Photo Editing Software – Photoshop Alternatives and Online Photo Editors

Photo Editing Software – Photoshop Alternatives and Online Photo Editors

Go legit! Photoshop is one of the best Photo editing software around but the cost to have one is very prohibitive costing around $649 or around Php 30,000.. why be a pirate when you can go legit for free or even pay a fourth of the price by using similar products already available.

We have compiled a couple of lists to give you a choice of Photo editing software alternative that best suits you and your operating system We have also listed online Photo editors that seem to have everything you need online including a photo gallery to share your images.

Open Source Photo Editing Software and Photoshop alternatives.

• ArtWeaver - is a Windows Freeware program to simulate natural brush tools. It is therefore suitable to leave your creativity free run. Artweaver offers you a clear program window, which can be used without training immediately
• Inkscape – An Open Source vector graphics editor, with capabilities similar to Illustrator, CorelDraw, or Xara X, using the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format.Inkscape supports many advanced SVG features (markers, clones, alpha blending, etc.) and great care is taken in designing a streamlined interface. It is very easy to edit nodes, perform complex path operations, trace bitmaps and much more. We also aim to maintain a thriving user and developer community by using open, community-oriented development.

• Paint.NET – is free image and photo editing software for computers that run Windows. It  features an intuitive and innovative user interface with support for layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools.

• Gimp – is an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed program for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. It can be used as a simple paint program, an expert quality photo retouching program, an online batch processing system, a mass production image renderer, an image format converter, etc. GIMP is written and developed under X11 on UNIX platforms. But basically the same code also runs on MS Windows and Mac OS X.

• ChocoFlop – non destructive image editing for MAC – It allows you to edit your photos or design stuff using Apple’s CoreImage technology. It takes advantage of the power of your graphics card (GPU).

• CinePaint – CinePaint is a deep paint image retouching tool that supports higher color fidelity than ordinary painting tools. Runs on Linux, FreeBSD, Macintosh (native with GTK+OSX, not X11). The Windows version was withdrawn because it was unstable, but will come back eventually.

• Seashore – is an open source image editor for Mac OS X’s Cocoa framework. It features gradients, textures and anti-aliasing for both text and brush strokes. It supports multiple layers and alpha channel editing. It is based around the GIMP’s technology and uses the same native file format.

• Gimpshop – is a modification of the free/open source GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP), intended to replicate the feel of Adobe Photoshop. Its primary purpose is to make users of Photoshop feel comfortable using GIMP. GIMPshop is available for many different operating systems, including Mac OS X, Windows 98+, Linux, and Solaris.

Other Free Alternatives to Photoshop, Photo Editing software that offer basic editing features.

• Picasa – excellent for beginners and casual digital shooters who want to find all their pictures, sort them into albums, do quick edits, and share with friends and family.

• IrfanView – is a very fast, small, compact and innovative FREEWARE (for non-commercial use) graphic viewer for Windows 9x/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003/Vist
• Photoscape – Photoscape is the fun and easy photo editing software that enables you to fix and enhance photos.
• Photo Plus Image Editing – you can easily adjust brightness and contrast, colour balance, remove red-eye and make numerous other image editing adjustments and enhancements, achieving fantastic results time after time. 

Free Online Photo Editors

• Adobe Photoshop Express – An online photo editor and web gallery. Touch up, Tweak, tint your photos, Then share them online
• Picnik – Online Photo Editor makes your photos fabulous with easy to use yet powerful editing tools. Tweak to your heart’s content, then get creative with oodles of effects, fonts, shapes, and frames.
• Splashup -formerly Fauxto, is a powerful editing tool and photo manager. With all the features professionals use and novices want, it’s easy to use, works in real-time and allows you to edit many images at once. Splashup runs in all browsers, integrates seamlessly with top photosharing sites, and even has its own file format so you can save your work in progress.
• FotoFlexer – a powerful online editor that can remove blemishes change skin or hair color, morph photos and more and 100% free!

Cheaper Alternative to Photoshop and still featured packed.

• Adobe Lightroom 2 -  makes digital photography workflow easy.  You can quickly import, process, manage, and showcase your images — from one shot to an entire shoot.  You spend less time in front of the computer and more time behind the lens. $299

• Apple Aperture 2 – Aperture 2 delivers streamlined tools for moving photos from capture to output with uncompromising quality. $199

Note: It may be cheaper to shop online for photo editing software than buying it at your local store.