Photoshop Equivalent

Hi,
I need a piece of software that is pretty similar to Photoshop and has a Lifetime Licence (or is free)
My preferred budget is $50 but I can stretch it to $100 if required
Thanks,
Aden

In order of price here are some suggestions:
Seashore (free)
The Gimp (free)
Graphic Coverter ($45 approx)
Acorn ($50 approx)
Pixelmator ($50 approx)
Photoshop Elements ($75 approx)
There are many, many other options. Search on MacUpdate or the App Store.

Similar Messages

  • How to use the same mask, stencil, etc., for multiple layers? Photoshop equivalent of masked group?

    Hi I spent more than half an hour to search manual, forums, and Internet and still can't find the answer. Please help!
    For example, in a comp with 5 or more layers I want to use the same mask or stencil or what ever can hide areas of the layers 2,3, and 4 but layer 5 and any other eventual layers below should not be affected.

    Pre-compose the layers you want to mask and apply a track matte to the pre-comp using the mask. Think of pre-composing as an equivalent of creating a layer group.
    Use Set Matte effect on each of the layers you want to mask. This is easiest to do if you apply set matte once and then create an animation preset to apply to the other layers. Just get set matte to do what you want it to do on the first layer, Select Set matte in the ECW or in the Timeline, then go to Animation>Save animation preset. Then select all of the other layers you want to apply the set matte to and apply the preset.
    Put the mask at the bottom of the layers you want to mask and enable the preserve transparency switch, then nest this group in the composition with the other layers.
    Here's another tip. You could define a custom color for all of the layers you want to use the matt on, then use the custom color for a group selection. This may make things easier down the line.

  • Photoshop equivalent to "save for web"??

    Hello,
    I'm trying to organize all my photos into iphoto6. A problem I'm running into is sharing out (to the web/email) these massive 1.5 meg pix. The export feature doesn't give too many options for adjusting quality and playing with file size/quality ratios as you can in photoshop via the "save for web" feature. Photoshop, however, is extremely mind numbing in that you can't quickly batch convert multiple files. I'm wondering if I should learn to live with the limited optimizing functionality in iphoto's export feature or is there possibly an alternative that will allow me to batch convert multiple large pix files into web optimized, good looking .jpgs? If there is such an app, I'm also curious to hear organization strategies between the two apps.
    Thanks in advance! best, Steve
      Mac OS X (10.4.2)  

    There are a number of free applications that you can try. Three are freePhotoConverter 3.5, Resize! and iReSize. You can find all of them at VersionTracker.com by searching for resize. They offer quality level settings, size, etc.

  • Aperture or photoshop equivalent

    Hi all,
    On a tight budget here and can't afford Aperture at the moment and my old photoshop applications don't work on my new imac.
    Does anyone know of a freeware application that mimics either of these applications? I don't need a wildly sophisticated programme just something that lets me play with the size and or pixels of a photo and the ability to send it as different files.
    Thank you in advance.
    Jamie.

    Hello, Jamie
    Quote: "Does anyone know of a freeware application that mimics either of these applications?"
    Have you tried "Preview" which is part of OSX? Many users do not know it has nice basic editing capabilties and filters like sepia and such. Go up to the Preview menu and have a look at them.
    You might also try from the Finder OSX software downloads which will take you to OSX software downloads here:
    http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/
    Choose Imaging & 3D
    love & peace,
    victor

  • Viewing Quality Factor of JPEG in Photoshop

    Hi All,
    I have a JPEG file which I am opening in Photoshop. I would like to know if there is any option in Photoshop which I can use to find out the quality factor with which this JPEG file has been compressed. I want to see the quality factor of already compressed file. Thanks in advance.
    Thanks,
    Sham

    art by accident wrote:
    The compression level sticks as an association. So if you try to resave it you'll see.
    Edit: Never mind, I was wrong, it doesn't. (don't know where I heard that).
    You weren't wrong.  Photoshop DOES extract and reuse the JPEG quality level you saved an image with previously as the default for the next save, as long as the image was previously saved from Photoshop.
    But since JPEG quality isn't really just a simple number under the covers, but a complex combination of several compression factors, it can't always be reduced to a simple "Photoshop equivalent" number, if the image is from a source other than a previous Photoshop save.
    During its own saves, Photoshop simplifies the selection of the multiple compression parameters down to a single number between 1 and 10 or 1 and 12 (depending on which save function you use).
    The answer to Sham is this:  You can't expect to get a single quality "factor" for all JPEG files from every source.  As an example, the parameters used to compress a JPEG file in your camera may not correspond to any of Photoshop's numeric values.
    Paul's script looks like the best answer you're going to get, short of finding a full-on JPEG analysis application somewhere.
    -Noel

  • Caps Lock in Photoshop

    I'm putting this in the AE forum because the AE heads will know what i mean (sorry if this gets up someones nose). Is there any photoshop equivalent to after effects "caps lock" disable preview feature?

    Basically The BGs for this project are HD and some are 1.5 GBs. I was looking for a way to just be able to open the PSD without actually previewing it and then be able to change the document size, delete layers etc... or maybe just solo a layer so I can crop without having to preview the entire file. Some of the files take 10 minutes to open and then if you make a change or even switch a layer off it takes ages to refresh. The BG artists went a bit doolally when they heard we'd be comping in at least 16 bit and MAYBE 32 bit so the files are ridiculously detailed and have a bazillion layers.
    Then of course the director wants a noise over everything which will obscure alot of this fine detail anyway!!?
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  • Trying my hardest to download lightroom with no luck no matter what i update. Will Lightroom 5 run on Vista?

    I currently have Windows Vista. I know its an old system but bare with me. I am trying to download the trial of lightroom to see if its what im looking for as I dont want to spend the money but be let down. Every time i try it says i am running an operation system thats no longer supported by Adobe. These are my computer specs.Windows vista home premium 2007.
    Service Pack 2
    AMD Athlon (tm) 64 X 2 Core processor 4800+ 2.50 Ghz
    Memory (RAM) 2.0GB
    32 bit operating sytem.
    Now i dont know if any of that matters, i dont know that much about computers except how to use them. But i really need a decent editing program ASAP, i literally have a matter of days left for editing 50 photo's, so am in desperate need of any advice. I have updated my computer so many times to try meet the requirements. What can I do to fix this??? Any help PLEASE

    At the moment yes, I am unable to upgrade for the time being. I managed to download lightroom 4.4 but figured out quickly it doesn't have a lot of the features I need for editing portraits. Do you by any chance know a photoshop equivalent version trial I could download? I am going to buy whichever one works best after trying for a day, but I just don't want to spend the money and be let down really. I need to know which one will work best for what I'm doing. So body reshaping is a huge part of that.

  • Constantly resetting Cs2 Preferences

    I would like to know why I have to reset Photoshop Cs2 preferences often.  Every week the brushes doesn't work, so I have to press Ctrl, Alt and Shift.  I went into the nine preferences box and reset everything.  I also did my color settings and save the settings.  Is there a way that I can stop resetting the preferences so often?. Thank you.
    Gerald Sr.

    Gerald,
    It may not make much difference at this time of the year, but you should repost in the Photoshop Windows forum, http://forums.adobe.com/community/photoshop/photoshop_windows.
    Never going there myself, I will venture to add the following although it is completely out of place, or should I say forum:
    The cause is probably Windows corrupting one or more preference files while saving them when you close down.
    Instead of using the Ctrl+Alt+Shift which will wipe out the preferences, including those you wish to keep, you can probably save them for later use by performing the Photoshop equivalent to what is described here for illustrator, namely to Move the folder. I believe the folder is called Adobe Photoshop CS2 Settings, and you may search for it in the same way (including hidden files and folders); you may learn the right name in the forum if I am wrong.
    Good luck over there, and Happy New Year.

  • Vector smart object from AI is blurry

    I am storing design elements as Vector Objects in Illustrator so that I can update them quickly when needed. The issue is that they vector objects, when viewed inside of photoshp, are quite a bit more blurry than the photoshop equivalent. Any ideas why?
    I understand that the Smart Object is rasterized. Do I need to do something to my photoshop document to view it in its final rendered state? Photoshop elements are rasterized as well, so i am not sure what is going on.
    In the attached pic, the top element is from illustrator, while the bottom is the same thing made inside photoshop. thanks.

    thanks for the reply. My document is 320x240 because that will be the final UI size.  I made sure both documents are 320x240.  The issue is that the native photoshop element is more fine RELATIVE to the illustrator file.  They are both 320x240, so they should both look the same, right?
    In the photoshop file I also had a specific image size of something like 3.5 inches by X.X inches, so the actual pixel ratio is 70.5 i think.  I could not find out how to specify the image size (in inches) for the illustrator file, so that document is actually be 72 pixels.  Perhaps this is part of the issues. However, by this rational the illustrator file should be more fine, not less...

  • A "plea to my learned friends"

    hiya all
    just spent the last week (8hrs perday) "getting to grips" with css for dreamweaver, if you ever can get to grips with it!!! and now my brain feels like its massive and super powerful, like that guy off "lawn-mover man"....yikes
    Anyhow my skills as a graphic designer are zilch, zero, nothing, so in the interest of balance i would now like to expand the right side of my brain...and get all arty....
    >any suggestions or sources of how i can learn how to use photoshop (for graphics) more effectivly i am terrible, any tutorial related topics...thanks
    for dreamweaver "the missing manual" taught me loads, is their a photoshop equivalent or one that is just as cool?...thnaks

    You probably won't like this advice, but, if you are truly terrible...hire someone to do the work. There are many deserving artists with skills out there.

  • "Applying" a mask?

    How does one perform in Fireworks the Photoshop equivalent of "applying" a mask? That is the layer mask is actually merged with the pixel data and then the mask element is discarded.
    Please advise.

    Never mind. I figured it out. You simply proceed to "delete" the mask and then you are given the option to apply the mask at that point.
    Thanks for all your suggestions everyone, I love you man!

  • Need a recommended image editor

    Can someone recommend an image editor that doesn't cost zillions or is free
    95% of the time, all I need is:
    - image resizing and cropping
    - adding shadows
    - saving as optimised jpg
    - or saving as a png with transparent background
    I've rarely ever done anything else not mentioned above 
    I've done some googling, and pixelmator looks pretty good
    I just looked in the Mac App store... seems pretty good at $14.99!
    Should I consider anything else?
    I'd love Photoshop - but way too expensive
    Thanks
    Omar

    omar.m wrote:
    - image resizing and cropping
    - adding shadows
    - saving as optimised jpg
    - or saving as a png with transparent background
    Preview can do all that but add shadows.
    GIMP is free photoshop equivalant  http://www.gimp.org/
    There is a plugin for iPhoto that can do borders and shadows.  http://www.iborderfx.com/

  • Lightroom JPEG files far larger than equivalent Photoshop files?

    I'm using Lightroom 2.3 on a Mac. If I take an image and export it from Lightroom as a JPEG at the 60 quality setting, the resulting JPEG is typically around 2-3 times larger than the same file saved from Adobe Photoshop CS3 using the High Quality setting in 'Save for Web and Devices'.
    Lightroom does not appear to be generating a preview or anything else that would account for the disparity.
    To get Lightroom to shrink files down to the sizes that Photoshop produces, I need to reduce the quality to a level at which the images contain glaring JPEG artifacts.
    I'd like to use Lightroom as part of my web workflow, but this is pretty much a showstopper. Exporting to TIFF, then using Photoshop batch actions to try to automate a conversion to JPEG runs into the problem that Photoshop's "Save for Web and Devices" command can't be fully automated (it's not possible to override the save location).
    So my questions are:
    1. Why is Lightroom's JPEG compression so poor in comparison to Photoshop's?
    2. Is there any way to get around this?
    3. Is it safe to use Photoshop's standard 'Save as ...' command in place of 'Save for Web and Devices' when preparing images for the web (I have a distant memory that 'Save As ...' used to export metadata that would choke certain browsers, but I don't know if that's still true in CS3).

    It looks as if metadata contributes about 4-8K to the image. Photoshop is stripping a large part of the metadata (even with 'include XMP' on), which contributes to the difference, but doesn't explain it completely.
    Here are some test results:
    Test Image #1: 660 x 440:
    Lightroom 2 (60, with metadata) - 170,904 bytes
    Lightroom 2 (60, without metadata) - 164,142 bytes
    Photoshop CS3 (60, no metadata) - 141,489 bytes
    Photoshop CS3 (30, no metadata) - 72,394 bytes
    Test Image #2: 660 x 440 (no metadata)
    Lightroom 2 (70) - 124,231 bytes
    Lightroom 2 (60) - 88,448 bytes
    Lightroom 2 (60) - 80,560 bytes
    Photoshop CS3 (Save for Web 70) - 94,032 bytes
    Photoshop CS3 (Save for Web 60) - 69,654 bytes
    Photoshop CS3 (Save for Web 30) - 32,287 bytes
    Photoshop CS3 (Save 8) - 93,517 bytes
    Photoshop CS3 (Save 7) - 73,067 bytes
    However, there's a quality difference to be taken into account as well. Photoshop 60 is about equivalent to Lightroom 70.
    To compare the images, I took the original image (scaled to 660 x 440 by Lightroom) and layered the JPEG over it, then set the layer to 'Difference' to reveal JPEG compression artifacts. Lightroom at quality level 60 shows visible artifacts; Photoshop Save for Web at level 60 does not. To get the artifacts to disappear, I have to take Lightroom up to about 70, by which time the Lightroom files are almost twice the size of the Photoshop files.
    Just for amusement, I tried Graphic Converter as well. GC is a great program, but its JPEG conversion turns out to be vile: even at a quality setting of 100, the artifacting on fine near-vertical lines is obvious to the naked eye.
    Using Photoshop's own 'Save' (rather than 'Save for Web') command yields similar results. quality level 8 in 'Save' appears to be fractionally poorer than quality level 60 in 'Save for Web'.

  • Where can I find the equivalent tools in Photoshop that are in the develop module of Lightroom

    Friends:
    Where can I find the equivalent tools in Photoshop that are in the develop module of Lightroom?  For example I would like to use the shadow, clarity, lens correction and such tools but cannot find them in Photoshop.
    Thanks amigos
    Migs

    The obvious or not so obvious first. Depending on your knowledge. When you open a tiff, jpg, or camera' raw format they can be opened in Adobe Camera raw first which has identicle controls to lightroom's develop module.
    Starting with I beleive CS5 maybe 4, some of the tools made their way into photoshop it self. Take a look at the camera lens filter, the Image>Adjustment menu or the adjustment layers which now support vibrance for example.

  • Aperture missing "Picture Package"equivalent to photoshop???

    Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems that aperture is limited to printing very crude contact sheets that really do not compare to photoshops "picture package".
    Basically I tried to print two 8x12s(different images) on a 13x19 photo paper. Ultimately I ended up going into photoshop where I resized the two images to 8x12s and positioned them onto a new 13x19 canvas. This then was a newly created file that I reimported back into aperture. I know this is not really a good work flow, but it seems that aperture has not even thought out a very crude picture package equivalent to photoshop
    Also there is no measurement showing inches just pixels. It would be nice if they could show a ruler layout on the image it self similar to photoshop. Resizing in photoshop is much more practicle and straight forward.
    I here that lightroom is far better for printing packages also.
    Does any one agree about these shortcommings???

    This is a glaring omission that has been noted since day 1 of Aperture 1.0, made more frustrating by the very robust printing features available in Lightroom. Surely Apple is aware of the problem, and hopefully they will find a fix in 1.6 or 2.0 or whatever comes next, but it's aggravating to know that a fairly sophisticated app like Aperture requires shareware oddities like ImageBuddy or Portraits-n-Prints in order to get packages working.
    Time to fix this one, Apple. (Get the book tool working usefully while you're at it too!)

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