this post was submitted on 21 Jul 2023
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I'm starting this off by saying that I'm looking for any type of reasonably advanced photo manipulation tool, that runs natively under Linux. It doesn't have to be FOSS.

I switched to Linux, from Windows, about three years ago. I don't regret the decision whatsoever. However, one thing that has not gotten me away from Windows entirely, is the severe lack of photo editing tools.

So what's available? Well, you have GIMP. And then there's Krita, but that's more of a drawing software. And then...

Well that's it. As far as I know.

1. GIMP

Now, as someone migrating from Photoshop, GIMP was incredibly frustrating, and I didn't understand anything even after a few weeks of trying to get into it. Development seemed really slow, too. It's far from intuitive, and things that really should take a few steps, seemingly takes twenty (like wrapping text on a path? Should that really be that difficult?).

I would assume if you're starting off with GIMP, having never touched Photoshop, then it'd be no issue. But as a user migrating, I really can't find myself spending months upon months to learn this program. It's not viable for me.

No hate against GIMP, I'm sure it works wonders for those who have managed to learn it. But I can't see myself using it, and I don't find myself comfortable within it, as someone migrating from Photoshop.

2. Krita

Krita, on the other hand, I like much more. But, it's more of a drawing program. Its development is more focused on drawing, and It's missing some features that I want - namely selection tools. Filters are good, but I find G'MIC really slow. It also really chugs when working with large files.

Both of these programs are FOSS. I like that. I like FOSS software. But, apart from that, are there really no good alternatives to Photoshop? Again, doesn't need to be FOSS. I understand more complex programs take more development power, and I have no problem using something even paid and proprietary, as long as it runs on Linux natively.

I've tried running Photoshop under WINE, and it works - barely. For quick edits, it might work fine. But not for the work I do.

So I raise the question again. Are there no good alternatives to Photoshop? And then I raise a follow-up question, that you may or may not want to answer: If not, why?

Thanks in advance!

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[–] [email protected] 32 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Guy that made the Pantone port after that whole fiasco also made the pinkest pink and blackest black paints money can buy. His company is currently developing an alternative to Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, aaaand.. I think Premiere?

It’s being developed under the brand “Abode”

[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

That’s an amusing name but they take a photoshop competitor to market using that name they’re going to lose a trademark dispute in milliseconds.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They also just slightly adjusted the logo

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Abode with that logo ... At a first glance I thought it was an April's fools joke. 😁

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

"Abode" is just an English word, so they can't trademark it anyway.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

You can trademark dictionary words. You can't trademark anything too generic, like you might struggle to trademark a drink called "drink" or something, but there's nothing stopping you trademarking words.

Adobe is an english word, too.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Haha! I checked the Kickstarter and I absolutely love the whole thing! Doesn't look like it'll be for Linux, though (It says "PC and Mac" on the kickstarter), but I'll definitely follow the progress of this.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

I’m just hoping Linux is supported, and if it is, not being built in Electron would be a huge bonus

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

I read that as "adobe" and thought you were kidding lmao

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Linux support seems to be "Maybe if we have enough money and time". So I highly doubt it but I would be happy to be wrong.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah, it's just a low priority idea at the moment.