Free and powerful graphics programs

[Victor Leigh]

Ever since I migrated to Linux, I have using open source graphics programs which, of course, are free. At the top of my list is GIMP. I also use Inkscape. Recently I found another one which is Xara, a graphics program which is ported from Windows and released as open source. Xara works very much like CorelDraw.

 

Is there anyone else using open source graphics programs?

[ridwan sameer]

Linux? Go GIMP

[KellyKellz]

Gimp and Xara are the only ones I know of. I've had a lot of success with Gimp because its pretty similar to Photoshop. I never really go into Xara because right when I got it I was exposed to Photoshop and it was history ever since, haha.

[Victor Leigh]

Is Photoshop really that addictive? I have only looked at Photoshop in passing since I wasn't in any position to buy a copy of it. So to those people who love Photoshop, is there any one feature that really makes it stand out from the crowd? I mean, besides the name.

[KellyKellz]

Is Photoshop really that addictive? I have only looked at Photoshop in passing since I wasn't in any position to buy a copy of it. So to those people who love Photoshop, is there any one feature that really makes it stand out from the crowd? I mean, besides the name.

 

For me, the layout of the interface is simple for me to grasp compared to others. Gimp and Xara are a little "cluttered" in my opinion but it seems like with each Photoshop release, the UI get less cluttered and they have quick setups for photo editing, web design, etc.

 

I also like that there are plenty of tutorials on the internet compared to the other software, so if I have a question I almost never have to reword it in YouTube. I can just type in exactly what I want to learn and there's usually multiple tutorials with the current version of Photoshop I'm using.

 

No, There isn't a real standout feature that really grabs me because you can basically tackle any problem with the other software, but Photoshop is I guess more convenient for my workflow.

[Victor Leigh]

From what I understand Photoshop is not cheap. So if it doesn't have any really outstanding feature, why pay the money to get something which you can get for free? Apparently quite a lot of people are willing to pay for it, so I must be missing something by not using Photoshop.

 

Right?

[dagscot]

I think the big selling point for photoshop is its selection tools and layers. A lot of software packages now use layers but I think photoshop was one of the first. They allow you to stack images on top of each other and to easily mask and blend parts of an image. I could never go back to anything else now.

[KellyKellz]

I think the big selling point for photoshop is its selection tools and layers. A lot of software packages now use layers but I think photoshop was one of the first. They allow you to stack images on top of each other and to easily mask and blend parts of an image. I could never go back to anything else now.

 

...but don't most image editing software allow you to use layers and selection tools? I see what your saying though. If Photoshop was the first to do it then they should have more time to perfect the technology used to make it possible to do such things within the software.

[Jaypee]

I've been planning to learn GIMP ever since I learned of its existence.  But when I downloaded and tried to learn it >   nothing happened, maybe I just don't have the time (or the patience) to really learn the program. 

 

Though it's still on my "to do" list but not on my priority list, anyway I only use image editors to create simple ad banners and for now  my MS Powerpoint and a free screencapture is enough to do the job.

[jodiann12]

Ever since I migrated to Linux, I have using open source graphics programs which, of course, are free. At the top of my list is GIMP. I also use Inkscape. Recently I found another one which is Xara, a graphics program which is ported from Windows and released as open source. Xara works very much like CorelDraw.

 

Is there anyone else using open source graphics programs?

 

I've heard of GIMP, but I've never heard of Inkscape or Xara. Thanks for sharing these. I've always wanted to learn how to use CorelDraw. I want to at least use Xara for awhile to get a feel of what using CorelDraw is like.

[andy103]

I think Gimp is probably one of the best free graphic programs out there. I used in in place of photoshop for a little while.

[westmixxin]

Maya  Is a huge 3-D program with a lot of power packed into it, making something in 3-D on maya then taking a digital 3-D picture of it, now that's a huge powerful graphic picture.

[themonk3y]

I got obsessed with 3D graphics a year ago and manged to find an excellent free and open source 3D graphics software name Blender. It is a really great 3D software there are even a few short movies created with it. The software is amazingly small in size which is around 50 MB and it is under constant development. I am still learning it, I have not become a pro yet.

 

 

Maya  Is a huge 3-D program with a lot of power packed into it, making something in 3-D on maya then taking a digital 3-D picture of it, now that's a huge powerful graphic picture.

 

Is Maya free ? The last time I checked it was really pricey.

[taki]

Is Photoshop really that addictive? I have only looked at Photoshop in passing since I wasn't in any position to buy a copy of it. So to those people who love Photoshop, is there any one feature that really makes it stand out from the crowd? I mean, besides the name.

 

 

Photoshop is the standard in graphics manipulation programs. I tried GIMP before Photoshop and I liked it. I then downloaded a copy of Photoshop and now I only use GIMP to do minor alterations and when my systems memory is overflowing. I can burn through 32 gig when I am using multiple graphics programs at once and GIMP has a small footprint in my opinion.

[oraclemay]

These programs all sound really wonderful. My son is an artist and he is very into graphics. I am going to check these out for him. However, I am wondering what is missing on my old desktop pc, as I cannot view any downloaded movies on it. (memory stick or flashdrive) There are several different DVD players on it and they all read a DVD disk, but not movie downloads, even if I put them on a dvd/cd disk. i am wondering if there is something I need to install or update. This desktop is running on windows and I want to change to Linux Puppy. I wonder if the change will make any difference.

[Lizel]

Gimp is the best free and powerful graphic program out there. 

I am literally waiting when it becomes paid. ;/ 

[Kakashi2020]

There's a recent addition to the he Adobe family and it's called Adobe Spark, it's a really good program it also has downloadable app in appstore and playstore.  Adobe Spark is free and you can use it to create free infographics.  It's very easy to use with its easy input templates and walkthroughs.

[fishbate]

I found a free open source graphic software called Krita. Its somehow similar to PS and Corel, with some features that is really cool for imagery . I still haven't used it for a long period but i think its great specially for beginners.