5 Photoshop Alternatives for File Preparation

Image preparation, including color adjustments, sizing, and cropping, is incredibly important for a good-quality print. Adobe Photoshop has long been the gold standard for image editing and manipulation, but it’s not the only option available.

This topic comes up quite often with our walk-in customers. Some people are just getting started and not familiar with the tools available to make their image files look great. Fortunately, there are plenty of excellent choices. Here, I discuss five of the most popular alternatives you may want to consider, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.

Website: https://www.gimp.org/

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

This is one of the most popular FREE alternatives to Photoshop with advanced editing features. It offers a wide range of tools for photo retouching, image composition, and graphic design. While its interface may not be as sleek as Photoshop’s, it is highly customizable and supports a variety of plug-ins to extend its functionality. For preparing prints at FinerWorks, GIMP allows you to adjust DPI, resize images, and ensure accurate color reproduction using ICC profiles.

Many former Photoshop users have switched to GIMP because it is open-source, supports layers, masks, and plug-ins. It also has extensive community support. Perhaps my complaints would be the user interface can feel outdated and lacks some of the advanced Photoshop features. Also, while it does emulate Adobe Photoshop in many ways, I feel it does have steep learning to do more advanced things than your basic image manipulation and adjustments.

Website: https://www.gimp.org/

Affinity Photo

I am surprised more people are not using Affinity Photo. It is a great choice for photographers and designers looking for a high-performance editor without recurring costs. Things like advanced retouching tools, layer support, and seamless integration with Affinity Designer and Affinity Publisher. For FinerWorks users, Affinity Photo also provides precise color management tools and the ability to export images in formats like TIFF or JPEG, ensuring high-quality prints.

While it has many powerful features comparable to Photoshop such as smooth performance, RAW editing, and vector support, be aware it does not have nearly as many third-party plug-ins. Also where AI generative tools have become highly sought after for image improvement, this too is lacking unless you are using a plugin.

Website: https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/photo/

Corel PaintShop Pro

This program goes way back and is actually the first serious image editing tool I used on a regular basis when I did freelance illustration work. Admittedly I eventually turned to the dark side and embraced Adobe Photoshop but that did not mean PaintShop Pro ceased to be a great alternative.

Especially nowadays where it offers a range of tools for photo editing, graphic design, and creative projects.  Its intuitive interface, and even new AI tools, make it a solid choice for both beginners and experienced users who want a Photoshop alternative at a lower cost where high-resolution editing and file formats are needed for professional printing at FinerWorks.

Website: https://www.paintshoppro.com/

Krita

This program I am less familiar with but I am told by many in the art community that it can be a good option. Supposedly Krita is primarily designed for digital artists, but it also includes some basic photo editing tools. Its brush engine and painting tools can make it worth exploring as a free alternative to Photoshop.

It does not have as many photo manipulation-rich features because it is more for creating than editing. Also, last I heard it lacks native CMYK support, but we recommend users submit their files at RGB anyway so that should not be a problem.

Website: https://krita.org/

Luminar Neo

Finally, one program I think we will be hearing more from is one called Luminar Neo. It is a powerful AI-driven photo editor designed for photographers who want a quick and easy method to make adjustments to their pictures. It offers advanced tools such as AI sky replacement, portrait enhancement, and automatic color correction. For FinerWorks users, Luminar Neo’s AI-powered enhancements can help achieve vibrant and print-ready images, ensuring high-quality results for fine art and photography prints.

The interface is relatively intuitive so it seems easy to learn. But I don’t know if the subscription model it uses is going to be ideal for most FinerWorks customers unless they find it suits their needs and they need to use it regularly.

Website: https://skylum.com/

My Final Thoughts

Ultimately if I was looking for the most robust alternative, I would recommend GIMP. For those who might find it a little too burdensome to learn, then Corel PaintShop Pro is the way to go. While GIMP is free, PaintShop Pro is easier to use but requires a small initial investment. The others are still worth exploring and depending on your needs as an artist or photographer, may even suit you better.

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