GIMP is open source software for professional image editing that is available for download free of charge. The "GNU Image Manipulation Program" is even more extensive in the latest version 2.10 and has been expanded to include filters and many functions. On the other hand, the intuitive operability is often perceived as a disadvantage. In our tips + tricks we show you four alternatives to the GIMP.
Paint.NET
The Paint.NET drawing program was developed as a free replacement for Microsoft's Paint in Windows. The software is based on the .NET framework and can therefore only be used in newer versions of Windows. The large community has developed a variety of plugins for Paint.NET that make the image editing software a good GIMP alternative. Similar to the GIMP, it is possible that you can customize your photo using automatic filters as well as manual editing tools. The layer function is also supported. In summary, the entire range of functions is less than with the GIMP, but the usability is very user-friendly for beginners and absolutely sufficient for simple image processing.
Price: free of charge Platforms: only for Windows PCs that support the .NET framework
Krita
Krita is a free and comprehensive open source image editing program that focuses on digital drawing and sketching. In contrast to GIMP, Krita is particularly suitable for concept artists and illustrators. The user interface is intuitive and can be customized specifically for your workflow. You also have the option of creating your own abbreviations for frequently used tools. Additional features include a brush editor and a variety of filters for drawings. Krita also enables you to use layers to structure the project clearly and is compatible with Photoshop. This also means that images in RGB, CMYK and Lab are supported. The only disadvantage is that the photo editing program is more tailored to illustrators..
Price: free Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Source: heise download Pixlr X
Pixlr X is the successor to Pixlr Editor and is suitable for simple, web-based and fast image editing. The program can be found online at pixlr.com . Unlike its predecessor, the photo editor uses HTML5 instead of Adobe Flash, so you can easily run Pixlr X in any modern browser. The advantage for you: image editing is possible from any device with a browser. This GIMP alternative is neat and well designed, and allows you to adjust the color, saturation, and sharpness of the images. In terms of overall functionality, Pixlr X is not as comprehensive as GIMP. There are no brush or pencil tools, layers, or tools to remove red eyes. For simple edits, Pixlr X is a solid choice.
Price: free Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is an image processing program for pixel graphics and the market leader in image processing. Because of this, the software is also listed as the only alternative to the GIMP that is not free of charge. Photoshop is now part of the Adobe Creatice Cloud (CC for short) and a monthly subscription for € 11.89 on adobe.com available. There is a reason why Photoshop is now synonymous with the name of a digitally edited image. The software is very extensive and does not require any additional add-ons, as most of the functions are already integrated. Another feature is the easy to understand and intuitive interface. You can open and edit RAW files and convert the color modes RGB to CMYK and vice versa. A disadvantage, however, is that you have to pay monthly and the program is not available on Linux..
Price: Photoshop + Lightroom in a bundle are free for 7 days, after that € 11.89 per month Platforms: Windows, macOS
We have put together further software for image processing for you here.