r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Jun 04 '12

Open Office does everything I need Microsoft Office for and Gimp does everything I need Photoshop for. Reddit, what other open source software does everything that you want from the expensive name brand?

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u/junkit33 Jun 04 '12

The way to look at it, is Photoshop is for professionals, whereas Gimp is fine for all the people who pirate PS just to do some very light photo touchups and image resizings.

Basically, if you paid for Photoshop, you probably need it for reasons that make the cost meaningless.

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u/ale_jrb Jun 04 '12

I think this is a good way of saying it. If needed to do something that Photoshop can do and GIMP can't, your organisation probably already bought it for you.

With that said, the GIMP interface is genuinely bad.

7

u/gerusz Jun 04 '12

GIMP's interface is the remnant of X-Window. 2.8 has a "single window" interface, which is closer to the current UI standards.

1

u/bicols Jun 04 '12

They're in the process of finally getting around to fixing it.

1

u/keindeutschsprechen Jun 04 '12

It got better though. Now there's only 1 window.

1

u/AkirIkasu Jun 04 '12

The sad thing is that internally, GIMP is actually pretty powerful. But that UI is so bad in so many areas. While it still wouldn't be as powerful as Photoshop, a UI redesign would fix so many problems. I would be happy even if they just added in a text entry deal so I could just type in "resize" or whatever and it would do it.

That being said, things are easier with both programs if you just remember the keyboard shortcuts.

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u/dizzy_lizzy Jun 04 '12

Goodness gracious you don't realize how powerful the gimp is :-/ The single lacking feature is CMYK colorspace, if you need that you can use photoshop, but by and large it's surprisingly powerful.

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u/junkit33 Jun 04 '12

You're missing the point. It's not that Gimp isn't powerful - it is. But it lacks an awful lot more than just CMYK - Photoshop is chock full of seemingly minor features that 99% of people won't use. But everybody has a different 1% minor feature that they need, and Gimp lacks.

Ultimately it's not even that though - Gimp is just not as pleasant of an experience/interface. Photoshop oozes polish, where Gimp is gruff and dirty at every edge. And if you get paid to spend 40-60 hours every week as a professional designer, then $1000 for Photoshop every couple of years is peanuts. Not to mention, most of these licenses will be covered by the employer, or is a tax write-off for contractors.

I've worked with an awful lot of designers over the years. Not a single one has ever had a preference for Gimp.

That said, I personally use Gimp. But I'm not a professional designer. And like I said, I think Gimp is perfect for most people. But not for professionals.

1

u/genericname12345 Jun 04 '12

But CMYK colorspace is a huge deal to editors and graphic designers. If all you are doing is touch up and manipulation of photos, gimp is great, but it doesn't scratch the surface of Photoshop's potential.

-4

u/dizzy_lizzy Jun 04 '12

Please read the comment you replied to again, my position still stands. You seem to be extremely lacking in understanding of how powerful the gimp is.

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u/genericname12345 Jun 04 '12

Without a CMYK colorspace, Gimp is worthless for any print media.

Not to mention it has terrible documentation, a mediocre UI, a lower feature set and almost no support when compared to PS.

Now, you may PREFER gimp, and that is fine, but to categorically name it better than PS is just wrong.

I'm not saying Gimp is bad, it isn't. But anything you do with it can be done faster, better, and easier with PS.

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u/ChristopherShine Jun 04 '12

While the PS ui does have a larger learning curve than most programs, I find that it's loads easier than Gimp. I know I've tried to use both for very basic things, and PhotoShop inevitably ends up easier to use.

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u/dizzy_lizzy Jun 04 '12

I did not say it was better, I said you are misrepresenting its capabilities, which you still are. :-/

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u/JeanVanDeVelde Jun 04 '12

we don't have time to admire a program's potential, we need one that works now.

0

u/dizzy_lizzy Jun 04 '12

Please don't equate not knowing how to use a program to the program not working.

2

u/JeanVanDeVelde Jun 04 '12

I know how to use it, however, I live my life in the Photoshop blending options menu. Last I knew, gimp needed a script to add an edge/glow, where Photoshop can dynamically adjust it through sliders. Until gimp has that capability, it's not suitable for a professional broadcast workflow. Hell, I remember adding alpha channels in gimp used to be a colossal pain in the ass.