Free or inexpensive alternative to Photoshop?

from Stardock Forums

I was going through the Skin Studio tutorial, and it mentioned that Photoshop is needed to build various components of the Windows Blind Styles.

I Googled Photoshop, and it's pretty pricy..for a casual user like me.

Is there a decent Photoshop alternative?

 

windowblinds
4,827 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Yes...its called Gimp. You can find it here. http://www.gimp.org/ Its free and open source. Its the best alternative to Photoshop and works much the same way. The latest version is 2.8. Give it a shot.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I'd also recommend Paint Shop Pro or Photoshop Elements.  They aren't free, but are real good.

Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Paint.net is also fairly good and it is free.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Thanks Everyone!

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Chasy's draw IES also another good free one :) 

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting roflmfaoo, reply 5

Chasy's draw IES also another good free one  
End of roflmfaoo's quote

Oops...forgot about that one.

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I never could get the hang of GIMP. I tried it in its natural form and with the windows all together like anyone elses graphics editor.  My one and only, although long undeveloped, is Photo Impact. It started out as Ulead Photo Impact and then Corel bought, stripped the code they wanted from it, and tossed it aside like they have so many really nice applications.  Of all the things I have tried, none of the ease of applying things in layers nor the ability to create some beautiful text through their templates and examples.  I can even create fonts. That aside, there were free versions of DAZ 3D and Hexagon 2 that had wonderful potential and can do quite a bit. Someone on the forums used to use them. Hexagon I believe. If someday I can no longer run my Photo Impact they would be the top of the list. Unless I find a true replacement.

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

yeah I also tried GIMP but my learning curve was very very slow

finally I found RealWorld Paint freeware, portable, I can use layers and also the photoshop plugins (many of them are free)

just my two cents ;)

 

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The latest version of GIMP more closely emulates Ps.