For the average student, college tuition is an unending, unrelenting,
nausea-inducing burden. And somehow that big ole pile of money you fork
over doesn't even cover all of your college needs. Add in textbooks and
you're looking at a couple extra hundred bucks each semester. If you
need any kind of computer software, break open the emergency piggy bank
because the most basic version of Photoshop rings in at—brace
yourself—$700. Ouch. Well, lucky for us all, there is now a plethora of
free software out there, and many free photo editing programs are
providing a shining light in the darkness that is college financing. I went through over 50 of these programs, delighting over the gems I've been missing out on and cringing at the crap programs that turned half-way decent pictures of me into something that would provoke tears in small children. Well, I'm here to bring you the best of the best. These 11 made the list because they all brought something extra to the table, be it superior functionality, ease of use, or strong customer support. Many give Photoshop a run for its money, and even the ones that lack some of the more advanced features (but are often easier to use), will often prove to be all you need throughout your college career. If these seem a little too intense for your needs, skip to the top 5 free online editing programs listed at the end.
1. Gimp
Gimp takes the cake with this little competition. It fits all the criteria for the perfect image editor for college students. It's free, compatible with all computers, and satisfies all your editing needs—from basics like cropping and red-eye correction to multiple layers, advanced filters, and GIF animation. The worst you can really say about this editor is that initially it can be a bit overwhelming. It has multiple windows and a wide range of options. But once you get the hang of it, photo editing becomes a breeze. For all but the most professional editors, Gimp even
works
as an adequate substitute for Photoshop, a $700-$1,000 program. Also,
if you have a Mac, this is by far your best option and the only one
that made our list. - Best Selling Point: Overall best functionality and compatible with all computers
- Biggest Drawback: Overwhelming interface with a steep learning curve
Tutorials
Download Gimp
2. Photoscape
This program was a very close second. While it has pretty much the same functionality as Gimp, it has one major downfall: this program only works on PCs. So Mac-lovers, be warned. But for those of you running Windows, Photoscape does offer a more traditional interface than Gimp, with the entire program contained in one window, so it may be a better option for you. It also has a great
opening screen that will guide you to the right set of tools.
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Tutorials
Download Photoscape
