Best photshop substitute?

Mac
#1

I don’t need a complicated photo editor/web publisher, and have been reading enough on-line to confuse me. From what I’ve read it seems of the free programs Photopea might suit me. ( Must be idiot-proof). There seem to be quite a few tutorials available on it.

It freaks me out a bit, but so many voice-overs on tutorials insist on calling the program ‘Photo-pea’ but I think the developers must have meant it to be pronounced ‘Photo-pia.’ Regardless, does anyone have an opinion? Photopea, Gimp, Krita?

Any advice appreciated.

#2

What camera are you using? Are you shooting RAW files or just JPEGs?

#3

Gimp is quite powerful but just about the most user unfriendly program I’ve ever come across.

1 Like
#4

Thank you for the prompt replies, Richard and Geoff.

JPEGs, Richard.

I did download Gimp a few years ago and I don’t know if something went wrong with the D/L but what seemed like dozens of palettes and other bits and pieces spewed all over the Desktop simultaneously, without any apparent order. As I am not familiar with such programs I didn’t know where to start or how to do anything with it. I eventually removed it.

That’s why the simple tutorials available on line for Photopea encouraged me to think that might be a better fit for me.

Thanks for the opinion on Gimp, Geoff. I need to concentrate on the content, not the process. I’ll have a go at Photopea.

Client-supplied JPEGs, Richard. May do something with my own photos, currently iPhone, eventually may get a ‘real’ camera again.

#5

I don’t really know anything about Gimp or Photopea. I have been using Photoshop since version 4!

If I was you, I’d try seeing if the Apple photos app meets your needs. It has a lot more powerful editing tools now. Anyway, just a suggestion.

#6

Thanks Richard

#7

I was an early Adopter of Affinity Photo (Designer, and Publisher). Do very little with photo’s. Pricing was very much more reasonable.

The second versions have recently come out.

#8

Pixelmator Pro gets very enthusiastic reviews. I have a copy, but haven’t used it for a long time, so can’t really comment on recent versions. It’s $80AU and has good AppStore ratings.

#9

They have just released Photomator for the Mac.
https://www.pixelmator.com/photomator/
It seems to be focused on photo editing whilst Pixelmator Pro is focused on general image editing.

I have used their products on the Mac and iPad and been really pleased with the results.

#10

If you have been using Photoshop, you might like Acorn. It’s heaps cheaper than most and you only need to buy once, you get all the incremental updates for $0. You need to pay for major updates, though. I’m still on Acorn 6 (can’t update the OS, computers too old) and I’ve been using that, of late, having been disappointed with the Skylum offerings

#11

Thank you very much for the new replies since my last visit.
Lots to consider. Thanks again.