Photoshop VS GIMP: Which is Right for You?

Photoshop and GIMP are both image editing applications. Even though Photoshop is the most widely used, it may not be preferred by hobbyists and those working on low budgets. GIMP is the best free alternative to Photoshop currently available on the market. They provide similar services even though they come from different backgrounds.

Both Photoshop and GIMP have advantages and disadvantages, and which one to choose is determined by the needs of the user.

GIMP

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free and open-source graphic editing tool. It is used for free-form drawing, image editing, image retouching, image conversion, and other specialized work. It is available for Linux, macOS, Windows, FreeBSD, Solaris, and AmigaOS 4. It is extremely useful for beginners and professionals alike due to its easy-to-handle and quick features.

GIMP’s features and tools

Some of the important features and tools offered by GIMP are:

1. It enables efficient color management.
2. The user interface is customizable, enabling smooth navigation through buttons.
3. It allows the touch-up of digital photographs taken with the camera.
4. It contains basic vector graphic attributes.
5. The photographs can be enhanced easily.
6. Different hardware devices, like USB and the MIDI controller, are supported.
7. It can be exported to different file formats like PNG, JPEG, and GIF.
8. An unlimited number of images can be opened at the same time.
9. Multiple undos and redos are allowed.
10. Images can be easily scaled.
11. Users can modify the source code to fit their needs and even create new plugins.
12. Images can be painted using an in-built paintbrush.
13. A large number of selection tools like square region, lasso, foreground, eclipse, and scissors are available.
14. It has transform tools like rotate, crop, and flip, as well as tools to adjust the contrast and brightness.
15. It supports custom brushes and patterns.
16. It comes with a powerful gradient editor as well as a blend tool.
17. GIMP tools can read and edit PSD files.
18. GIMP also offers Scribus, which publishes digital and printed materials, Inkspace, a vector graphics editor, and Swatchbooker, an application designed for Windows and Linux.

Advantages

GIMP has a lot of benefits and advantages. Some of them are:

19. It is absolutely free and can be used without paying any subscription fees.
20. It is extremely easy to learn.
21. It is not necessary to install GIMP on your computer to use it. It can be run from a local folder, an external device, or the cloud.
22. It consists of several advanced features like layers and paths.
23. Backgrounds from photographs can be removed using GIMP.
24. The menu system is much smarter.
25. For smaller images, GIMP is the faster tool.

Photoshop

Photoshop is an app for image retouching and editing. It was developed by Adobe Inc. and is compatible with Windows, Linux, Android, Mac, iPhone/iPad, and cloud/web-based platforms. It is the most commonly used image editing tool by photographers, graphic designers, web developers, and professionals. One of the major disadvantages of Adobe is its cost. Similarly, it takes up huge amounts of disk space (a minimum of 1 GB) to run without issues. Since it is proprietary software, it can only be updated through Adobe platforms. The software does not allow users to contribute or develop anything.

Features and tools of Photoshop

Photoshop offers a large number of tools and features:

26. Photoshop is built by utilizing generator technology.
27. An image edited using the mobile Photoshop app is automatically saved to the cloud.
28. It has distortion features and special effects.
29. One-click color correction option is available.
30. Faded photos can be restored.
31. Photos can be retouched with ease.
32. Repetitive and tedious tasks can be automated using conditional actions.
33. Low-resolution images can be made print-ready by using intelligent sampling tools.
34. It allows multiple undos.
35. Pen and pencil tools are available to draw images.
36. Repairing flaws like red-eye and dust is easier.
37. It also includes a motion blur gallery.
38. Non-destructive editing features are available so that the original layer is not destroyed.
39. Easy navigation is possible with the help of features like Tooltips and Quick Share Menu.

Advantages

40. It is the perfect tool to edit images on smartphones.
41. It supports the CYMK color pattern necessary to print images.
42. Simple edits like crop and invert can be performed extremely easily.
43. The original image is saved in Lightroom for future use.
44. It is the best tool for designers and professionals, with its AI-powered features.

The best tool for image editing is chosen based on the needs and skill level of the user. Both GIMP and Photoshop are excellent tools for photo editing.