, it might be a good fit.

 

[zokudu]

GIMP is the best free option. If you need to to try and look like photoshop maybe try looking into Gimpshop?

 

[Stone Rain]

I use GIMP. It's quite nice for being free.

 

[PC Perv]

paint.net



Posted from Anandtech.com App for Android

 

[BrightCandle]

Paint.net is OK but its not Photoshop. I also tend to combine it with inkscape which using the vectors I can achieve some of the effects I want but don't get in paint.net, but with the extra hassle of going via rendering to a file.

Photoshop is one of those tools that if you utilise it well is still worth buying.

 

[Pia]

Platform?

On OS X, Seashore is good for some simpler jobs. If you want more than that, I suspect Gimp is the only game in town. I personally really disliked the bunch-of-windows UI when I tried to use Gimp before, that unified window stuff sounds good.

Haven't used Photoshop after version 5, but that was already awesome enough, I'm not even sure what extra features I'd want to have. Certainly not the DRM stuff Adobe has added since.

I wonder if you could buy a cheap license for one of the older PS versions?

 

[Netopia]

Or, maybe CS2 for free would be useful enough for you?

http://www.adobe.com/downloads/cs2_downloads/index.html

Just a thought!

 

[Pia]

Or, maybe CS2 for free would be useful enough for you?

http://www.adobe.com/downloads/cs2_downloads/index.html

Just a thought!

Pirate Bay is also full of "free" software. Adobe clearly says those installation packages are offered for users who have a license; they are not free.

 

[Nothinman]

Or, maybe CS2 for free would be useful enough for you?

http://www.adobe.com/downloads/cs2_downloads/index.html

Just a thought!

If you're pay to get Photoshop you might as well pay for a recent version.

 

[country2]

Pirate Bay is also full of "free" software. Adobe clearly says those installation packages are offered for users who have a license; they are not free.

I'm using it also on W8 64 bit. The way I see it although they say " serial numbers below should only be used by customers who legitimately purchased CS2 or Acrobat 7 and need to maintain their current use of these products." Way I see it is abandoneware as its no longer supported and outdated and doesn't even activate. Heck they may even gain future sales by allowing people who didn't purchase to use...

 

[Nothinman]

I'm using it also on W8 64 bit. The way I see it although they say " serial numbers below should only be used by customers who legitimately purchased CS2 or Acrobat 7 and need to maintain their current use of these products." Way I see it is abandoneware as its no longer supported and outdated and doesn't even activate. Heck they may even gain future sales by allowing people who didn't purchase to use...

You can see it however you want, but wishing something was free doesn't automatically make it so.

 

[Gintaras]

Pirate Bay is also full of "free" software. Adobe clearly says those installation packages are offered for users who have a license; they are not free.

Is it Adobe Vintage store?

What if Microsoft will make a page with Win95 or Win98 download and serial numbers and will say: "Well, it's not free, it's for those who have Win95/Win98 license....

BUY IT AGAIN...WE NEED MONEY !!!

 

[Pia]

Is it Adobe Vintage store?

What if Microsoft will make a page with Win95 or Win98 download and serial numbers and will say: "Well, it's not free, it's for those who have Win95/Win98 license....

BUY IT AGAIN...WE NEED MONEY !!!

Dunno what makes this so hard for you to understand. They are not selling that software. They do not want to sell that software. As far as they are concerned, it's obsolete. But because they actually give a shit about providing good customer service, they want to provide those packages for people who have licenses but have managed to lose physical media. Doing it this way costs them less than handling cases on one-by-one basis and shipping some physical CDs.

If you want to buy Photoshop, you have to buy the new version. Or one of the previous versions from a vendor that still has them.

 

[Nothinman]

Is it Adobe Vintage store?

What if Microsoft will make a page with Win95 or Win98 download and serial numbers and will say: "Well, it's not free, it's for those who have Win95/Win98 license....

BUY IT AGAIN...WE NEED MONEY !!!

Understanding is hard...