Photoshop is a renowned image creation and editing software by Adobe, crucial for professional digital art and raster graphics editing. Released in 1988, it offers a plethora of features like Layers, Adjustment Layers, Clone Stamp Tool, and more.
For those exploring alternatives to Photoshop, choices encompass Affinity Photo, GIMP, Lightroom, Illustrator, CorelDRAW, Elements, InDesign, Procreate, Clip Studio Paint, Luminar, Capture One, Darktable, Snapseed, and Canva.
Affinity Photo
Say hello to Affinity Photo – a revolutionary software from UK-based company, Serif. It provides top-tier photo editing, graphic design, and layout offerings for not only your Mac and Windows but also iPad. Affinity Photo is built with the latest technology, for the latest technology, and holds an esteemed position in the “Affinity trinity” – a robust software suite that’s pushing the envelope of innovation!
Top Features of Affinity Photo
Non-destructive editing: Make changes without losing your original quality.
Real-time views for effects and transformations: See the magic happen, as it happens.
Support for multiple color models: RGB, RGB Hex, LAB, CMYK, Grayscale – if you can name it, Affinity Photo can do it!
StudioLink technology: Access tools from other Affinity apps within Affinity Photo, ensuring seamless workflow and cross-platform availability.
Community-focused: With regular updates and informative resources, you become a part of the user community of over three million.
App Availability
Special Offerings
Mac, Windows, iPad
Platform communication for project updates
No subscription fees
Affinity V2 Universal License, giving access to all apps, all platforms for one price
Regularly updated resources
Customer-centric, rich user community
Limitations of Affinity Photo
Lack of substantial new features in version 2, leading to some criticism from users.
Affinity Photo Pricing
Affinity Photo is available without any subscription fees. With just one payment, you can access all its features on any platform, thanks to the Affinity V2 Universal License.
Affinity Photo Use Cases
Use Case 1: Game Developers
With dynamic symbols, stroke stabilization, and powerful vector and raster tools, Affinity Photo is a game changer for game developers.
Use Case 2: Content Creators
Affinity Photo makes it easy to create stunning visuals with features like support for custom brushes, text style management, and pan and zoom at 60fps. Making your creative journey truly immersive!
Use Case 3: Digital Painters
Non-destructive editing, real-time views, and support for numerous color models, foster creativity without limits for digital painters using Affinity Photo.
GIMP
Emerging from the cultural seeds planted by Spencer Kimball and Peter Mattis in 1995 as part of the celebrated GNU software collection, GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) has blossomed into a broad-spectrum open-source image editor. GIMP proudly parades its global versatility, communicating fluently in 82 languages. Favored by illustrators, graphic designers, and photographers alike, GIMP provides an arena for the creation and precision-tuned editing of artworks, photos, and paintings.
GIMP Top Features
Photo enhancement and digital retouching, for those perfect final touches.
Preview mode to preemptively scout your creation before finalizing the masterpiece.
A customizable interface that understands and adapts to your unique artistic process.
Born with a channel mixer to cure lens tilt effects and distortions, ensuring pristine images.
A handy crop tool for active layer editing, providing minute control while designing
-Advanced Tools for selection:
Choose from a variety, including rectangular and circular, magic wand, and semi-automatic scissors.
-GIMP Tool Kit (GTK):
Eases development by offering a user-friendly creation interface.
-Compatibility:
With a global outlook, adapts to diverse OS such as Linux, macOS, Windows, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Solaris, and AmigaOS 4.
GIMP Limitations
Users might find the interface slightly overwhelming, deeming it as cluttered and somewhat complex for beginners.
It has only partial compatibility with Adobe file formats, which might demand additional steps when interchanging work.
Recent versions lack the support of the Lanczos image scaling algorithm, causing some discontent among the user community.
GIMP Pricing
Remembrancing its roots in the spirit of open-source software, GIMP continues to be cost-free, economizing resources by eliminating subscription charges. It thrives on the strength of a committed developer community, who offer their time and skills voluntarily.
GIMP Use Cases
Use case 1: Ad Creation
Stand out in the marketing arena by using GIMP’s strong clique of features and tools. The variety of selection tools and the bucket fill tool assist in crafting vivid, engaging ads with ease.
Use case 2: Flyer Design
Design captivating flyers by leveraging the digital retouching and image enhancement capabilities of GIMP. Smart tools like the Clone tool, Healing brush, and Perspective clone tool allow for detailed, striking visual narratives.
Capture One
Meeting the complex demands of the creative world, Capture One offers an on-premise, powerful RAW converter and advanced photo editing tool. Used primarily by professionals in the fields of Design and Media Production as well as Independent Professionals, it facilitates the capture, editing and sharing of media content.
Capture One Top Features
In-depth Editing Tools: Offers advanced color editing, layered editing and targeted editing with mask tools.
Tethered Shooting: Known for its excellent tethered shooting capabilities, it ensures smooth and responsive operations.
Color and Tone Rendering: Effectively renders colors and skin tones.
Comprehensive Interface: An extensive user interface allowing for customized workflows.
Smart Adjustments Tool: Able to adjust exposure and white balance across portraits for consistent results.
Exceptional Image Browser
Compatibility
Enables easy searching, viewing and locating of photos.
Favorable with Fujifilm System users due to excellent compatibility.
Provides a centralized dashboard for better management.
Support for wireless tethering of Fujifilm cameras and support for new cameras and lenses.
Capture One Limitations
Complex interface with many tabs that can be challenging for beginners.
Long import and export times may slow down efficiencies.
Limited application of Artificial Intelligence for intuitive adjustments.
Lack of presets makes it less convenient for quick edits.
Rigid pricing structure.
Capture One Pricing
Available in a paid version, the pricing for Capture One starts at US$699.00 per year. It’s crucial to note that specific styles and features need to be purchased separately, which can add to the overall cost.
Capture One Use Cases
Use case 1: Professional Photographers
Focusing on high-quality image production, freelance photographers and those working in visual industries will appreciate the detailed control over color rendering, multiple editing options and advanced tethered shooting features.
Use case 2: Design Professionals
Designers creating distinct, high-impact visuals will benefit substantially from the layered editing and mask tools in Capture One, which allow precision edits to be made on specific parts of images for target effects.
Use case 3: Fujifilm Users
Given its proven compatibility, Fujifilm system users will find Capture One particularly useful. The platform supports wireless tethering for Fujifilm cameras, and it’s compatible with a wide array of new cameras and lenses.
Darktable
Darktable is a free, open-source RAW converter software overseen by dedicated creatives like you. Compatible with Mac OS X, Linux, and Windows, this dynamic design tool carries a substantial 4.5/5 global rating.
Darktable’s Top Features
Dual functionality: offers a virtual light table for comprehensive image viewing and a virtual darkroom for RAW file processing.
Tethered shooting support: connect your camera, view images live on screen, and review shots instantly.
Extensive RAW file handling: Compatible with over 400 types of camera RAW files with an array of editing options like negative processing, contrast, exposure, and tone curve adjustments.
Preset import/export option: Craft your personal editing styles and apply them universally. Note: Darktable is also compatible with GIMP and Photoshop for more intricate edits.
Geo-tagging: showcase and annotate your images on a map if they have geotagging data. Manual data entry is a breeze – simply drag the photo onto the map in the correct location.
Newly added support for cameras like Canon EOS M2, Fujifilm X-H2 (compressed), and Nikon Z9.
Feature
Description
Reading/Writing JPEG XL images
Darktable supports the high-quality JPEG XL format, fulfilling your need for high resolution visuals.
Improved Slideshow Feature
A refined tool for showcasing your work, whether it be for client presentations or team edits.
Split Toning & Watermarks
Go beyond basic adjustments. With split toning and watermarking tools, individuality is at your fingertips.
Darktable’s Limitations
User interface: Although sleek, it could improve by balancing form and function, particularly in terms of easy visual navigation.
Learning curve: With its extensive features, Darktable can be overwhelming for beginners.
Copy-editing: It lacks an undo system, which can be troubling when you’re deep into your edits.
Local Edit Limitation: As of now, it lacks a local edit option.
Darktable Pricing
Remember, Darktable is absolutely free and open-source, ensuring that professional-grade image editing is available to all.
Darktable Use Cases
Use case 1 – Professional Photographers
Manage and edit your shoots with precision, thanks to tethered shooting support and extensive RAW editing capabilities.
Use case 2 – Digital Artists
Go beyond standard edits using Darktable’s advanced editing features and compatibility with Photoshop and GIMP.
Use case 3 – Travel Enthusiasts
Map out your journeys with the unique geotagging feature. It’s the perfect blend of digital memory recall and artistic expression.
Snapseed
Quickly making a mark in the world of photo-editing apps, Snapseed thrives on both iOS and Android platforms. Fostered by Nik Software and subsequently owned by Google, this intuitive app has a rich history dating back to 2011.
Snapseed Top Features
Gesture-activated effects and automatic adjustments
Editable history and custom filter combinations
Special effects and filters: Drama, Grunge, Vintage, Center-focus, Frames, and Tilt-shift
Import and editing support for RAW images
Award-winning design and function: iPad App of the Year 2011 and Top 100 Best Android App of 2018
Photoshop Elements
Snapseed
Multiple step undo functionality
Store editing history
Basic auto-correction tools
Automatic color and contrast adjustments
Snapseed Disadvantages
Limited functionality compared to desktop-editing software
Aimed at serious photographers desiring perfection before pushing their work onto social media platforms.
Use case 2
A versatile tool for creators seeking intuitive control over their images, empowering fine, precise adjustments.
Use Case 3
A handy resource for amateur photographers craving professional outputs, compounding the charm of RAW images.
Canva
Let us embark on the exploration of an astonishing digital craftsman from the shores of Sydney, Australia – Canva. Erected in the year 2013 by Melanie Perkins, Cliff Obrecht, and Cameron Adams, this online graphic design platform has since enveloped the globe with a staggering 100 million users.
Canva Top Features
A drag-and-drop design tool imbued with features like custom fonts, photo editing, frames, and shapes.
An illustrious library of pre-designed templates for logos, social media posts, newsletters, menus, and more.
The ability to craft custom charts and diagrams using internal data, sublimely aiding in data visualization.
In 2023, Canva enchanted its users with the release of Magic Write, an innovative AI-powered copywriting assistant.
Product
Details
Canva Free
Full-featured version free for personal use
Canva for Education and Nonprofits
Specially tailored versions offered for free as part of Canva’s corporate responsibility
Canva Pro
Charged at $12.99 USD per month for the first user and $6.99 per month for each additional user, offering advanced features and facilities
Canva Limitations
In May 2019, a data breach occurred that impacted approximately 139 million users, taints the safety aura surrounding Canva.
Canva Pricing
Canva’s pricing strategy is as diverse as the colors of a painter’s palette. While the Canva Free, Canva for Education, and Canva for Nonprofits are free-for-forever, the Canva Pro begins at a charge of $12.99 USD per month for the first user, followed by $6.99 for each subsequent user. For larger enterprises, Canva Enterprise is available at an estimated $30 USD per user per month.
Canva Use Cases
Use case 1
For mid-size to large businesses: With an extensive range of templates and customizable designs suited for marketing content and presentations, Canva is ideal for visual branding.
Use case 2
For education institutions: Canva for Education provides teachers and students the ability to create engaging learning materials.
Use case 3
For nonprofits: Canva offers tailored solutions, enabling nonprofit organisations to create impactful and eye-catching promotional materials.
Lightroom
Enter the dynamic world of Adobe with Lightroom, a potent editing and organization software designed to serve digital creatives, particularly photographers and marketing professionals desiring quick, high-quality image transformation. Operating seamlessly across platforms, Lightroom is a critical member of the prestigious Adobe Creative Cloud family.
Lightroom Best Features
A non-destructive editing tool preserving the sanctity of original images
Fast and efficient built-in photo-editing mechanisms – adjustment brushes including white balance, color correction, detail enhancements, lens modifications, and more
Individual/customizable presets for on-the-fly editing
A centralized platform for image organization post-capture – import, export, flag, rate, tag, and color code photos effortlessly
Feature
Benefit
Lightroom Classic Vs Adobe Lightroom
Whether oriented towards desktop usage (Classic) or championing mobility across devices (Adobe Lightroom), users enjoy flexibility of choice
Adobe Creative Cloud connect
Unlocks broader learning experiences and usage of other Adobe software like Photoshop
Lightroom Downsides
Mandatory monthly subscription fee for Adobe Creative Cloud
Dependency on Adobe’s wider software ecosystem
Features could be overwhelming for newbies to digital editing
Lightroom Pricing
Lightroom, $9.99/month, interestingly also comes bundled with Photoshop and added online storage, the price of which scales between $9.99 to $54.99/month.
Lightroom Use Cases
Use case 1: Photographer
From the instance of capture to the spark of release, photographers harness Lightroom’s vast capabilities for immediate edits, ensuring impeccable work.
Use case 2: Graphic Designer
Graphic designers crave the caliber of color grading, transformation, and calibration features, that allow cinematic creativity and precision.
Use case 3: Digital Marketer
Digital marketing professionals leverage the intuitive tagging, rating, and organization functionalities for effective asset management within their high-paced world.
Illustrator
Lauded as the industry standard for graphic design, Adobe Illustrator is a robust vector graphics and animation software, equipped to create enticing mobile graphics, packaging designs, custom letterforms, and fonts.
Illustrator Top Features
Impeccable vectorize function for swift raster image conversion
Advanced tools for crafting intricate patterns via radial, grid, and mirror repeat
Blend tool and the ability to transform polygons into diverse shapes
Comprehensive type toolkit with over 18,000 fonts
Integration with Adobe Creative Cloud for seamless workflow across Illustrator, Photoshop, and Fresco
Ample selection for social media, presentations, business cards, newsletters, etc.
Illustrator Downsides
Could pose a high learning curve and seem complex for beginners
Lack of a free version: available via a paid subscription or a 7-day free trial
May consume system resources heavily, requiring advanced hardware for smooth operation
Illustrator Pricing
Adobe Illustrator does not provide a free version but offers a 7-day trial. For individuals, it costs $19.99 per month and for businesses, $29.99 per month.
Illustrator Use Cases
Use case 1 – Professional Illustrators
Adobe Illustrator’s point precision and advanced toolkit make it ideal for professional illustrators who need to create intricate designs.
Use case 2 – Graphic Designers for Product Packaging
With its array of custom weight and width options, and brilliant color gradients, Illustrator stands as a premier choice for graphic designers in the packaging industry.
Use case 3 – Web Designers
Web designers can tap into Illustrator’s integration with Adobe Creative Cloud for fluid creation and export of custom banners in various formats like JPG, PNG, etc.
CorelDRAW
In the arena of design software, CorelDRAW emerges as a comprehensive suite for professionals hailing from sectors like retail, e-commerce, and more. Synonymous with user-friendly vector designing, photo editing, and typography, it embraces a subscription-based model granting access to its cutting-edge features.
CorelDRAW Top Features
Non-destructive editing of bitmaps and vectors that helps preserve original artwork.
New features like Focus Mode for editing objects in isolation.
Superior bitmap-to-vector trace outcomes with AI-assisted PowerTRACE.
Flexibility in design workflow facilitated by features like multi-page view and multi-asset export.
Cloud Capabilities
Color Consistency
Exclusive cloud-based features, apps, and content for subscribers.
Ensures color consistency across different media, essential for optimal print and web design output.
CorelDRAW Limitations
Though CorelDRAW offers many advanced tools, it can be overwhelming for beginners.
Its subscription-based model might not be cost-effective for small businesses or individual users.
CorelDRAW Pricing
CorelDRAW’s pricing aligns with industry standards, offering both subscription and one-time purchase options to suit varying needs.
CorelDRAW Use Cases
Use case 1: Design Professionals
CorelDRAW gives design professionals the flexibility and advanced tools they need for creating unique vector images, optimizing layout designs, and executing photo editing tasks.
Use case 2: Large Corporations
From brand identity creation to producing sales tools, CorelDRAW serves as a vital tool for businesses, assisting in large-format printing, digital advertising, and web design.
Use case 3: Small Businesses
Though robust, the intuitive interface makes CorelDRAW a valuable asset for small creative businesses, aiding in areas from textile design to e-commerce website enhancement.
Standing at the exciting crossroads of creativity and analytical prowess is Elements. It’s a holistic platform tailor-made for those ready to dive into the depths of graphic design and the realm of 3D structural analysis.
Elements Top Features
Acquire a strong grasp of vital graphic design skills from understanding balance to mastering the use of white space.
A comprehensive foray into the Elements of Design Course led by the esteemed University of Colorado Boulder.
Unleash your creativity with in-depth knowledge of Color Theory, online design, textual elements, Graphic Design, and Print Design.
Get hands-on with 3D structural analysis and design, beneficial for handling projects related to steel, concrete, timber, and masonry.
Enjoy the power of efficient finite element analysis, ideal for designing a wide range of structures.
Top Feature
Benefit
Graphic Design skills
Gain competitive edge in design sector
3D Structural Analysis
Deliver complex projects effortlessly
Elements’ Limitations
Lacks company-specific software design details which could pose a challenge for beginners.
Heavy system requirements may deter users with less powerful computers.
Elements’ Pricing
The licensing program for Elements is flexible, offering two main options – a 12-month subscription and a ‘one-time only’ purchase. If 24/7/365 technical support steers your decision, opt for the Perpetual License with SELECT – it comes complete with renewals delivered annually to your email. Pricing specifics are not specified hence it may vary.
Elements’ Use Cases
Use Case 1
Revitalize your LinkedIn profile with a shareable certificate upon course completion, proving your newly acquired design and analysis skills.
Use Case 2
Take on complex structural projects, like WSP/McGee’s basement design for the prestigious Waldorf Astoria Hotel, made possible with an understanding of RAM Elements.
Use Case 3
Be it AEC professionals or design students, make your mark in the industry leveraging the powerful 3D analysis and design capabilities of Elements.
InDesign
An industry leading graphic design software, Adobe InDesign offers a comprehensive array of tools for creating a variety of print and digital content. Notable for its easy integration with other Adobe products in the Adobe Creative Cloud.
InDesign Breakthrough Features
Strong Text Editing: Enables efficient editing of content for diverse applications.
SVG Support: Offers Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) support for precision in design.
Cross-platform scripting: Uses JavaScript for multi-platform interoperability.
Expansive Template Selection: Customizable templates for wide variety of projects.
Feature
Benefit
Subject detection
Automatically identifies and modulates subject-based details.
Variable fonts
Offers flexibility with typography design choices.
Multi-language configuration
Supports numerous languages to cater to global audiences.
InDesign Limitations
Despite intricate tool-set, users sometimes find Adobe’s tool organization a little murky.
Limited backward compatibility, with only CS4 versions able to export to INX format.
Earlier versions had compatibility issues with Mac OS X Leopard, though this has been resolved in updates.
InDesign Pricing
Adobe InDesign pricing starts at a relatively modest US$20.99/month, providing a wealth of features and capabilities for graphic design enthusiasts and professionals alike.
InDesign Use Cases
Print Industry
InDesign is integral to the print industry, with capabilities to design stationery, flyers, posters, brochures, annual reports, magazines, books and more.
Digital Applications
Application capabilities extend to digital creations including interactive PDFs, digital magazines, eBooks and more.
Cross-Platform Coordination
Cross-platform scripting with JavaScript makes this a valuable tool for project coordination across diverse platforms and operating systems.
Procreate
A cloud-based powerhouse for digital sketches, Procreate focuses on offering tools for design and aesthetics. Its range of features serves varying needs – from image color correction to note-taking, all on a user-friendly platform.
Procreate Top Features
Animation Assist for time-lapse recording.
Customizable brushes and effects for individual styling.
Advanced Text style modification and typography tools for well-dressed content.
Shape drawing and image color correction capabilities for perfect visuals.
Motion filtering a stabilization feature that smoothes the drawing strokes.
Integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud for additional functionality.
Platform Exclusivity
iPhone and iPad
Inclusivity features
Motion filtering, color description, VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, and AssistiveTouch
Language Support
Localized in 16 languages, focuses on iconography usage for non-localized regions
Procreate Disadvantages
Requires Apple Pencil for optimal usage.
Limited layering bases on canvas size and quality.
No free trial or version available.
Device requirements: adequate RAM, fast processors, large screen sizes and Apple Pencil compatibility.
Procreate Pricing
Procreate requires a single one-time license payment of $9.99. Regrettably, no free version or trial is available.
Procreate Use Cases
Use case 1: Digital Artists and Designers
For creators oriented towards digital drawing and design, Procreate presents a dynamic toolset. The Animation Assist, customizable brushes, and Advanced Text Style tools breathe life into illustrations and sketches.
Use case 2: Content Curators
Those in need of compelling visuals for their content can count on Procreate’s image effects and color-correction capabilities. This, combined with typography tools, enhance the aesthetics of any project.
Use case 3: Note-Takers
Presenting a unique use case, Procreate also caters to those who prefer digital note-taking. Choose from various brushes to create an interactive and vibrant note-taking experience.
Clip Studio Paint
Celebrating the harmonious blend of artistry and technology, Clip Studio Paint imbues the field of digital design with creative freedom yet maintaining structured precision. Excelling in the realm of digital art, it is a vessel for expressions merging design and illustration.
Clip Studio Paint Top Features
Vector Drawing: Precision is favored with customizable brushes and rulers.
Alterable Brush Types: Art finds rebirth through stylistic experimentation post-drawing.
Material Site: An ocean, 55,000 strong, brimming with brush materials awaits discovery.
3D Support: Accuracy finds a home in visual references supported by 3D data.
Layer Management: Efficiency takes center stage with searchable layers and bulk applications in folders.
Additional Features
Details
Import Features
Import functionalities for brushes from Photoshop and files from other software like Adobe Photoshop enable greater versatility.
Backup
Cloud availability provides a sanctuary for securer data management, with a history for serene retrospection.
Empathetic Emulation
Resplendent in emulating natural media drawing tools, from pencils to brushes, to ink pens.
Clip Studio Paint Limitations
Slight obstacles appear with the need for an upgrade or a switch to subscription licensing for Version 2 update.
Perpetual license holders may find the pricing options as a hurdle.
Clip Studio Paint Pricing
Structured financing brackets the software’s PRO version at $3.51/month, and the EX version at $71.99/ year. Enabling affordability, Clip Studio Paint weaves quality and value together through its pricing structure.
Clip Studio Paint Use Cases
Use Case 1 – Professional Designers
From illustration to concept art, professional designers find a haven within Clip Studio Paint’s technological canvas.
Use Case 2 – Animators
Animation is breathed into life, resonating beyond the creator’s intention through features supporting efficient layer management and file import.
Use Case 3 – Comics Creation
Favoring the comic artisans, panel layouts, sketching, tones, textures form an intricate vocabulary for the narrative, creating a hymn of color and words.
Luminar
Meet Luminar, the high-tech, AI-powered photo editing software that has disrupted the world of photography. Developed by Skylum, this stand-alone application works seamlessly with other Adobe and Apple products, infusing a new degree of simplicity into the world of image editing.
Top Luminar Features
Sky AI & Atmosphere AI: A match made in heaven for photographers, these tools redefine the dynamics of landscape and stage photography.
Enhance AI & Structure AI: Unleash the latent aesthetic potential with these smart features.
Face AI, Skin AI, Body AI, Portrait Bokeh AI & Mask AI: Make portrait photography a breeze and capture faces as they are.
Extensions: Enjoy the liberty of added versatility with extensions such as Supersharp AI, Noiseless AI, and Upscale AI.
Automatically saves every change with its modular engine
Luminar Downsides
No Metadata Management: Lacks the functionality to manage and tag with keywords.
Slow Export: Users may experience a slower image export process as a trade-off for top-tier edit recovery.
Luminar Pricing
Affordable and value for money, Luminar offers a one-time user fee of $79, unlocking a world of creative possibilities.
Luminar Use Cases
Use case 1: Photographers
For professional photographers, Luminar’s suite of AI tools like Sky AI, Face AI, and Structure AI, provide an unparalleled precision and ease of use.
Use case 2: Graphic Designers
Graphic designers applaud its plugin compatibility with Adobe and Apple’s suite of design tools, and appreciate the built-in flexibility offered by Luminar’s layers and masks functionality.
Use case 3: Casual Users
For casual users, who want to capture the moments right, Luminar’s intuitive, easy-to-use interface and features like Relight AI make photo-editing a walk in the park.
Grant Sullivan
Content writer @ Aircada and self proclaimed board game strategist by day, AI developer by night.
