Many people think of Adobe Photoshop as the best software for image editing. While it is a unique graphical design tool and offers hundreds of features for editing photos, the program is quite expensive and many users are not willing to pay such amount of money. That is why those who love open-source programs (free software) have developed years ago a great alternative called The Gimp, which allows us to perform almost the same tasks as Photoshop, but FREE!
However, many think that “the more expensive the better” In response to this “myth” we will make a comparison between Photoshop and The Gimp to find the best image editor for a newbie.
Program Interface
Undoubtedly, Adobe Photoshop interface design is more elegant and more comfortable to work, allowing you to customize the workspace and toolbars according to your needs: web design, graphic design, photo editing, personalized spaces, etc.
Menu Organization
Not much to say about this point, is practically the same in both programs. When we say “Menu organization” we mean those options: File, Edit, Image Filters, etc. The only difference between the two image editors is that The Gimp has a menu with different icons plotted for novice users who do not know what each option is for.
Toolbar
At this point, there is much difference between the two programs. While Photoshop has an elegant and compact toolbar, The Gimp offers most representative icons, colors and they are arranged in several columns. This will be a matter of taste, but as in this case we analyze the best program for a user who has no knowledge of graphic editing tools, we chose The Gimp.
Filters
Beyond the possibility of applying a filter in an image (which is possible in both programs), we must take into account the speed and quality, off course.
Regarding speed, Photoshop is superior to any program, as one of the factors that improve with each new version is the graphics engine. This allows you to execute functions dynamically without having to wait several minutes to apply visual effects.
Regarding quality, it is a tie. It would be a mistake to think that Photoshop has better filters that The Gimp simply because it’s expensive! Both editors are well developed in this matter and both offer virtually the same filters in an excellent quality.
Cuts and selection tools
Selection tools are similar in both editors. Both Gimp and Photoshop have selection tools, cutting tools, bow and magic wand. The precision is also exactly the same for both.
Text tool
Well, we have greatly flattered Gimp until here. Honestly, the text tool of this program is much lower than that of Photoshop. It’s slow, it has fewer features than the Adobe box and the arrangement of elements is aesthetically unpleasant.
I apologize to the developers of The Gimp, but what I say is true, they could do something better about this feature. Its users will be pleased.
Costs
Photoshop can be used free for 30 days with no limits on their functions. Once this period has been reached, if you want to continue using it you must purchase a license of $ 699.
- Download Free Photoshop CS6 (trial)
With The Gimp, the only charge you will worry about is the power company’s at your home. No, seriously, it’s 100% free, open source software. This means: if you are a programmer and you want to help improving it, you can download its source code and do it.
- Download The Gimp free
As you can see, not always “the more expensive the better.”
What about you? Which program would you choose?
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