Some Alternative Image Editing Software Programs

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Some Alternative Image Editing Software

by Rick Hendershot, Linknet Marketing Resource Library

Ever since we got our first Mac (about 15 years ago) I've been using Photoshop to do image editing and manipulation. Not on a Mac anymore, but it's still pretty much the same old Photoshop. I really don't know what I'd do without Photoshop. How would I create all those quickie graphics I need to spice up our websites?

Well, actually, I do know. I would take a serious look at a few of the much less expensive alternatives, and I would probably buy three or four of them for roughly half the cost of Photoshop.

What are the alternatives? And what are they capable or not capable of doing? In this post I point to a few companies who offer their own (usually much lower cost image editing program. Accompanying each software title, wherever possible I offer links to reviews that I feel are worth reading.

Please note, some of these are not full blown Photoshop substitutes, although all of them offer more than enough features for most of us. This list is by no means complete.

Image Editing Software

Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0, Adobe -about $99 on Amazon.com
Between the low-end PhotoDeluxe and the professional Photoshop 7.0, and is ideal for anyone with a serious interest in digital imaging. Good handholding features for beginners. Read reviews at Amazon.com. Reviews are generally positive.

Corel Photo-Paint 12, comes with Corel Graphics Suite
This one has been around for a long time. Part of the CorelDraw Graphics Suite 12. If you're getting this package anyway (to get CorelDraw), then you will have a free image editor as part of the package. See reviews of CorelDraw and PhotoPaint.

Jasc Paint Shop Pro, $99
An inexpensive image editor with a mature tool set, and a large stable of loyal users. See this review in PC magazine.

Ulead PhotoImpact, new about $75
Extensive capabilities, mixed user experience. Read a review here.

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) - This is free, open source program that is available as a download. According to PC Magazine: "...GIMP supplied many of the features you get in an application like Adobe Photoshop [but]...in terms of feature breadth and ease of use, GIMP just can't compete with products like Adobe Photoshop Elements 2 and Jasc's Paint Shop Pro 8..." Read the review.

You can find a series of reviews here, at About.com.

You can find another, more sympathetic review of GIMP at the Webmaster's Support Blog.

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