RELAX.
I'm not making a switch to alternatives.
This is just an informative post for those who want to either switch, compliment, or get around device limitations on your adobe account.
And it's also because I want to recommend my choice of alternative software to Traditional Artist PETE EMSLIE of Disney Illustrator Canada & CARTOON CAVE fame since every APRIL, he does his annual Caricatures of the late actor JAMES GARNER during said actor's Birthday.
And I've read that he can't use Photoshop anymore because he prefers his old CS install DVDs but ADOBE doesn't allow older versions to be used and refuses to sign up for a Creative Cloud Subscription.
So my post is mainly to help him find the perfect software before APRIL.
01: KRITA
This software is the favorite of people who still want to do digital art but they don't want to use photoshop due to Adobe's business practices or they still like Adobe but they need to get around device limitations.
I first heard about this piece of software back in my SPRING 2020 semester in College during the Social Distancing/Remote Schoolwork when a fellow student of mine named JOSH GREGORY says he uses this software on his gaming laptop to do his art while the other students were using Photoshop via through the School's pay system
(I chose to pay for my own Creative Cloud Plan.)
I tried KRITA at one point, just couldn't get the feel for it...
I think it's because the defaults for workspace layout and the fact that certain hotkeys weren't cutting it for me due to me using Photoshop for almost my entire digital Career.
Nonetheless, I eventually used KRITA but only to get around device limitations since KRITA is indeed PSD compatible.
An example of my use of KRITA was when I was contacted by the PAFN staff to create a poster to advertise a Garden outside the Community Centre and they needed some drawings of plants, vegetables, and tools to decorate the signage.
I designed most of the assets in PHOTOSHOP but then I had to work with my previous Laptop, MSI GP62M 7RDX LEOPARD and that meant having to use KRITA because at that point, I reached my device limitations on my ADOBE account.
So that's how that went.
I might use KRITA again in the future but only as a last resort, like say get around Device Limitations or if my MAVERICK FALCON needs repair or a MOTHERBOARD change.
02: PAINT.NET
Before I switched to Photoshop for my digital art needs,
I had to use this piece of Software for my artistic needs.
I was familiar with this software before back when I had my MDG HORIZON PC but I never released used it extensively until 2014 when I wanted something like PHOTOSHOP but I didn't want to pay for a CREATIVE SUITE License at the time and I didn't know of KRITA or GIMP so I installed PAINT.NET in my HP PAVILION Windows 8.1 laptop of the time period.
Don't be fooled by the name because it's totally unrelated to Microsoft's PAINT software that's always bundled with every version of Windows.
This software is Freeware as it was written by RICK BREWSTER when he studied Computer Science at WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY in 2004.
The software may look simplistic but it's surprisingly powerful. You'd be amazed at how this software could do your art.
I haven't used paint.net in a long time since the switch to PHOTOSHOP.
I would highly recommend this software to anyone if only if it weren't for the fact that paint.net is written specifically for Windows STRICTLY.
So to MAC or Linux users, sorry......
03: GIMP
Another piece of Open Source Software like that of KRITA & PAINT.NET.
This software is often the go to for those looking for a photoshop alternative but still has the similar interface of PS.
Not much is known about this software as I've never used it in my life but I know people are going to have their own experiences so if it would be great, share your experiences with this app in the Comments so I can expand further this post and see how this compares to Krita or Paint.net.
04. PHOTOPEA
Believe it or not, this is not a piece of software but rather a website.
And it's interface is the closest to Photoshop in terms of usability and UI.
I first heard of PHOTOPEA back in 2021 when I was making textures for my 3D Material and Textures class in College during my late Sophomore Semester.
And since then, I've used it time after time since it's so close to PHOTOSHOP.
My only issue is that it's a website so a good internet connection is a must if you plan on using this as your daily driver.
And if you plan to trace over your line drawings, make sure you know your way through your computer's processing speed as well as be patient if the site wants to take it's time loading your assets.
Also, unless you subscribe to them, you might get distracted by the right side page ads that play but if you don't mind these issues
I would Highly recommend this software to anyone who's proficient in PHOTOSHOP, especially PETE EMSLIE since the interface is so similar to PS and it's also a website too so no Installations on your computer is needed.
I wish I've added other software but the aforementioned that I've listed are those I have personal experience with.
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