Top 5 Best FREE PHOTO EDITING Software

In this video, we explore the top 5 free photo editing software that rivals the capabilities of expensive programs like Photoshop. Adobe Photoshop Express, number five, offers a user-friendly interface with basic tools for quick edits. At number four, PhotoScape X provides advanced features, including a screenshot tool, GIF creation, and RAW image support. Third place goes to Krita, a free and open-source program with professional brushes and advanced features for digital painting and animation. Runner-up, Paint.NET, is a lightweight alternative to Microsoft Paint with a wide array of features and community-created plugins. Finally, the top spot is reserved for GIMP, an open-source powerhouse with tools and features found in high-end software, including layer management, advanced filters, and compatibility with various image formats. Bonus picks include browser-based apps like Photopea and Pixlr, as well as Canva and Affinity Photo for those willing to pay a one-time fee.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Adobe Photoshop Express is a free, easy-to-use photo editing software with basic tools for quick edits, available for Windows and mobile platforms.
• 🖼️ PhotoScape X offers advanced features, including a screenshot tool, GIF creation, and support for RAW images, available for Windows and Mac OS.
• 🎭 Krita is a free and open-source program with tools for photo editing, digital painting, and animation, suitable for advanced users with a high learning curve.
• 🌟 Bonus picks include browser-based apps like Photopea and Pixlr, and online editors from Canva and Fotor, offering various tools for photo editing.
• 💡 Affinity Photo, while not free, is a one-time purchase alternative to subscription-based software like Photoshop, available for Windows, Mac, and iPad.
• 🎨 Paint.NET is a lightweight, feature-rich alternative to Microsoft Paint, with support for layers and community-created plugins, available only for Windows.
• 🏆 GIMP is the top pick as a comprehensive, free, and open-source photo editing software with advanced tools and compatibility with Photoshop PSD files, available on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.
• 📚 Krita provides a manual on their site to assist beginners in navigating its many tools and features.
• 🔍 PhotoScape X includes a range of tools and tutorials to help users enhance their images.
• 📱 Adobe Photoshop Express is also available as a mobile app for both Android and iOS devices.
• 🌐 Online photo editing platforms like Canva and Affinity Photo offer free trials, allowing users to test out their features before committing to a purchase or subscription.

Q & A

What is the ranking of Adobe Photoshop Express among the top 5 best free photo editing software?

Adobe Photoshop Express is ranked at number five among the top 5 best free photo editing software.

Is Adobe Photoshop Express available for Mac OS and Linux?

At the time of the transcript, Adobe Photoshop Express is not available for Mac OS and Linux.

What is the main advantage of using Photoscape X?

Photoscape X offers advanced features, a screenshot tool, the ability to create GIFs and collages, and support for raw images, making it suitable for users looking for more than just basic photo editing capabilities.

What are some of the advanced features available in Krita?

Krita offers more than 100 professionally made brushes, layer management, vector templates, and tools for masking, special effects, and filters, making it suitable for advanced users, digital painting, and animation.

How does GIMP differ from other software mentioned in the transcript?

GIMP is an open source program that has been around since 1996 and is packed with advanced tools and features often found in expensive software, including layer management, advanced filters and effects, color adjustments, and transformations.

Which software is suggested for users who dislike subscription-based services like Photoshop?

Affinity Photo is suggested for users who prefer a one-time fee instead of subscription-based services. It is a high-quality photo editor available for Windows, Mac OS, and iPad.

What is the name of the software that was first released in 2004 as a more powerful alternative to Microsoft Paint?

Paint.NET was first released in 2004 as a more powerful alternative to Microsoft Paint.

Which software is considered the best free image and photo editing software according to the transcript?

GIMP is considered the best free image and photo editing software according to the transcript.

What is the main difference between the free version of Photoscape X and the paid version, Photoscape X Pro?

The free version of Photoscape X is sufficient for most users, while Photoscape X Pro offers extra features for around forty dollars, suitable for users who need more advanced capabilities.

What are some of the tools available in GIMP for photo editing?

GIMP offers layer management support, a large number of tools, advanced filters and effects, color adjustments, and transformations, making it a comprehensive tool for photo editing.

Which platform is not mentioned in the transcript for the availability of Adobe Photoshop Express?

Adobe Photoshop Express is not mentioned to be available for Linux in the transcript.

What is the name of the web app that closely resembles Photoshop and allows saving projects as PSD files?

Photopea is the browser-based web app that closely resembles Photoshop and allows saving projects as PSD files.

What is the main advantage of using Pixlr X and Pixlr E for photo editing?

Pixlr X is designed for basic edits with around a dozen tools, while Pixlr E is geared for more advanced users with around two dozen tools, offering flexibility based on the user's needs.

What is the name of the graphic design platform that offers a free online photo editor for creating marketing materials and social media posts?

Canva is the graphic design platform that offers a free online photo editor for creating marketing materials and social media posts.

Outlines

00:00

📷 Top 5 Free Photo Editing Software

This paragraph introduces the viewer to the top 5 free photo editing software options as alternatives to expensive programs like Photoshop. It emphasizes the availability of tools for both basic and advanced photo editing needs. Adobe Photoshop Express is highlighted as a user-friendly option with a low learning curve, while PhotoScape X is mentioned for those seeking more advanced features, including a screenshot tool, GIF and collage creation, and support for RAW images. The paragraph also briefly introduces GIMP as a powerful, open-source editor with professional-grade tools and features.

05:00

🎨 Bonus Picks and Top Free Photo Editor

The second paragraph provides bonus picks for photo editing tools that are worth considering, including Photopea, Pixlr, Canva, and Affinity Photo. It also discusses the top free photo editor, Paint.NET, which is praised for its powerful features and community-created plugins. The paragraph explains that Paint.NET has evolved over the years and now includes a dark theme. It highlights the availability of special effects and the helpfulness of the program's forum. The paragraph concludes with GIMP being named as the absolute best free image and photo editing software, noting its extensive feature set, compatibility with various image formats, and the option for a traditional single-window layout.

Keywords

💡Photo Editing Software

Photo editing software refers to applications that allow users to modify and enhance digital photos. In the context of the video, it is the main theme as it discusses various free alternatives to expensive programs like Photoshop, suitable for both basic and advanced photo editing needs.

💡Adobe Photoshop Express

Adobe Photoshop Express is a free version of the professional Adobe Photoshop software. It is mentioned as the fifth option in the video, characterized by a low learning curve and quick editing capabilities. It provides basic tools for enhancing images but lacks the advanced features of the premium version.

💡Photoscape X

Photoscape X is highlighted as the fourth option and is praised for its advanced features beyond basic photo editing. It includes tools for creating GIFs, collages, and supports RAW images. The software offers a wide array of editing tools, making it a comprehensive choice for more complex photo manipulations.

💡Krita

Krita is an open-source program that not only serves as a photo editor but also includes tools for digital painting and animation. It is noted for its professional-grade brushes and layer support, making it a versatile tool for advanced users. Despite its powerful features, it has a steep learning curve, which might be overwhelming for beginners.

💡Paint.NET

Paint.NET is described as a powerful alternative to Microsoft Paint, originally released in 2004. It is the runner-up in the video, appreciated for its lightweight nature and rich feature set, including layer support and special effects. The software has seen significant improvements over time and is noted for its community-created plugins.

💡GIMP

GIMP, which stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program, is the top-ranked free photo editing software in the video. It is an open-source program released in 1996 and is packed with advanced tools and features comparable to expensive software. GIMP supports layer management, a multitude of filters and effects, and is compatible with various image formats, including PSD files.

💡Auto Enhance

The 'Auto Enhance' feature is a tool within photo editing software that automatically adjusts several image values such as exposure, temperature, and contrast to improve the overall look of a photo. In the context of the video, it is mentioned as a useful tool in Adobe Photoshop Express for quick and easy enhancements.

💡Filters and Effects

Filters and effects are tools within photo editing software that allow users to apply various visual transformations to images, such as color adjustments, texture overlays, and stylistic changes. They are a core part of photo enhancement and are discussed in the video as a common feature across the listed software.

💡Layers

Layers in photo editing software are a fundamental concept that allows users to work on different parts of an image independently. They are essential for non-destructive editing and are mentioned in the video as a feature provided by several of the discussed programs, including Krita and GIMP.

💡Spot Heal and Red Eye Tool

The Spot Heal tool and Red Eye tool are specific features within photo editing software used to correct common photography issues. The Spot Heal tool is for removing small imperfections, while the Red Eye tool fixes the red-eye effect caused by camera flashes. These tools are mentioned in the video as part of the basic editing capabilities of Adobe Photoshop Express.

💡RAW Images

RAW images are a type of digital photo format that retains all the original data captured by a camera sensor. They offer greater flexibility in post-processing due to their high level of detail. Photoscape X is noted in the video for its support of RAW images, indicating its suitability for more advanced photo editing.

Highlights

Adobe Photoshop Express offers easy photo editing with basic tools like spot heal and auto enhance.

Photoscape X features advanced editing capabilities including a screenshot tool, GIF creation, and collage support.

Krita, an open-source platform, supports digital painting, animation, and photo editing with over 100 brushes.

Photopea, a browser-based app, mimics Photoshop features, allowing users to save projects as PSD files.

Pixlr offers two versions, Pixlr X for basic edits and Pixlr E for advanced users with more comprehensive tools.

Canva provides a free online photo editor aimed at creating marketing materials and social media posts.

So Tour is great for basic photo touch-ups and features a decent number of editing tools.

Affinity Photo, a paid alternative to Photoshop, offers a high-quality editing experience without a subscription.

Paint.NET has evolved from a simple alternative to Microsoft Paint to include layers, effects, and community-created plugins.

GIMP stands out as a powerful, free photo editing software packed with features comparable to premium software.

Adobe Photoshop Express is not available for macOS and Linux, but has mobile apps for Android and iOS.

Photoscape X also has a paid version called Photoscape X Pro which offers extra features.

Krita's interface might be overwhelming for beginners due to its comprehensive suite of tools and features.

GIMP's layout can be switched from floating windows to a single window mode to suit user preferences.

Paint.NET's forum provides a community-driven support system for users seeking help.