Loading...
> >

Recommend me a free alternative to photoshop

Sfariah DSfariah D Posts: 26,263
in The Commons

Please recommend me a free alternative to photoshop.  I like Photoshop but don't like paying for it every month just to use a newer version than CS6.  Does anyone recommend a free alternative to photoshop?  Maybe something that can do well with 3D texturing too?

«13

Comments

  • SofaCitizenSofaCitizen Posts: 1,886

    Not used it myself but often when this topic comes up PhotoPea gets mentioned. There is also good-old GIMP too.

  • TorquinoxTorquinox Posts: 3,320

    If you have CS6, you could keep using that. Gimp does a lot these days, very competent. If you like digital drawing and painting, Krita is excellent for that.3D texturing... Blender! There's a learning curve, but isn't that true of everything?

  • QuixotryQuixotry Posts: 912

    It's not a free alternative, but since the only free one I'm aware of is GIMP and it's already been mentioned, I thought I would jump in with a suggestion that you look at Serif's Affinity Photo. It's an excellent Photoshop-like program. Overall it feels very similar. As a 10+ year Photoshop user, I'm finding it quite intuitive. In some ways, I think I like it better. So if you find that the free options don't quite suit you or your workflow, you might take a look at it. It's a much less expensive one-time purchase.

  • TorquinoxTorquinox Posts: 3,320
    edited January 2023

    I was thinking f Affinity, but I have never been able to get that to run on my system. It's weird! And if you know the secret to getting it to run, I'd love to hear. Currently, the installer pretends to start and just winks out of existence. So, even though I'd love to give it a try, it's a no-go.

    Post edited by Torquinox on
  • cgidesigncgidesign Posts: 442

    Quixel Mixer for painting on 3d models (alternative to Blender or Substance Painter).

    https://quixel.com/mixer

  • TorquinoxTorquinox Posts: 3,320
    edited January 2023

    I'm downloading Quixel Mixer with texture packs now. Seems interesting, we shall see. Thanks!

    Post edited by Torquinox on
  • richardandtracyrichardandtracy Posts: 5,667
    I have been using Paintshop Pro 5 ever since it was distributed for free on the front of the UK PCPlus Magazine in the year 2000. That version seems to be available online here:- http://www.oldversion.com/windows/paint-shop-pro-5-01. It's very simple, doesn't understand some PNG versions, hdr or exr formats, font sizes max at 72 point and layer transparency is somewhat erratic. However, it's simple enough for me to use without frustration. Regards, Richard.
  • sunnyjeisunnyjei Posts: 502

    Best free alternative I've seen is Krita followed by Medibang Paint.

  • AlmightyQUESTAlmightyQUEST Posts: 2,003
    They've already been suggested, but my two cents from switching from Photoshop. Gimp seems to be a really good match, but something about the UI and workflows didn't work for me personally. Krita was the free alternative that I liked them most, I only looked elsewhere because of issues I was having with it recognizing my Wacom tablet drivers. Not free, but I ended up switching to Clip Studio Paint because my main use was going to be drawing and painting rather than photo (or photo style) editing.
  • TorquinoxTorquinox Posts: 3,320

    I can confirm that Krita plays well with xp-pen monitor drivers.

  • mwokeemwokee Posts: 1,275

    All good suggestions above, another suggestion if it works for you is Photoshop Elements.

  • WendyLuvsCatzWendyLuvsCatz Posts: 38,208

    https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/595501/is-there-a-photoshop-that-doesn-t-require-a-subscription#latest

    don't forget you had some suggestions in this thread too

  • hansmolleman33hansmolleman33 Posts: 219

    Gimp is one of the best alternative to Photoshop.

  • TorquinoxTorquinox Posts: 3,320

    mwokee said:

    All good suggestions above, another suggestion if it works for you is Photoshop Elements.

    I agree, PS Elements is also very good. This is especially true if you find it on sale bundled with Premiere Elements.

  • inception8inception8 Posts: 280
    edited January 2023

    You might be able to find all sorts of Photoshop alternatives through AlternativeTo. Keep hitting the "Show more alternatives" at the bottom when you run out of the ones shown. I've been using this site for years.

    https://alternativeto.net/software/adobe-photoshop - Press "Alternatives to Photoshop (223)"

    Post edited by inception8 on
  • TorquinoxTorquinox Posts: 3,320
    edited January 2023

    Since it was mentioned here, I downloaded Quixel Mixer. I'm not in love with it. YMMV. A few notes:

    1) The QM download includes optional texture packs and a library of up to 428 smart materials. It's around 28GB if you download them all with the software, and I did! These are licensed for commercial and noncommercial application provided that you incorporate them into custom textures for your models. Like any such package, you can't start selling the source textures or anything like that. These are separate from the megascan textures that are available for sale through epic games. If free is the key, the megascans are not going to help you unless you are using them exclusively in Unreal Engine. Then there is a special license for that, and it is not very useful for people using Daz Studio, Blender, or any program except Unreal Engine. So, off the bat, I will say Quixel Mixer comes with up to 428 free smart materials that you can use to get your party started.

    2) There does seem to be a learning curve for QM. No surprise there.

    3) It is sensitive to models with negative normals and won't load them.

    4) The paint tools do not seem to have any pressure-sensitive capabilities for tablet and pen-monitor users. If they exist, I haven't found them anywhere yet. This might be a deal-breaker, actually.

    5) The program feels a bit slow and heavy with the sample scenes, faster when I load my own test objects.

    6) You do have to make an account to install the software, because of course you do!

    Edited typos.

    Post edited by Torquinox on
  • kyoto kidkyoto kid Posts: 41,042

    hansmolleman33 said:

    Gimp is one of the best alternative to Photoshop.

    ...I've been using Gimp for postwork since I started in 3D (couldn't afford the 600$ price tag for Photoshop back then).  There have been several major improvements including the ability to load and use Photoshop brushes. The UI has also been revamped somewhat in the latest update. I also have Corel's Paint Shop Pro 2021 which I like better for some purposes like adding text to images (the editor is more intuitive) and manipulating layers as well as creating HDRIs..

    I do have Krita as well which is more of a 2D paint programme similar to Corel's Painter.

  • QuixotryQuixotry Posts: 912

    Torquinox said:

    I was thinking f Affinity, but I have never been able to get that to run on my system. It's weird! And if you know the secret to getting it to run, I'd love to hear. Currently, the installer pretends to start and just winks out of existence. So, even though I'd love to give it a try, it's a no-go.

    Aw, that's a shame. I wish I was clever enough with computers to give you a good suggestion, but I usually have to resort to finding tech support when things like that come up. Maybe their customer support people would be able to figure it out with you. I have the latest Affinity software running on my PC and on Catalina on a MacBook, but haven't had any trouble with the installer as you describe. My parents are using Mac towers with Sierra (however many OS versions back that is) and can run older versions of Affinity but not the latest updates.

  • TorquinoxTorquinox Posts: 3,320

    Quixotry said:

    Torquinox said:

    I was thinking f Affinity, but I have never been able to get that to run on my system. It's weird! And if you know the secret to getting it to run, I'd love to hear. Currently, the installer pretends to start and just winks out of existence. So, even though I'd love to give it a try, it's a no-go.

    Aw, that's a shame. I wish I was clever enough with computers to give you a good suggestion, but I usually have to resort to finding tech support when things like that come up. Maybe their customer support people would be able to figure it out with you. I have the latest Affinity software running on my PC and on Catalina on a MacBook, but haven't had any trouble with the installer as you describe. My parents are using Mac towers with Sierra (however many OS versions back that is) and can run older versions of Affinity but not the latest updates.

    Thanks! I'll keep an eye on it. From what I can tell, I'm not the only one to have problems with their installer. It would be nice if I could get it to work..

  • 3WC3WC Posts: 1,107

    +1 for Affinity products. They have a whole suite of programs that are good Adobe alternatives in general. Not free, but affordable one-time purchases.

  • galiengalien Posts: 137

    AliveColors is also worth considering.

    It has a free version in addition to the paid versions.

     

  • RawArtRawArt Posts: 5,892

    My wife swears by affinity  https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/

     

     

  • ed3Ded3D Posts: 2,185

    And  Paint.Net  ( Windows Only )

  • ecks201ecks201 Posts: 446
    edited January 2023

    While we're on the subject, darktable
    https://www.darktable.org/

    is a great free alternative to Lightroom

    Post edited by ecks201 on
  • IvyIvy Posts: 7,165
    edited January 2023

    its not been mentioned and it is not free but there is Photoshop Elements . its a waters down version of photshop CC its pretty much does everything photoshop will  include use PSD brushes and over layers.. only its a standalone app instead of Cloud. for a 1 time fee for $99 https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html

    juts a another options if you still want to use you photoshop brushes you bought from daz

    Post edited by Ivy on
  • TorquinoxTorquinox Posts: 3,320
    edited January 2023

    It was mentioned. I recommend looking for a sale with another retailer and there is a bundle with Premiere Elements. The two together are worth the $$.

    Post edited by Torquinox on
  • MisselthwaiteMisselthwaite Posts: 961

    I chime in for Affinity - I actually consider it an improvement for my workflow over Photoshop - it is far better at organizing all my Photoshop brushes, and they all perform flawlessly.  I am using Version 1 on my Windows 7 clunker, so Photoshop removed itself from my world because of the login issues.  I always hated the subscription model, so Affinity makes me happy in multiple ways :-)

  • N00b4EverN00b4Ever Posts: 293

    Count me in in the Affinity bandwagon. I got the full v2 suite at 40% off recently. I'm still in the beginning of the learning curve though, but I dumped photoshop long time ago and found Gimp helpful but somewhat restrictive. However, I don't know how well Affinity Photo handles 3d content. Is relatively cheap if you can get it on sale.

  • HylasHylas Posts: 4,987

    GIMP!

  • richardandtracyrichardandtracy Posts: 5,667
    Gimp irritates me. Again and again and again, in fact every single time I see the 'Script Foo' and 'Python Foo' menu items. I'm disgusted by the childishness that thought it was appropriate to publish a program with such menu item names in it. Beyond that, I find Gimp better for transparency and moving items than PSP5, but on balance I prefer PSP5.
Sign In or Register to comment.