Photoshop How To

We all know that Photoshop is one of the most powerful image-editors available, but over time in can become quite inexpensive. In fact, even with Adobe's most basic plan it will cost you over $250 per year to take advantage of everything it can do.

But if you're short on cash, or just don't want to pay for a subscription, there are free alternatives that offer many of the same features. The video below from the popular Brett in Tech YouTube channel reveals five free software options worthy of your consideration.

Instructor Brett Bristow launched his channel with the goal of providing editing tips and reviews of the latest software for photographers of all skill levels. He says that in this eight-minute episode, "I'll countdown (in reverse order) the five best Photoshop alternatives that will help you create and edit images like a pro."

Bristow walks you through his personal preferences and explains the advantages and imitations of each of his recommendations. It's important to note that these picks are subjective and your ultimate choice will depend upon the type of images you shoot, and your specific needs.

Number five in this list is Photoscape X, a feature-packed program that supports Raw files. In addition to the tool you'd expect, other key features include a photo viewer, collage maker, and gift creator. He notes that "there are also tons of filters, effects, and other great tools to transform your images." Photoscape X is a great choice for beginners because its uncluttered interface is super easy to use.

Coming in at #4 is Paint.Net, which in its recent iteration includes support for blending and layers, automatic filters, and a variety of external plugins that greatly extend its capabilities. The interface is better than ever, with most commonly used tools located in a bar on the left, and other features and tools in the Menu bar at the top. This one is limited by the fact that it's only available for Windows 10 and 11.

Bristow's third choice for is Krita—an open-source option that's not only a good choice for photographers but for artists interested in digital painting. Krita includes a variety of standard tools, fresh choices for customization, and a great-looking layout. Primary tools appear along the left of the screen. On the right you'll find an advanced Color Selector—followed by Layers and a wide variety of Brush presets.

So what are Bristow's top two picks? You'll have to watch the video to find out. But we're quite sure than one of these free options may be exactly what you need. Be sure to visit Bristow's poplar YouTube channel for more image-editing lessons.

We also suggest watching the beginner tutorial we posted from another image-editing expert who explains how to use Photoshop's Color Balance tools to achieve perfect tones throughout every photograph you shoot.