Open Source Alternatives

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Adobe Photoshop is the biggest name in the world of image editing. As of February 2024, in the graphic design software market, Photoshop has a market share of 42%. After the longest time of looking only up to Adobe for image editing, people are now embracing the power of Open Source image editing tools.

Photoshop’s extensive popularity could be attributed to its various features and tools for editing. Its capabilities extend beyond basic image editing to graphic design and digital art creation. 

Before we explore the details of these image editing tools, let’s take a brief look at open source software and its enormous benefits. 

The Benefits Of Open Source Software

An open source software is free to view, use, edit, modify, and share. Unlike proprietary software, the source code of open source is easily accessible by its users. 

Moreover, developers and programmers are legally allowed to modify the source code and then share it with whomever they want. 

Some major advantages of open source image editing are:

Cost-effectiveness	The biggest advantage is undoubtedly the free price tag. This makes these tools accessible to everyone, regardless of budget, democratizing image editing tools and fostering creativity.
Customization	Open-source nature allows for customization and plugin development by anyone. This provides a wider range of features and tools beyond the core offering, tailor-made to specific needs.
Transparency and Security	Open-source code allows for scrutiny and independent audits, potentially enhancing security and trust compared to closed-source programs.
Community Support	A large and active community provides extensive documentation, tutorials, and forums for support and learning, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing.

The popularity of open source software is drastically increasing because of its cost-effectiveness, user-friendliness, freedom to edit and share its source code, and collaborative impact on the community. 

What is Open Source Alternative To Photoshop?

Until recently, Photoshop used to be an indispensable requisite for design work. However, the emergence of open source alternatives made people realize that the outcome of both free and expensive proprietary software tools like Adobe Photoshop is indistinguishable from each other. 

Open source photoshop is more of a concept than an application/tool. This concept entails using a tool that works with an open source software. 

But why are more and more people shifting towards open source photoshop and software? 

While Adobe Photoshop stands at the #1 spot in the world of professional image editing, its hefty price tag can be a barrier for entry, especially for casual users and hobbyists. This is where open-source photoshop like GIMP shines, offering a powerful and feature-rich alternative for free.

Open Source Photoshop Alternative – GIMP

GNU Image Manipulation Program aka GIMP is the most popular open source photoshop alternative to Adobe.

According to studies, its features are the closest to expensive proprietary software like Adobe and because it’s a cross-platform, it is supported and backed by a huge online community. 

GIMP is available for GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows, and other operating systems. 

The only difference that gives GIMP an edge over Adobe Photoshop is its availability at no cost at all. GIMP is a free photoshop alternative whose source code can be easily accessed, edited, and redistributed by its users. 

Furthermore, it is the perfect photo editing tool for casual users, small-scale photographers, graphic designers, and hobbyists because it offers a wide variety of photo editing features without charging a single penny. 

Apart from its built-in features, GIMP offers many customization options and 3rd party plugins that will take your productivity up a notch. 

GIMP provides extensibility and flexibility through integration with many other programming languages such as Scheme, Python, and Perl. This makes this open source photoshop alternative a highly customizable program. 

Although GIMP has many advantages that have undoubtedly made it public’s most favorite open source photo editing software, there are some potential drawbacks that need to be addressed before GIMP can completely take over Adobe Photoshop. 

Potential drawbacks of GIMP

• Unlike Adobe, GIMP has a steeper learning curve. Beginners and casual users can find it difficult to use due to its extensive toolset. 
• In comparison to GIMP, Photoshop generally offers faster performance and hardware acceleration, especially for complex tasks.
• Lastly, Adobe Photoshop offers a wider range of built-in features and specific tools that are not available with GIMP. 

Now let’s explore the advantages and drawbacks of other open source photoshop alternatives. 

Open Source Photoshop Alternative – Krita 

Krita is another open source photo editing tool that doesn’t come with a hefty price tag. It is the ideal tool for painters and animators because it has one of the best (if not the best) brush emulators. 

It boasts a vast library of free brushes and the ability to create custom brushes, offering great flexibility and artistic expression.

While not dedicated animation software, Krita offers surprisingly robust animation tools, making it a viable option for simple 2D animations.

Vector tools and layer capabilities allow for editing without permanently altering your artwork, giving you room for experimentation.

Lastly, Krita works seamlessly across Windows, macOS, and Linux, offering compatibility regardless of your operating system.

Despite all that Krita has to offer, it still hasn’t been able to come close to the popularity of Adobe Photoshop because of some major potential pitfalls. 

Potential drawbacks of Krita

Drawback	Description
Limited Photo Editing	While good for basic editing, Krita lacks the depth and features of dedicated photo editing software like Photoshop.
Steeper Learning Curve	Compared to simpler programs, Krita’s extensive features make it less user-friendly.
Less Established Resources	Krita has a smaller user base compared to commercial software, resulting in fewer tutorials and learning materials.
Text Tool Limitations	The text tool is basic and lacks the advanced features found in dedicated design software.
Limited Plugin Support	Compared to commercial software, Krita has fewer third-party plugins available.

Open Source Photoshop Alternative – Photopea

Photopea offers a cloud-based image editing platform capable of advanced photo manipulation functionalities, similar to Adobe Photoshop. 

This web-based application eliminates the need for software installation, allowing users to access its comprehensive editing suite directly through their web browsers.

The most distinguishing feature of this photo editing tool is that it does not require you to download it and can be used on any computer, phone, or tablet with an active internet connection.

Another major advantage of Photopea is its compatibility with JPG, PNG, and PSD (used by Photoshop).

Potential drawbacks of Photopea

Some significant disadvantages of Photopea are:

• Needs internet: You can’t use it offline without internet access.
• Might be slower: Not as fast as some downloaded programs, especially on slower internet connections.
• Learning curve: Has lots of tools, so it might take some time to learn everything.
• Ads: Has some ads on the screen which can cause a lot of distraction.

Open Source Photoshop Alternative – Darktable

For photographers seeking control and flexibility without hefty price tags, Darktable shines bright as a free and open-source alternative to commercial software. 

Some key features of Darktable are:

Feature	Description
Non-destructive editing	Edits are stored as instructions, leaving your original files untouched. Experiment freely without fear!
RAW image processing	Extract the best from your RAW files with extensive color correction, noise reduction, sharpening, and lens correction tools.
Modular workflow	A vast library of modules caters to diverse needs, from basic exposure adjustments to advanced local tone control and creative filters.
Powerful tools	Dodge and burn, perspective correction, focus stacking, and HDR merging are just a few of the advanced options at your disposal.

Open Source Image Editing – Choosing the right tool

When selecting an image editing tool, it’s crucial to consider your needs, skill level, and budget. Here are key factors to ponder:

Your Editing Needs:

• Basic edits: Cropping, resizing, brightness/contrast adjustments.
• Advanced edits: Layer manipulation, masking, retouching, special effects.
• Specific tasks: Graphic design, web development, animation.
• Target audience: Professional photographers, casual users, social media content creators.

Skill Level:

• Beginner: User-friendly interface, intuitive tools, tutorials, and resources.
• Intermediate: Balance of ease and advanced features, learning curve acceptable.
• Advanced: Powerful functionality, customization options, complex workflows.

Budget:

• Free software: Open-source tools, limited features or learning curve.
• Paid software: Subscription or one-time purchase, broader feature set, support.

Other Considerations:

• Operating system compatibility (Windows, Mac, Linux).
• Performance and hardware requirements.
• Community and support availability.
• Plugin ecosystem and integration with other tools.

Adobe Photoshop vs Open Source Editors:

Here’s a simplified comparison of key features:

Feature	Adobe Photoshop	GIMP	Krita	Paint.NET
Price	Subscription or Purchase	Free	Free	Free
Skill Level	All Levels (Pro-Leaning)	Intermediate/Advanced	Intermediate/Advanced	Beginner/Intermediate
Learning Curve	High	High	Medium/High	Low to Medium
Features	Extensive – All Editing Types	Extensive – Mainly Photo	Specialized Art Tools	Basic Photo Editing
Community & Support	Large & Active	Large & Active	Active	Smaller Community
Plugins & Extensions	Vast Ecosystem	Growing Ecosystem	Limited	Some
Customization	High	High	Medium	Low
Performance	High	Moderate-High	Moderate-High	Moderate
Platforms	Windows & Mac	Windows, Mac, Linux	Windows & Linux	Windows Only

Why choose Open Source Image Editing Tools As An Alternate to Photoshop?

Choosing open-source software for image editing comes with various advantages. 

Open-source tools like GIMP, Krita, and Paint.NET are completely free to use and distribute, saving you the cost of expensive subscriptions or software purchases.

Many open-source editors offer robust features comparable to paid software, capable of basic and advanced edits, layer manipulation, filters, and plugins.

Moreover, with access to the source code (in some cases), advanced users can modify and personalize the software to fit their specific needs.

Choosing the best image editing tool depends highly on your needs, preferences, skill level, and profession. 

Ultimately, the best way to decide is to try out various options and see which one resonates with your needs and preferences.

• You may also be interested to read : Linux Mint: User-friendly Open Source Operating System

Open source virtualization uses software tools, typically hypervisors, to create virtual machines (VMs) on a physical host. 

These VMs operate as independent, isolated environments, each containing its own operating system, applications, and files. 

The underlying hardware resources (CPU, memory, storage, network) are shared efficiently among these VMs, maximizing utilization and reducing physical infrastructure requirements.

Virtualization offers a wide range of benefits across various aspects of IT infrastructure and operations. Here are some of the key advantages:

Feature	Outcome
Reduced Hardware Costs	Save on hardware purchases, power consumption, and maintenance
Software Licensing Savings	Potentially reduce software licensing costs
Reduced Power and Cooling Costs	Lower energy usage for power and cooling, leading to environmental and cost benefits
Increased Efficiency and Agility	Provision resources faster, improve server utilization, and simplify IT management
Improved Performance and Availability	Increase server uptime, improve application performance, and enhance disaster recovery

Benefits of Open Source Virtualization

The benefits of open source software combined with virtualization make a noteworthy combo. 

Feature	Description
Cost-effectiveness	No costly licensing fees, making it ideal for individual users, small businesses, and budget-conscious organizations.
Transparency and Security	Access and modify the source code for improved security and trust.
Flexibility and Customization	Tailor solutions to specific needs, enabling integration with other open-source tools and workflows.
Active Community	Benefit from a large developer community providing ongoing support, updates, and innovation.
Diverse Ecosystem	Choose from a range of open-source hypervisors to match your specific requirements.

However, it’s pertinent to note that no single software can be named as the “best.” This is because being the best is dependent on various factors such as an individual’s needs and preferences. 

What works for one person may not work for another and vice versa. 

To say that open source virtualization software has taken over the digital world would be an overstatement. To this day, proprietary software dominates the market, but open source virtualization is becoming a competitive alternative due to its multiple benefits. 

What is a hypervisor? 

A hypervisor aka a virtual machine monitor (VMM) is a software program designed for creating and running virtual machines. It allows one physical computer to function as multiple virtual computers. 

Each virtual machine (VM) has its own operating system and applications, and it runs independently of the other VMs on the same physical machine.

A virtual machine is like a computer system that runs on top of another system. It may have access to a number of resources, but only limited access to the host machine’s CPU and memory. 

Some key benefits of using a hypervisor are:

Increased resource utilization	By consolidating multiple VMs onto a single physical machine, hypervisors can help to improve resource utilization and reduce hardware costs.
Improved isolation	VMs are isolated from each other, which can help to improve security and stability.
Increased flexibility	VMs can be easily moved from one physical machine to another, which can improve flexibility and disaster recovery.
Improved testing and development	VMs can be used to create test environments that are isolated from the production environment, which can improve testing and development efficiency.

Types of hypervisors:

• Type 1 hypervisors: These hypervisors run directly on the hardware, without the need for an underlying operating system. Examples of type 1 hypervisors include VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Citrix XenServer.
• Type 2 hypervisors: These hypervisors run on top of an operating system, such as Windows or Linux. Examples of type 2 hypervisors include Oracle VM VirtualBox and VMware Workstation Player.

Open Source Virtualization – Prominent open source hypervisors

1. Kernel-based Virtual Manager (KVM): It is a full virtualization solution for Linux. It works on hardware containing virtualization extensions. KVM offers high performance, near-native hardware access, and has an open source code. Suitable for server virtualization and demanding workloads. Moreover, it provides virtualization for various guest operating systems including Linux, Windows, macOS, and Haiku. 
2. Xen Project: It is a free and open-source type 1 hypervisor that is extremely versatile owing to its unique architecture. Furthermore, it is the no.1 choice for the largest hyperscale clouds in the industry including Amazon Web Service, Tencent, and Alibaba Cloud. The Xen Project offers tailored virtualization and an open source code to encourage progress across various domains. 
3. oVirt: It is an open source distributed virtualization solution especially designed for enterprises. oVirt uses the reliable KVM hypervisor and comes with a web interface and features like live migration and high availability. Because of its open source code, it is primarily used for managing large virtual infrastructures.

Limitations of open source virtual machines (hypervisors)

Open-source hypervisors offer excellent cost savings and customization options, but like any technology, they have limitations. Here are some key limitations to consider:

Overhead	Compared to bare-metal, hypervisors introduce an overhead layer that can slightly impact performance. In resource-intensive environments, this might be noticeable.
Feature disparity	Some open-source options lack advanced features that improve performance, like SR-IOV for network optimization or vGPU for graphical workloads.
Guest OS support	Certain open-source hypervisors have limitations on supported guest operating systems, especially Windows versions. This can restrict your flexibility.
Hardware compatibility	While most open-source options support major hardware vendors, some specific drivers or features might not be fully functional.
Learning curve	Open-source projects often rely on community support, which can require deeper technical knowledge for troubleshooting and configuration compared to vendor-backed solutions with dedicated support teams.
Limited documentation	While good communities and resources exist, the documentation for open-source hypervisors might not be as comprehensive or readily available as commercial offerings.
Community dependence	Security patches and vulnerability fixes rely on community effort, which can sometimes be slower than vendor-driven updates in commercial solutions.
Targeted attacks	Open-source code is accessible, potentially making it a target for attackers compared to proprietary solutions with less public information.

Exploring free open source virtualization tools

1. Proxmox Virtual Environment: It is a complete open source virtualization solution for enterprises. It has a built-in web interface, software-defined storage, and multiple out-of-the-box tools. Proxmox VE is Ideal for enterprise virtual infrastructure management.
2. Quick Emulator (QEMU): It is an open emulator and virtualizer. An emulator is a hardware or software that enables one computer to behave like another system. QEMU is compatible with multiple operating systems and it has a very user-friendly installation procedure. You can access its source code here. 
3. VirtualBox: User-friendly and versatile, VirtualBox is perfect for desktop virtualization and running multiple operating systems on a single PC. It provides a range of features like snapshots and seamless mode and supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and more.

Choosing the best open source virtualization tool

Choosing the best open source virtualization tool depends heavily on your specific needs and context. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but following are the things to consider when selecting a virtualization tool:

Personal Desktop Use: Are you trying to test different operating systems or run multiple applications on a single machine? Consider user-friendly options like VirtualBox or VMware Player.

Development and Testing: Do you need to create isolated environments for development, testing, or deployment? Look for tools like Vagrant or KVM for flexibility and automation.

Server Virtualization: Do you want to consolidate multiple physical servers onto a single machine to save resources and improve efficiency? Explore Proxmox VE, oVirt, or XenServer for enterprise-grade features.

Host and Guest Operating Systems: Ensure the tool supports both the operating system you’re running on (host) and the ones you want to virtualize (guests).

Hardware Compatibility: Verify that your system’s hardware meets the tool’s minimum requirements for CPU, RAM, and storage.

Performance and Resource Usage: Consider the performance overhead of the tool and resource allocation options for optimal efficiency.

Management Interface: Evaluate the ease of use and available management options (web, command-line, GUI).

Networking and Storage: Check if the tool supports your desired network configurations and storage needs.

Security and Isolation: Assess the security features and isolation mechanisms to ensure system and data protection.

Scalability and Availability: If you anticipate future growth, consider tools that offer scalability and high availability options.

Active Development and Community: Choose a tool with an active community for easier troubleshooting and access to resources.

Documentation and Tutorials: Good documentation and tutorials can simplify setup, usage, and problem-solving.

Open source virtualization empowers users with affordability, flexibility, and customization. With the help of hypervisors and an active community, it has become a viable option for individual users, small businesses, and even enterprises seeking powerful and cost-effective solutions. 

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