I am aware that Photoshop is one of the premier graphics / website design programs in the market, however, are there any decent alternatives? Perhaps something that has a quicker learning curve. Thanks -pd
I haven't really used design softwares yet, but gimp seems often mentioned, but i dont know of its learning curve, others here will hopefully advise further.
Yeah, Gimp - http://www.gimp.org/ - is meant to be the free version of photoshop. IMO it's not as good, but a lot of people find it great to use. As for a quicker learning curve, I wouldn't bother. You can get into PS pretty quickly, certainly at a level enough to knock up a basic website. You're better learning something you know you can use well into the future...
GIMP is mentioned a lot but it appears many find it frustrating as well to begin with. Guess it may work out if you stick to it and learn to work its way. My personal choice would be to use PaintShop Pro. Does everything you need it to do and learning curve is quite easy. If you need a graphics software purely for web design purposes, Macromedia Fireworks is an excellent program for this purpose.
^Yes, definitely. Paintshop Pro is a lot easier to learn and is a pretty decent program too. I've never used fireworks, but i hear it's awesome.
Fireworks is a good app for creating web graphics GIMP is reasonable but is probably even more photo based than photoshop and a steeper learning curve
I use both PS and the Gimp. PS has features which aren't matched. Thing is most users wouldn't use the missing features. Bad part about the Gimp is lack of tutorials. Which is slowly being corrected but there's no way to catch up to the sheer quantity of PS tutorials available. If you are serious(job serious), learn PhotoShop. Ain't nobody going to hire you to work in PaintShopPro. And that's not a knock against PSP, its a good grahpics program. It just isn't the standard nor is the gimp.
I am sorry to say that PS is simply the best. Nothing can even hold a candle to it. Corel Draw & Quark are ok... but still nothing compares PS. When you got it....you got it...
I use Gimp. For someone who's already familiar (even if only a little) with Photoshop, you can increase your learning curve on Gimp with GimpShop, which takes Gimp and makes it act like Photoshop (as far as set-up... Gimp uses multiple windows for everything while PS has it all usually on the image's borders). What Gimp can't do: still in 8bit colour depth as far as I know (I only have the newest Gimp on the 'Blows machine, not the Linux machine, where I use it the most), no CYMK colours, and there are a few algorithms that PS has developed that are still propriatary (meaning Gimp developers cannot add them). There are countless numbers of plug-ins/filters for Gimp and people are always making new ones and just sitting them on the Web. And, I've got to say, I learned most of my Gimp from Beginning Gimp by Akkana Peck (Apress) and the rest from Photoshop tutorials. After learning the basics, the two programmes are similar enough that a tutorial for one often works for another. You can also do some Python scripting in there! (too bad I don't know Python : ) All that said, Gimp isn't what you're looking for if you want something with an easier learning curve (that would simply have to either be a copy of something you're already familiar with then, or simply not have the needed features... graphics simply are complicated beasts). My colleagues use PaintShopPro. It suits basic needs just fine. You wouldn't want it as your main tool as a graphics designer, but any other job where you simply need an image editor, it's great. Certainly good enough for web work.
If your work is for print, there is little or no competition for PhotoShop. The web, however, is not print, and many of the features that make PS the premier print graphics application are simply not needed. Think cmyk. Print uses subtractive primaries plus a fourth 'color', black. Computer monitors use additive primaries and no black, but does use an 'alpha' channel for transparency (not an issue in print). For these reasons, GIMP is a worthy replacement for PS—for web graphics. Judging by my graphic consultant's easy use of my GIMP from the first time, there is apparently little requirement for extensive retraining if you're coming from PS. For vector graphics, Inkscape is a good choice. Consider it a free version of Illustrator. cheers, gary
I don't think so if you want to do professioanl level work. You could try Corel but I actually think it harder to learn for someone new because you have no way near the number of online tutorials for it
The GIMP is a professional level raster graphics editing program. photoshop is good and gimp is good, I recommend them both strongly. alternatively inkscape.org offers a free vector programs in many cases stronger than adobe illustrator, and for web design, just as useful! hope this helps, ttyls, innovati!
Hey! if you wanted pixel-painting why didn't you say so....Pixen! if you want a cross between photoshop and paint. multilayer pixel goodnees opensword.org/Pixen/ and if you're looking for a nice, photoshop ripoff that costs LESS than photoshop, there's always Pixel Image Editor too. I've used it and it's sleek, but my wallet just doesn't have room for it anymore. kanzelsberger.com/pixel
Which is funny since it's really a tinkertoy as far as paint programs go. Even BETTER for web work in one regard - file sizes and optimization. The optimizer built into the save as dialog generally kicks most third party optimizers backsides - it really is the best I've found for working with images that you are targeting the web for. ... I don't know about 'not wanting it as your main tool' though - it does 99% of what photoshop can do, yet is simple enough that you can get up to speed pretty quick. It even works with almost all photoshop plugins. Though for me it's a total win because it's got a minimal memory footprint and is way more efficient on CPU use compared to the fat bloated slow pile of garbage known as photoshop.