Gimp still isn't an effective competitor
It needs gui rework from a UI designer and is still lacking in features that creatives use
Blender is amazing though
Krita is a great program for art but I wish they'd implement full vector functionality
I'm sure for anyone who has real work to do, GIMP will hold them back compared to Photoshop.
But I grew up using GIMP and got some pretty impressive results with it. Now that I have Adobe CC access and have been using Photoshop through that, I am perpetually confused on how to do x, which I know how to do in a couple clicks in GIMP.
To be fair, I'm sure that'd go doubly so for someone who started with Photoshop since it does have an objectively cleaner UI.
I'm the opposite. I grew up pirating CS4/5/6 Photoshop but just for simple tasks. I can't for the life of me figure out Gimp.
Reminds me of this:
Using pirated Adobe software these days is a much bigger pain in the ass than it was back in the day.
Calling Figma free is like calling complimentary bread sticks a full dinner.
Penpot would be a better alternative. I never used it but it's gaining momentum.
It's infuriating what basic features Penpot is still lacking and it trips you up all the time if you're used to working with Figma, but what's already in feels pretty good.
I suspect they use a different definition of "Free" than we are used to. DaVinci Resolve and Figma are not FOSS, and have free and paid levels.
I believe the others are all free (as in beer) as well as free (as in speech).
Yup, I'd also say darktable + krita is a far better solution than gimp.
That said, for pro level stuff, resolve is much better than premier in general, so it's a solid competitor from a "Linux support" category.
As a former Photoshop user, I found all the paradigms and ways of thinking in Gimp were just so utterly different from what I was used to. Simple things like cropping, resizing selections and layer management felt like exercises in frustration.
Tried Krita instead, and I'm immediately feeling at home and able to be productive straight away.
I'm sure Gimp is awesome but my brain didn't like it. If anyone else is feeling the same way, give Krita a try.
I’ve used both Gimp and Photoshop. I’m not super skilled in any of these, but Photoshop feels the most natural to use. I’ve never figured out a good workflow for Gimp.
It’s a shame, because functionality wise Gimp is quite competent. It’s just the UI that’s crap.
It is not just you. I started using gimp and later switched to Photoshop and it was such a great productivity improvement after just a few minutes.
Try Krita too then, if you're interested in moving to free and open source. The paradigm is very similar to Photoshop.
This guide is misleading. Sure, the product functionalities overlap, but if you have a mature workflow, you will not be able to switch without investing a LOT of effort in relearning your workflow on the new product stack. This is one of my MAIN reasons I hate the "I tried to switch to Linux and failed" genre of content. You're not going to find identical like-for-like replacements in Linux world that won't require significant effort to relearn. It's something us Linux users through and through need to bear in mind.
Also, we need to be cognisant that "just switching to Linux" narratives, fueled off infographics like this, will lead to frustration and dismissal.
No, I don't know how to change this - and morphing e.g. gimp to be a clone of Photoshop isn't the answer either.
GIMP sucks and still has a horrid UI experience.
krita
Gimp is an alternative to Photoshop the same way a bicycle is an alternative to a car.
/c/fuck_cars has entered the chat
/c/fuck_cars: YOU WOT
A sustainable alternative that keeps the user fit and enhances cities if adopted?
A superior one, got it.
This is free as in free beer.
Krita for anything graphic design. Krita's UI layout is a lot more similar to Photoshop than GIMP, which makes the switch easier.
Figma is the complete opposite of free software. It's a cloud-only proprietary software.
Correct me if I am wrong but DaVinci Resolve is not really free software, right? It is just free to use proprietary software. Freemium or some such
Calling that Free Software was a bit of a poor choice by the author of this graphic
Photopea would be a better drop in than Gimp. But it's a website and that grinds my gears.
Photopea is another good (entirely browser-based) Photoshop alternative.
Figma balls XD
My list is a bit different:
Photoshop ➡️ Krita Illustrator ➡️ Krita After Effects ➡️ Blender Premier Pro ➡️ kdenlive Adobe XD and Figma ➡️ Everything about these tools seems wrong to me (see comment below) Cinema 4D and 3DS Max ➡️ I thought everyone ditched those in favor of Blender long ago? LOL
I completely do not understand the appeal of tools like Figma. As a developer who's made lot of single page web applications (though not in a while... Maybe everything is different now? 🤷) tools like Figma seem like they'd create a major headache for developers.
I mean, sure: If a tool gives you a quick, easy, collaborative way to mock up a website and user interactions then by all means! But it looks like people are going far beyond that and using Figma to generate code. In my experience with such tools in the past, that's where everything goes wrong.
If the developers themselves aren't using the tool then the code will drift from the GUI design tool too much over time, becoming a boat anchor that holds development back and slows everything down. But maybe folks are just using it to get things started? I dunno. I just don't get the hype around it.
Then again, I'm a guy who does all his CAD design work in OpenSCAD so I might have something like a superpower in regards to visual reasoning that prevents me from understanding the issues others have with conceptualizing code-as-design 🤷
If I can't do it in emacs, I do it in Blender.
People need to throw off the shackles of Adobe
Natron lol? Where did you get this from? Natron never really existed. Davinci has all the functions to replace AE.
Gimp sucks and should stop being mentioned as an alternative for anything.
1. Defining a Guide Guides are comprehensive reference materials, how-tos, or comparison tables. A guide must be well-organized both in content and layout. Information should be easily accessible without unnecessary navigation. Guides can include flowcharts, step-by-step instructions, or visual references that compare different elements side by side.
2. Infographic Guidelines Infographics are permitted if they are educational and informative. They should aim to convey complex information visually and clearly. However, infographics that primarily serve as visual essays without structured guidance will be subject to removal.
3. Grey Area Moderators may use discretion when deciding to remove posts. If in doubt, message us or use downvotes for content you find inappropriate.
4. Source Attribution If you know the original source of a guide, share it in the comments to credit the creators.
5. Diverse Content To keep our community engaging, avoid saturating the feed with similar topics. Excessive posts on a single topic may be moderated to maintain diversity.
6. Verify in Comments Always check the comments for additional insights or corrections. Moderators rely on community expertise for accuracy.
Direct Image Links Only Only direct links to .png, .jpg, and .jpeg image formats are permitted.
Educational Infographics Only Infographics must aim to educate and inform with structured content. Purely narrative or non-informative infographics may be removed.
Serious Guides Only Nonserious or comedy-based guides will be removed.
No Harmful Content Guides promoting dangerous or harmful activities/materials will be removed. This includes content intended to cause harm to others.
By following these rules, we can maintain a diverse and informative community. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to the moderators. Thank you for contributing responsibly!
