Top 5 Best FREE PHOTO EDITING Software

Brett In Tech
20 Jan 202307:56

TLDRThe video reviews the top 5 free photo editing software for users seeking alternatives to expensive programs like Photoshop. Adobe Photoshop Express, ranked fifth, offers a user-friendly interface with basic tools for quick edits. Photoscape X, fourth place, provides advanced features including a screenshot tool, GIF creation, and RAW image support. Third place goes to Krita, an open-source program for photo editing, digital painting, and animation, with over 100 brushes and layer support. The runner-up, Paint.NET, is a lightweight, feature-rich alternative to Microsoft Paint with community-created plugins and a dark theme. The top choice is GIMP, an open-source powerhouse with a comprehensive set of tools found in high-end software, including layer management, advanced filters, and compatibility with PSD files. The video also mentions bonus picks like Photopea, Pixlr, Canva, and Affinity Photo, offering various levels of photo editing capabilities.

Takeaways

  • 🌟 Adobe Photoshop Express is a free, easy-to-use photo editor from the makers of Photoshop, suitable for quick edits.
  • 🎨 PhotoScape X, ranking fourth, offers advanced features like a screenshot tool, GIF creation, and collage support, along with raw image support.
  • 🖼️ Krta is a free and open-source program that not only edits photos but also supports digital painting and animation, with over 100 professional brushes.
  • 🎨 Bonus picks include Photope, Pixlr, Canva, and Affinity Photo, offering a range of online and offline editing solutions, from basic to advanced.
  • 🎨 Paint.NET, the runner-up, is a lightweight and powerful tool that started as an alternative to Microsoft Paint, with layer support and community-created plugins.
  • ✅ GIMP, the top pick, is a feature-rich, open-source program that rivals expensive software, supporting layers, advanced filters, color adjustments, and transformations.
  • 📱 Adobe Photoshop Express is available for Windows through the Microsoft Store, with mobile apps for Android and iOS, but not for Mac OS or Linux.
  • 💻 PhotoScape X is available for Windows 10 and 11 from the Microsoft Store, with a paid Pro version and also available for Mac OS from the Mac App Store.
  • 📥 Krta can be downloaded from their website for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and includes a comprehensive manual for beginners.
  • 🌐 Online photo editors like Photope and Pixlr offer convenience and a range of tools that mimic the functionality of desktop applications.
  • 💡 Affinity Photo, while not free, is a one-time purchase option for users who prefer not to subscribe to services like Photoshop, available for Windows, Mac OS, and iPad.

Q & A

  • What is the name of the free photo editing software from the makers of Photoshop?

    -Adobe Photoshop Express

  • Which free photo editing software is suitable for users looking for advanced features beyond Photoshop Express?

    -Photoscape X

  • What additional features does Photoscape X have apart from photo editing?

    -Screenshot tool, ability to create GIFs and collages, and support for RAW images.

  • What is the name of the free and open-source program that also supports digital painting and animation?

    -Krita

  • What is the unique feature of the runner-up photo editing software, Paint.net, that was first released in 2004?

    -It was designed as a more powerful alternative to Microsoft Paint.

  • Which open-source program is considered the best free image and photo editing software and is compatible with Photoshop PSD files?

    -GIMP (referred to as 'give' in the transcript)

  • What is the name of the browser-based web app that closely resembles Photoshop?

    -Photopea

  • What are the two primary offerings from Pixlr for photo editing?

    -Pixlr X and Pixlr E

  • What is the name of the graphic design platform that offers a free online photo editor for creating marketing materials and social media posts?

    -Canva

  • What is the name of the non-free photo editing software that offers a one-time fee as an alternative to subscription-based services like Photoshop?

    -Affinity Photo

  • What is the main drawback mentioned about GIMP's layout that might affect users who are longtime Photoshop users?

    -The layout has been described as clunky.

  • How can users get help if they need assistance with using Paint.net?

    -They can visit the forum on the developer's website.

Outlines

00:00

📷 Top 5 Free Photo Editing Software

The video introduces viewers to the top five free photo editing software options as alternatives to expensive programs like Photoshop. It covers Adobe Photoshop Express, which is user-friendly and quick for basic edits, offering tools like effects, themes, and filters. The video also mentions advanced features in Photoscape X, including a screenshot tool, support for RAW images, and a variety of editing tools. Additionally, it highlights Krita, a free and open-source program suitable for photo editing, digital painting, and animation, with over 100 professional brushes and layer support. The video provides a brief overview of bonus picks like Photopea, Pixlr, Canva, and Affinity Photo before delving into the top two choices, Paint.NET and GIMP, which are praised for their extensive features and community support.

05:00

🎨 Paint.NET and GIMP as Top Photo Editors

The second paragraph focuses on Paint.NET, a powerful and lightweight alternative to Microsoft Paint, released in 2004. It supports layer management, special effects, and has a community-created plugin ecosystem. The video mentions the program's evolution, including the addition of a dark theme. Paint.NET is noted for its toolbar with essential tools and a menu bar with additional features like the oil painting effect. The paragraph also discusses the availability of help through the program's forum and the option to download it for free or support the developer through donations or a one-time purchase from the Microsoft Store. The top spot is given to GIMP, an open-source program released in 1996, which rivals expensive software with its comprehensive set of tools, including layer management, advanced filters, effects, color adjustments, and transformations. The video describes GIMP's interface, with tools on the left and layers and brushes on the right, and mentions the option for a single-window mode. It also references tutorials and beginner guides available for those new to the software. GIMP is available on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux platforms.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Photo Editing Software

Photo editing software refers to programs that allow users to modify and enhance digital photos. These tools often include features like filters, effects, cropping, and color adjustments. In the video, the main theme revolves around the top 5 free photo editing software options, which serve as alternatives to expensive programs like Photoshop.

💡Adobe Photoshop Express

Adobe Photoshop Express is a free version of the popular Adobe Photoshop software. It is designed with a low learning curve and offers basic photo editing tools such as effects, themes, filters, and auto-enhance features. It is mentioned as the fifth option in the video, catering to users who need a quick and easy solution for photo editing.

💡Photoscape X

Photoscape X is a more advanced free photo editing software that includes a wide array of tools for image enhancement, screenshot capture, GIF creation, and collage making. It is highlighted as the fourth option in the video and is noted for its extensive feature set, which goes beyond basic editing to include professional tools like layer support and a cutout tool for background removal.

💡Krita

Krita is an open-source program that not only provides photo editing capabilities but also includes tools for digital painting and animation. It is described as having over 100 professionally made brushes and support for layers and vector templates. Krita is mentioned as the third option in the video and is noted for its advanced features, making it suitable for professional users.

💡Paint.NET

Paint.NET is a free image and photo editing software that was first released in 2004 as a more powerful alternative to Microsoft Paint. It is lightweight, supports layer management, and offers a variety of special effects and community-created plugins. It is the runner-up in the video and is praised for its improved features over the years, including a dark theme and a user-friendly toolbar.

💡GIMP

GIMP, which stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program, is an open-source program that is considered the best free image and photo editing software in the video. It was initially released in 1996 and is packed with advanced tools and features often found in expensive software. GIMP supports layer management, advanced filters, color adjustments, and is compatible with various image formats including PSD files.

💡Auto Enhance

Auto Enhance is a feature found in photo editing software that automatically adjusts several values of an image to improve its overall appearance. In the context of the video, Adobe Photoshop Express is noted for its Auto Enhance tool, which adjusts exposure, temperature, and contrast to enhance the photo with a single click.

💡Filters and Effects

Filters and effects are tools within photo editing software that allow users to apply various visual transformations to their images. They can range from simple color adjustments to complex artistic effects. The video discusses the availability of these tools in the software mentioned, emphasizing their role in enhancing the creative potential of users.

💡Layer Management

Layer management is a feature in advanced photo editing software that allows users to work with multiple layers of an image separately. This enables more complex edits and non-destructive adjustments. The video mentions layer management as a key feature in software like Krita and GIMP, which is important for users looking to perform professional-level edits.

💡Plugins

Plugins are additional software components that extend the functionality of an application. In the context of photo editing, plugins can introduce new tools, effects, or features to enhance the capabilities of the base software. The video mentions that paint.net has a community of users who create plugins to improve its functionality.

💡Compatibility

Compatibility in the context of software refers to the ability of an application to work well with different operating systems or file formats. The video emphasizes the compatibility of GIMP with popular image formats, including Photoshop PSD files, which is a significant advantage for users who work with diverse file types.

Highlights

Adobe Photoshop Express is a free photo editing software with a low learning curve, great for quick edits.

Photoshop Express offers basic tools like effects, themes, filters, and auto enhance feature.

Photoshop Express is available for Windows from the Microsoft store but not for Mac OS or Linux.

Photoscape X is a more advanced free photo editor with features like screenshot tool, GIF creation, and collage support.

Photoscape X includes a large set of tools for image enhancement and has a free and a paid version.

Krita is a free and open-source program with tools for photo editing, digital painting, and animation.

Krita has over 100 professionally made brushes and supports layer management and vector templates.

Krita has a high learning curve and provides a manual on their site to help beginners.

Photopea is a browser-based web app with features that closely resemble Photoshop.

Pixlr offers web apps for basic and advanced edits, Pixlr X and Pixlr E, respectively.

Canva provides a free online photo editor for creating marketing materials and social media posts.

Affinity Photo is a high-quality, non-subscription photo editor available for a one-time fee.

Paint.NET is a lightweight and powerful alternative to Microsoft Paint with layer support and community plugins.

Paint.NET has a dark theme and a variety of special effects, including an oil painting feature.

GIMP is the top free photo editing software, offering advanced tools and features found in expensive software.

GIMP supports layer management, advanced filters, color adjustments, and is compatible with PSD files.

GIMP's layout can be adjusted for a more traditional single window mode.

GIMP is available on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux, and has been used for creating many video thumbnails.

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