Last Updated on May 22, 2022
Photo and Image Editor
Your graphics background may be enshrined in Adobe Photoshop, a raster graphics editor developed and published by Adobe. It’s software that available as a subscription service, it’s proprietary software, and not available for Linux.
GIMP
GIMP is free and open source software for retouching, image composition and image authoring. Whether you are a graphic designer, photographer, illustrator, or scientist, GIMP offers sophisticated tools to get your job done.
It has a large feature set. It can be used as a simple paint program, an expert quality photo retouching program, an online batch processing system, a mass production image renderer, an image format converter, and much more. GIMP provides top-notch color management features to ensure high-fidelity color reproduction across digital and printed media.
GIMP has sufficient functionality to give a real alternative to Photoshop. In general, Photoshop offers tools that offer more functionality than the GIMP equivalents particularly in areas like real pixel manipulation. But we think you’ll be very satisfied with GIMP. And it’ll be one less subscription to tax your wallet.
You can install GIMP from the Ubuntu Software app. There’s both a snap and an Ubuntu package available.
Pages in this article:
Page 1 – Introduction / Office Suite
Page 2 – Web Browser
Page 3 – Media Player
Page 4 – Email Client
Page 5 – Image Viewer
Page 6 – Photo and Image Editor
Page 7 – Audio Editor
Page 8 – Video Editor
Page 9 – PDF Viewer
All articles in this series:
 Read our complete collection of recommended free and open source software. Our curated compilation covers all categories of software. The software collection forms part of our series of informative articles for Linux enthusiasts. There are hundreds of in-depth reviews, open source alternatives to proprietary software from large corporations like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. There are also fun things to try, hardware, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. |
Thanks for the open source recommendations. I’m keen on moving away from all proprietary software, including no charge software which is closed source. I’m interested in a few more areas covering such as communication tools, instant messaging, and desktops.
But we recommend you explore LibreOffice. You’ll probably find it meets all your needs and more besides.
You may find it an almost usable alternative, but a long way from being a realistic alternative.
Probably the single biggest reason than Linux will NEVER replace Windows.
I use Linux as my desktop OS, and have done so for many years, but I have Windows on my laptop for the programmes that just don’t cut it on Linux.
Everyone uses Linux whether they know it or not. BTW, it’s programs not programmes.
Umm, no Gabby, the English spelling is ‘programmes’.
Gabbling is correct. The British use programmes for TV/radio but programs for computer related.
OnlyOffice is another that’s number 1 goal is MS Office compatibility. WPS Office is nearly a perfect MS Office clone with added tabbed browsing and an integrated cloud. Finally, if you really need microsoft, you can access the web-based versions of office.
The biggest thing you need for a successful transition to Linux is an open mind. Linux is NOT A WINDOWS CLONE. If you think it is you will fail. You have to accept things are done a bit differently. If you can keep an open mind you will love the transition, if you are looking for a Windows clone you will fail.
I am perfectly happy with my Linux system. I’ve made it so it looks identical to Windows; with a few tweaks and additions. The open source software I used on Windows runs sweetly on Linux.
It doesn’t matter to me that Linux is very different under the bonnet. In the same way I don’t care what programming language is used to write a program. Nor do I care whether a program is licensed under MIT, GNU GPL, Apache etc. What matters is that I have things to do. My Linux system does everything I need to do. At the end of the day that’s what’s important.
The Gimp is fine for those who simply take pictures with their phones or compact cameras.
For those whose photography is at the higher end (and who tend to shoot in raw mode), it isn’t the best program. For these, the better alternatives to Adobe programs are Darktable or Rawtherapee.
We cover the best RAW Processing Tools in this roundup.