GIMP

Pros: I was looking for a free alternative to Photoshop and GIMP was recommended to me. Maybe it is because I have no design experience but I found it took quite a while to get familiar with all the features. It's easy to work with the basics like resizing, cropping etc. However, working with layers can be challenging. There are helpful videos on Youtube but most people appear to have a different method of doing the same thing, which makes it confusing.

All in all I have been able to produce and edit graphics in GIMP but I think that you would need to use it every day for a while to become proficient. I really like the feature you can use to make even the most complex images transparent. I edited all the images for my website and blog using GIMP. I can't compare it to Photoshop as I've never used it.

I recommend GIMP if you have the time to learn how to use the different features. Another feature I really like is that when I download fonts on my P.C it goes straight into GIMP, so I can use new fonts on the graphics I design straight away. There are so many features for free that you would normally have to pay for with design software like Canva and PicMonkey.

Cons: I don't think it's very user friendly. It can be difficult to get all the icons to display, even though I followed the instructions on YouTube (it could be that the person was using a different version). I think the design could be more intuitive but it does what it is meant to and for open source and free software, can't really complain. I also think that GIMP is geared towards the more advanced designer.

Overall: I wanted to design graphics for my website and social media channels. GIMP is great for creating unique designs for free.

Pros: What a great open source software. Extremely powerful and feature rich. I don't know what I am doing but I edited my photos with little effort.

Cons: Traditional software, download and install. Make an online version of GIMP and BOOM no more high dollar big names in the business anymore.

Pros: I am truly surprised by how much can be done with this free software! I use it with my Mac to create and layer images. The tools to paint and add layers, edit layers, are just amazing. I suppose the functionality is its best asset,

Cons: The worst part of this software is the learning curve. The help files are not very helpful and there aren't many tutorials online. Learn by doing! But it is very frustrating sometimes to know what I want to do, but the intuitive way of doing it doesn't work. It took me a few days to figure out some of the expert features, but the adding of images and layering was pretty easy.

Pros: This is the best free software to use for photoshop outside of paying for adobe illustrator.

Cons: The use is quite different from AI and you have to familiarize yourself with a completely different system - where the menu items are located.

Pros: Tons of features. Many great tutorials available on the internet to get you started. Customize the interface, import tons of different brush sets. Free and open source. Export in a number of different formats. Dockable design of windows so you can customize the look and work area to your taste. Works on Linux, Mac OS and Windows.

Cons: Can be confusing for beginning users as this is aimed at intermediate to advanced users. Getting the interface setup the way you like it takes some time.

Overall: If you need a photo editor/manipulator/creator regardless of price, GIMP is packed with features to get the job done and best of all, it's free and open source. I've used it to create graphics for numerous projects including ebook covers, web graphics, album covers and photo manipulation.

Pros: Gimp saves me a lot when I have to manipulate images for brochures, website and other such works. I'm not a pro in image manipulation and could never get my head around the other software. It's a simple and intuitive design that does all the things you need a photo editor to do. And then more. You don't have to know the other big software out there just a good understanding of the interface and you are doing it.

Cons: The software covers the basics. i would appreciate a trace function to turn lines into manipulable vectors.

Pros: I like thank the program is pretty similar to Photoshop. The panels are all familiar - like the layers, paths, brushes, tools, etc. I feel like I'm not learning a whole new program. And on top of that - it's free!! This has been a lifesaver for me at home, when I can't afford Photoshop.

Cons: I find the program a little clichey. I have to restart the program a few times usually to get it working well again.

Pros: It's nice being able to save and export my projects in different file types for what I need.

Cons: There is a huge learning curve when using this software.

Pros: I LOVE that it is free and has so many useful features. We do not need a program loaded with stuff that costs tons of money, but do need to have the ability to create our own creative.

Cons: I wish it was available on Mac products. I have a Windows laptop that the only reason I keep it is to use this program.

Overall: It allows me to make creative for social media and other small print jobs without a high cost.

Pros: Quality in your end graphic.

Control over the direction at the end -- do you want jpg, png, others...many choices.

Updates

Easy download

It doesn't think for users!

Cons: There is a pretty good learning curve till I gave up and stopped calling it complicated and expecting it to think for me.

Overall: I learned to develop an outline of where I wanted my graphic to end up, then follow steps calmly and steadily. When I kept to my routine, I had clear graphics in good time!