New question: what about these free photo editors? at DVinfo.net

Heath McKnight · August 21st, 2005, 09:04 PM

I'm too cheap to buy Photoshop, so I'm looking to go free or really really cheap. I know of one so far:

http://www.gimp.org (for Mac OS X)

Other than GIMP, what other photo editors are there for Mac OS X cheap skates, er, users?

Thanks,

heath

Christopher Lefchik · August 21st, 2005, 09:28 PM

You probably already know that iPhoto comes with OS X. Do you find that too simple for your needs? Honestly, you probably won't find any free image editor that's more powerful than the GIMP. I suggest you give it a shot. One gentleman did a "hack" of the GIMP editor to make it more Photoshop-like. It's called GIMPshop. You can get it at this site (for free, naturally): http://plasticbugs.com/index.php?p=241

Greg Boston · August 21st, 2005, 10:11 PM

I was surprised recently to find that Preview can actually do some photo editing tricks. Much more than I would have thought.

-gb-

Yi Fong Yu · August 21st, 2005, 11:34 PM

another vote for gimp here. i've been using for a few years now along with PS. it's PRETTY damn good considering it's FREE!!!! in fact it's pretty incredible. the onl complaint i have is the file compression isn't as good as PS in producing smaller jpeg and gifs for web use. that and no print preview for windows like PS.

oh, if you need an illustrator program like adobe illustrator, try INKSPACE =).

Heath McKnight · August 22nd, 2005, 09:01 PM

I can't figure out how to install Gimp...

Thanks all around!

heath

Boyd Ostroff · August 22nd, 2005, 09:15 PM

Photoshop Elements lists for $80, maybe less at some vendors. I haven't used the new version (3), but version 2 is a great value. In fact, it does everything I need so I've never upgraded to the full version. Before that there was Photoshop LE which was also a bargain. It used to be that vendors would bundle it for free with cameras and scanners, but I'm not sure that happens anymore.

Anyway, it gives you a large percentage of Photoshop functionality and full file compatibility for a fraction of the cost of the full program. There's a free trial version available.

http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopelmac/main.html

Yi Fong Yu · August 22nd, 2005, 09:30 PM

you need to:
1.install GTK
2.install GIMP

from here:
http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html

Heath McKnight · August 22nd, 2005, 09:38 PM

As always, you guys are on the money! THANKS!

heath

Yi Fong Yu · August 22nd, 2005, 10:13 PM

oh my advice was only for window users,

for mac users go here:
http://www.gimp.org/macintosh/

Stephen Finton · August 22nd, 2005, 10:31 PM

I've always used Paintshop Pro, but we're talking about MAC here, so I'll be quiet now.

Joe Carney · August 24th, 2005, 02:30 PM

Another one is Cinepaint. Used by pros in many films. Runs on Mac OS as an X11 app. Free, was formerly an offshoot of gimp.

http://www.cinepaint.org

Even if not ready for prime time on some systems, worth keeping an eye out for. They support 16bit per channel color.

Windows users don't bother for now. It's broken and won't be fixed till a new version code named Glasgow comes out.

August 21st, 2005, 09:04 PM	#1
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	New question: what about these free photo editors? I'm too cheap to buy Photoshop, so I'm looking to go free or really really cheap. I know of one so far: http://www.gimp.org (for Mac OS X) Other than GIMP, what other photo editors are there for Mac OS X cheap skates, er, users? Thanks, heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

August 21st, 2005, 11:34 PM	#4
Yi Fong Yu Trustee Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vulcan Posts: 1,564	another vote for gimp here. i've been using for a few years now along with PS. it's PRETTY damn good considering it's FREE!!!! in fact it's pretty incredible. the onl complaint i have is the file compression isn't as good as PS in producing smaller jpeg and gifs for web use. that and no print preview for windows like PS. oh, if you need an illustrator program like adobe illustrator, try INKSPACE =). __________________ bow wow wow

August 22nd, 2005, 09:01 PM	#5
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	I can't figure out how to install Gimp... Thanks all around! heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

August 22nd, 2005, 09:30 PM	#7
Yi Fong Yu Trustee Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vulcan Posts: 1,564	you need to: 1.install GTK 2.install GIMP from here: http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html __________________ bow wow wow

August 22nd, 2005, 09:38 PM	#8
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	As always, you guys are on the money! THANKS! heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

August 21st, 2005, 09:28 PM	#2
Christopher Lefchik Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: US Posts: 1,152	You probably already know that iPhoto comes with OS X. Do you find that too simple for your needs? Honestly, you probably won't find any free image editor that's more powerful than the GIMP. I suggest you give it a shot. One gentleman did a "hack" of the GIMP editor to make it more Photoshop-like. It's called GIMPshop. You can get it at this site (for free, naturally): http://plasticbugs.com/index.php?p=241

August 21st, 2005, 10:11 PM	#3
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	I was surprised recently to find that Preview can actually do some photo editing tricks. Much more than I would have thought. -gb-

August 22nd, 2005, 09:15 PM	#6
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	Photoshop Elements lists for $80, maybe less at some vendors. I haven't used the new version (3), but version 2 is a great value. In fact, it does everything I need so I've never upgraded to the full version. Before that there was Photoshop LE which was also a bargain. It used to be that vendors would bundle it for free with cameras and scanners, but I'm not sure that happens anymore. Anyway, it gives you a large percentage of Photoshop functionality and full file compatibility for a fraction of the cost of the full program. There's a free trial version available. http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopelmac/main.html

August 22nd, 2005, 10:13 PM	#9
Yi Fong Yu Trustee Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vulcan Posts: 1,564	oh my advice was only for window users, for mac users go here: http://www.gimp.org/macintosh/ __________________ bow wow wow

August 22nd, 2005, 10:31 PM	#10
Stephen Finton Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 344	I've always used Paintshop Pro, but we're talking about MAC here, so I'll be quiet now.

August 24th, 2005, 02:30 PM	#11
Joe Carney Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centreville Va Posts: 1,828	Another one is Cinepaint. Used by pros in many films. Runs on Mac OS as an X11 app. Free, was formerly an offshoot of gimp. http://www.cinepaint.org Even if not ready for prime time on some systems, worth keeping an eye out for. They support 16bit per channel color. Windows users don't bother for now. It's broken and won't be fixed till a new version code named Glasgow comes out.