Photoshop has been king of the photo editing/graphic design software game since the technology has been available, so it’s an easy choice most of the time.
But if we get too comfortable with our software, it can be easy to miss out on something that is just as good, but perhaps more affordable, or maybe even something that is better suited to our needs.
Could Gimp be an example of such a software? Let’s find out!
What Is Gimp?
GIMP is an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program, a free and open-source photo manipulation application.
Spencer Kimball originally developed it in the late 1990s as a replacement for Adobe’s Photoshop.
The program has since been ported to other operating systems such as Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, OpenBSD, NetBSD, IRIX, AIX, HP-UX, Tru64 UNIX, AmigaOS4, BeOS, Haiku, MorphOS, RISC OS, QNX Neutrino, Android, iOS, Symbian S60, BlackBerry OS, Palm OS, and Tizen.
What Does It Do?
GIMP can be used to create digital images from scratch or edit existing ones. Here are some of the key features of GIMP:
- Crop Pictures
- Resize Pictures
- Rotate, flip, sharpen, and blur pictures
- Add Text
- Draw Shapes
- Paste Files Together
- Send via Email
… and more!
How To Use GIMP?
You may want to download GIMP if you are looking for a simple image editor that will allow you to make minor adjustments to your photos without having to learn complicated editing techniques.
However, if you are looking for something more powerful than this, then you should look elsewhere.
What Is Photoshop?
Photoshop is one of the most popular graphic design software programs on the market today. It allows users to create professional-quality images, illustrations, logos, and web pages.
It also includes tools for creating animations, video effects, 3D models, and interactive websites. Photoshop works on operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Photoshop was created in 1987 by Thomas Knoll and John Knoll, who were both working at Apple Computer.
Since its creation, the program has become extremely popular among photographers, designers, illustrators, etc.
What Does It Do?
The main features of Photoshop include:
- Crop Images
- Adjust Color Levels
- Add Text
- Create Collages
- Draw Shapes
- Edit Photos
… and much more.
How To Use Photoshop?
If you are looking for a full-featured graphics design tool with many advanced features, you should consider using Photoshop instead of GIMP.
Photoshop has some more complex capabilities than GIMP, including web design features, animation, and video editing.
How Do GIMP And Photoshop Compare?
Both GIMP and Photoshop have their own strengths and weaknesses. When it comes to the basic functions like crop, resize, rotate, etc., they work similarly.
However, when it comes to advanced editing tasks, Photoshop tends to offer better performance.
For example, Photoshop offers a variety of filters and special effects that GIMP doesn’t. In addition, Photoshop’s ability to handle large files is far superior to GIMP’s.
On the other hand, GIMP is easier to use because it does not require any training. Therefore, you just need to know how to operate the mouse and keyboard.
Another advantage of using GIMP is that it is completely free.
Do GIMP And Photoshop Do The Same Thing?
Yes, in many ways, GIMP and Photoshop do the same thing. Both of these applications are capable of performing all of the following tasks:
- Resizing images
- Cropping images
- Rotating images
- Adding text to images
- Creating collages
- Editing photos
- Drawing shapes
- Sending emails
What Are The Differences Between GIMP And Photoshop?
There are several differences between GIMP and Photoshop. Some of the major differences include:
- Photoshop is a commercial product, while GIMP is free.
- Photoshop costs $600-$800 per year, while GIMP is completely free.
- Photoshop can require a high level of technical expertise, while GIMP is easy to use.
- Photoshop is designed primarily for desktop computers, while GIMP is available for mobile devices too.
- Photoshop is a complex application with lots of options, while GIMP is simpler.
- Photoshop is based on Mac OS X, while GIMP runs on Windows and Linux.
- Photoshop can be used to edit videos while GIMP cannot.
- Photoshop is limited to 32-bit color, while GIMP supports 64-bit color.
- Photoshop uses Adobe Creative Suite, while GIMP uses GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP).
- Photoshop has an extensive library of tutorials and books, while GIMP lacks them.
GIMP, The Pros And Cons
Pros
- Free
- Easy to Learn
- Can Handle Large Files
Cons
- Not as Powerful as Photoshop
Photoshop The Pros and Cons
Pros
- More Advanced Editing Tools
- Better Performance
- Easier to Use
Cons
- Expensive
- Requires Training
Which One Should You Choose, Photoshop Or GIMP?
There is no clear-cut answer to this question, but we’ll do our best to help you make a decision.
First off, although Photoshop is one of the best-known names in the business, it’s a very complicated software to use.
With this confusion, though, comes immense power. Photoshop is capable of performing complex tasks with ease.
This means that if you’re willing to invest time into learning it, you’ll reap huge rewards.
On the other hand, Gimp is an easy-to-use tool that requires little to no training. If you don’t have a lot of experience with computers, this could be a great option for you.
GIMP And Photoshop, Batch Processing
When choosing between GIMP and Photoshop, one important thing to consider is batch processing.
Batch processing is when multiple files are processed at once. It’s a faster way to process your image files than doing it one by one.
Although Photoshop is capable of batch processing images, it can be a complicated process. To start, you must first create a new project.
Then, you must select each file individually and apply the desired filter or effect. Finally, you must save the project before moving on to the next file.
In contrast, GIMP provides an easier method of batch processing. All you need to do is open up all of your files in the same window.
Then, simply click on the “Process” button and let the program handle the rest!
Final Thoughts
When choosing between GIMP and Photoshop, you may be tempted to go for the more expensive option.
Although Photoshop does offer some impressive capabilities that GIMP doesn’t, if you’re not working on anything too advanced, you may find you’re better off using GIMP.
GIMP is still an incredibly powerful software, but it has the benefits of being more user-friendly, easier to learn, and free!
