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Theft is Bad Karma: Stop Pirating Photoshop!
A few years ago, no one came in and asked me "Can you put Photoshop on my computer?" Most users hadn't even heard of the program. Now the perception from the public seems to be that if you want to edit photos at all, you've got to have Photoshop to do it - and that you might as well just steal it.
But why? Most users don't need even half of the functionality in Photoshop, and there are plenty of great editors that are easy to use, less hard on computer resources, and completely free.
Clear your conscience and try one of these alternatives!
Basics for photo editing are all there: cropping, rotating, red-eye removal, airbrushing, layers, you name it. GIMP, too, has way more features than the average user will ever need. GIMP is cross-platform, and can be installed or run as a portable app on a flash drive (Windows).
Instead of looking at filenames, you actually get a visual heads-up of all your open images. Development is very active, and the community is extremely passionate and provides tons of support and more plugins than you can shake a stick at. It's totally open source, and requires the .NET 2.0 runtimes.
ArtWeaver: I just read about this one on Cybernet and gave it a try, and it's impressive. It's interface should be comfortable for anyone who's been using Photoshop, as many of the tools and menus are laid out the same way. Within a few minutes of using it, I was able to handle all my usual image editing tasks.
It supports layers and editable text, maintains editing history, is extensible via plugins, and will run on very minimal hardware (Pentium 3 600 with 128mb of memory). Artweaver is Windows only, and is also available as a portable or installable application.
The integrated image browser (along the bottom) is a very welcome addition and makes multiple edits a snap, and the developer even managed to cram in automation/batch support. Photofiltre is an awesome, lightweight alternative that will make short work of most photo chores.
VicMan also comes with an assortment of photo enhancement filters, a fun "charicature" distortion tool, and even an animated tutorial to help you get started.
Maybe you've got another suggestion that our karmically-challenged brethren need to hear about. Comment it, and let us know!
Comments
76
Subscribe to commentsAAAug 20th 2008 7:22AM
Babya PhotoPro:
http://babyasoftwaregroup.googlepages.com/babyaphotopro
It's developed by me and features lots of editing tools.
LA26Aug 20th 2008 8:55AM
Adobe is top of the line.If your interested in the field of computer graphics why settle for anything else?
Whether you've bought it or not point is the cost is VERY HIGH.Now if your in college or high school coming across $1,700~ to get the suite is kind of hard to come by so I don't really blame anyone who pirates it.
I think the same of 3DMax and Maya.
With the field becoming more popular more people have to resort to pirating to experience the field in something other than a novice level.
I've seen things 13-14 year olds have done in 3DMax that put people currently in the industry to shame.With the graphics business jobs aren't really steady unless your with a corporation and the job market is HARSH.
Stealing is bad.Price inflating on teens is bad.
deluded spiderAug 23rd 2008 6:26PM
Well, if you're in college you can get an education discount on the Adobe Suite that's pretty hefty. My boyfriend and I split the cost of the CS3 "Creative Suite Design Premium," which included Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, Dreamweaver, Acrobat, Fireworks, Bridge, Version Cue, Device Central and Adobe Connect, for $600.
Honestly, just register for a single community college class (maybe $100?) and buy from the school store, and it's pretty affordable.
I completely understand pirating it... I did, because I was 19 and had no job, so I absolutely could not afford it, and I wasn't in school at the time. Pirating it got me hands-on experience with it. When I finally took a Photoshop class, I learned a grand total of three things that I hadn't already figured out for myself.
I think it's possible the non-discounted price is so astronomical because they *realize* that most people steal it. The high price makes up for those who pirate it. (Sorry for you professionals, raking in your tens of thousands of dollars working awesome design careers, having to pay $1,000 on a program once every few versions. Oh wait, I'm not sorry for you at all.)
NickAug 20th 2008 9:29AM
A few observations. 1. This article is simply pointing out the alternatives to Photoshop. Perhaps the title is the part that should be questioned.
2. All of these alternatives are for the average joe who downloads a pirated copy of photoshop to do some minor photo editing.
LA26 Mentioned what college student has $1,700.00 to purchase photoshop. However if you are a college student you can purchase Photoshop for $199.95.
I think that what it really comes down to is a morality issue and while according to the license agreement any copying is illegal I personally feel that if I am using the program (or any program at that matter) for personal use it should be free or carry a very small fee. If I am churning a profit from the program I think its time to belly up and pay the tab!
ffreshAug 20th 2008 9:46AM
is it really all that bad that i just don't care?
ryanincAug 20th 2008 10:37AM
I use Photoshop daily for creating logos, editing photos, making website elements, etc. If my company didn't pay for it, there's not a chance in the world I'd be able to pay for it myself...piracy would be my only option if I wanted it. :-/
deluded spiderAug 23rd 2008 6:26PM
You use Photoshop for creating logos, not Illustrator? And they allow that? Wow.
JordanAug 20th 2008 11:05AM
If gimp could make the text tool not suck a giant load of crap, I would use it exclusively.
JayaAug 20th 2008 11:27AM
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Picnik yet. It's revolutionized my photo editing over the last year. No bloated software to download. It has blemish/teeth fix, lots of creative effects, and most importantly--the ability to add text on top of images (perfect for blog headers, banners, and what not.) Picknik works seamlessly with Flickr, too. The only thing they don't have is layers (wish, wish, wish.) http://www.picnik.com/
ShanAug 20th 2008 1:28PM
Lee Mathews please stop preaching! I am shocked to see such a self-righteous post here at DS. What is wrong with you? How much are Adobe paying you for this post? If you want to write up about free alternatives, be my guest, but cut the BS preaching about Photoshop piracy out. You in your single post will not be doing anything to limit the piracy of Photoshop. Piracy has always existed and will continue to exist as along as there is someone out there that wants something for free even if it costs money. I agree with many others that Photoshop is very expensive and it therefore certainly contributes to its own piracy. Piracy isn't right, but it isn't going anywhere anytime soon and propaganda nonsense like this post certainly won't dent it one bit. Those who want to pay for it will and those that don't, won't - simple as that.
Jon Doe.Aug 21st 2008 3:40AM
Whatever. The reason PS is popular over the alternatives is that the alternatives don't get all the features that X person is looking for right. PS generally does because it includes everything and the kitchen sink. Think scattergun approach. generally speaking it has all the features I want in a photo editing app, and doesn't have a UI that sucks ass.
Does that mean that I should drop $650 (More then 3 versions of Windows combined might I add.) on an app that I will use only about 20-30 or so features? And don't tell me go use PS Express. That app is so neutered its not even funny.
No if Adobe really wanted to do something revolutionary they would release the core of PS for free. Read: Photo Viewing and very limited editing. Then you can pull up an update menu and buy the features you want, with an option of buying and downloading an ISO image once you are satisfied with a featureset. Will they ever do that? Hell no. Because 1. Its work. 2. It requires some serious programming muscle. 3. The old guard doesn't have the foresight to see such things as revolutionary. they would simply see it hitting the bottom line. Because OMG people won't spend $650 on our product anymore! Never mind the countless others who would be attracted to such an offer.
In short. People wouldn't mind buying PS if you didn't need to take out a small loan against your house to get the feature they want. Both the pirates and Adobe are at fault here. People generally pirate shit who's value is grossly off when it comes to its price. Yes there will always be people who don't want to spend a dime on something, but, again, $650? Hell if it was even half that I would be interested. But the cheapest I could find online is around half a grand.
JordanAug 22nd 2008 1:23PM
For those of you complaining about the gimp interface, look into version 2.5.2 that is a big step towards the next stable release of 2.6, they are working on a substantial overhaul to the interface, including docking all the windows together much like photoshop instead of the different panes.
William C BonnerAug 21st 2008 8:03PM
While I agree piracy is bad, the only useful novice tutorials are written for Photoshop.
People who can afford Photoshop, and especially those who get it as part of their business, can usually afford training, and every book on the market related to photoshop, and they work with other individuals using Photoshop.
To really encourage use of free alternatives to Photoshop, there needs to be a wealth of learning tutorials to do things that are demonstrated in Photoshop.
Adobe is against piracy in the same way that Microsoft is against piracy. In general it's really bad. In reality, it only helps make your software that much more of a standard.
Individuals who use a pirate copy at home are that much more likely to recommend a properly licensed copy at work. If you use a free alternative at home, and know how to do everything that Photoshop could do for you, you may recommend that free item at work, denying Adobe of a sale.
DatabaserAug 23rd 2008 3:55AM
I like this site and the editors way of thinking and well... Doing their jobs.
But this story just blew my mind up with the "no comparable software for the professional user."
With the "professional" being hi-lighted and everything.
I just feel bad and really insulted. I make my living out of designing websites and graphics. I do own Photoshop, but I use Gimp for 98% of my work, it works just fine. And as the latest on 2.4 and upcoming 2.5 I haven't found anything that can't be done on Gimp that can in Photoshop, unless you just use some lame preset configurations and 100% automated tools.
It's as "pro" as you can get. All the features that the REAL professionals and an artists need are in there. If you are using Photoshop, your fancy effects and "super" filters and gizmos, don't call yourself a professional.
It's just like claiming to be a professional IT security consultant, when all you do is get some scripts from milw0rm and pretend you are a genius.
Or claiming to be a martial arts master, copying your movements from a video as you go.
Just sickens me.
JkSep 10th 2008 5:59PM
I agree with the poster who mentioned college. Photoshop is a necessity for almost any college student. Whether it be a major, minor, or just an elective I think the odds are pretty high that you will take a course that teaches photoshop or one in which photoshop would make your time in the class much easier.
Everyone talks about Microsoft as the evil empire what about Adobe? Their prices are ridiculous. I can get a copy of Vista Ultimate for $24.99 at my school but it would cost me at least $99.99 to get Photoshop CS3 and word is they are about to announce CS4 any day now. Decreased price = decrease piracy. imo
Ek kianSep 20th 2008 10:07AM
DiRT,
if you have problem with GIMP interface and thought that Gimpshop is not good enough then maybe you should try GimPhoto (http://www.gimphoto.com)
actually GimPhoto is GIMP modification with new menu layout and shortcut, packed with many great plugins, such as: separation, save for web, batch process, noise removal and photography filters, and also improved with new brushset, new gradientset, every aspect is tweaked to improve user usability.
available for Windows and Linux (all distro).