Best Free Graphics Editors

Here's a list of what I consider to be the best free graphics editors (a.k.a., image editors) on the net. This selection includes a number of advanced full-featured programs as well as a few basic programs that serve some specific needs. I have personally tested all these programs and have found them to be enjoyable and satisfactory.

When considering which ones are right for you, the following factors should be taken into consideration:

• What do you wish to accomplish with a graphics editor? Retouch some photos or create images from scratch?
• How big is the program? There's no point in downloading and learning to tame a 900 lb. gorilla if you just want to convert a few .BMP files to .JPG.
• How easy do you find the program to use? After fiddling around with it for an hour or so, are you bursting with creativity or are you ready to tear your hair out?

Also, you may want to consider having two or three graphics editors at your disposal in order to cover all the bases, so to speak. Even amongst the advanced editors, there are subtle differences that make some better suited to certain tasks then others. For instance, one may have an easier layer manager while another may have a better collection of filters.

Alright then, without any further ado, let's make with the goodies....

Serif Photoplus 6
HOME PAGE:	http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/.../default.asp
DOWNLOAD:	http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/.../download.asp
LICENSE:	Freeware
FILE SIZE:	19.4 MB
SYS REQ:	Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
LIMITATIONS:	Requires registration to get unlock code (Free)
PhotoPlus 6 is an excellent image editor with an array of features that easily rivals that of some high-end graphics editors and, in fact, sports a tool panel surprisingly similar to Paint Shop Pro. For those who are adept, PhotoPlus 6 supports working with layers and masks and, of special interest to web designers, it allows you to apply deformable text, create animated GIFs, and has image slicing/mapping capabilities which can then automatically turn out the required HTML. It also supplies 25 special effects filters (and the option to make your own) as well as a collection of 20 ready-made shape selection tools. It imports readily from TWAIN source and exports to 15 different file types including Photoshop format (*.PSD). The thing I enjoy most about PhotoPlus 6, however, is its superb and well-written help file. ^ Back to top ^

The GIMP 2.4
HOME PAGE:	http://www.gimp.org/
DOWNLOAD:	Windows http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html Other http://www.gimp.org/downloads/
LICENSE:	Free Software under GPL license (Translation: It's free.)
FILE SIZE:	10.7 MB (Two setup files: gimp-2.2.8 and gtk+-2.6.8) 22.2 MB (Two setup files plus help file)
SYS REQ:	Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP (recommended 2000 or newer), GNU/Linux, Apple Mac OS X (Darwin), OpenBSD, NetBSD, FreeBSD, Solaris, SunOS, AIX, HP-UX, Tru64, Digital UNIX, OSF/1, IRIX, OS/2, and BeOS
LIMITATIONS:	None
The GNU Image Manipulation Program or simply The GIMP is currently the most widely supported full-blown image editor and has capabilities measuring up to a commercial program that you'd normally pay hundreds of dollars for. Some may be put out by the two-pronged installation process and the 'blown apart' user interface but this is nevertheless an impressive program that offers a full menu of graphics editing tools and features including paint brushes, airbrush, clone tool, selection tools, working with layers and channels, a wide variety of filters and more. Of extra special interest to web designers is the Script Fu option which —among many other things— provides a collection of ready-made filter 'macros' that will automatically transform your text into any one of a wide range of hip (or cheesy) logo designs. ^ Back to top ^

PhotoFiltre 6.1.2
HOME PAGE:	http://photofiltre.free.fr/
DOWNLOAD:	http://photofiltre.free.fr/download_en.htm
LICENSE:	Freeware
FILE SIZE:	1.5 MB
SYS REQ:	Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
LIMITATIONS:	No working with layers
PhotoFiltre is a full-featured photo and graphics editor for beginner to intermediate level users who don't need to work with layers. (If you don't know what layers are then this program is perfect for you.) It allows you to import from TWAIN sources and it can save to seven different file formats including .GIF, .JPG and .PNG. The tiny download size belies the handsome and intuitive interface offered in the fully installed package which also includes a clone tool, magic wand, gradients, ready-made and user defined shapes tools, numerous special effects filters and more. Be advised that the in-program help file only provides the bare essentials and tends to lose a little in the translation although more help documentation is provided online at the PhotoFiltre website. There are also 27 free plugins available to enhance your installation. ^ Back to top ^

Pixia 4
HOME PAGE:	http://www.ne.jp/asahi/mighty/knight/
DOWNLOAD:	http://www.ne.jp/asahi/mighty/knight/download.htm
LICENSE:	Freeware
FILE SIZE:	3.5 MB
SYS REQ:	Windows XP/Vista
LIMITATIONS:	Doesn't support GIF file format (neither open nor save)
This is the English version of a popular Japanese image editor that is starting to develop a cult following in the west. I suspect this is largely because Pixia's user interface can be a little counterintuitive to those who have experience with other graphics editors which will make you a member of some kind of 'special club' once you've mastered it. Notwithstanding, this program is stuffed to the gills with all the features you'd find in a typical high-end counterpart which includes working with layers, masks, custom brushes, gradients, selection tools, filters and more. Be sure to grab the help file that is provided separate from the program download as you're definitely going to need it. A good complement to this progam is XnView which can convert the Pixia native file format (.PXA) to .GIF. ^ Back to top ^

XnView 1.93
HOME PAGE:	http://www.xnview.com/
DOWNLOAD:	http://perso.wanadoo.fr/pierre.g/xnview/endownload.html
LICENSE:	Freeware
FILE SIZE:	2.3 MB
SYS REQ:	Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
LIMITATIONS:	None
XnView is an outstanding graphics viewer/converter that is essentially enables you to browse your hard drive with a Windows Explorer type viewer, read any of 400 graphics file formats (including Paint Shop Pro, Adobe Photoshop and even Pixia) and convert them to your choice of 60 graphics file formats (including GIF, TIF, JPG, PNG, BMP, WMF, ICO). XnView also provides some fundamental graphics editing features including resizing, adjusting color/brightness/etc, adding text, redeye correction, applying filters and more. Of special interest to web designers is the feature to automatically create a web page from a collection of images. This program is ideal for situations where you just want to do a quick and dirty touch-up and conversion and you don't feel like dealing with a fully-loaded advanced graphics editor. ^ Back to top ^

LiquidIcon XP
HOME/DOWNLOAD:	http://www.x2studios.com/index.php?page=products&id=11
LICENSE:	Freeware
FILE SIZE:	360 KB
SYS REQ:	Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
LIMITATIONS:	None
LiquidIcon is a simple and tiny standalone icon editor that can be used to create a favicon for your website. It requires no installation and thus leaves no footprint on your Windows registry file and is very easy to learn (which is fortunate because it supplies no in-program or online help documentation). This is basically a no muss, no fuss, download it, fire it up and away you go kind of deal which I find highly appealing and a welcome change from some of the other graphics editing behemoths. LiquidIcon offers three standard icon project start-up sizes and some basic graphics editing functions including adjusting colors, applying text, using gradients, buttonizing, an interesting screen capture utility and more. It also allows you to create multiple icon resource files and extract icons from external sources. ^ Back to top ^

PixelToolbox 1.1
HOME/DOWNLOAD:	http://www.axiomx.com/PixelToolbox/index.htm
LICENSE:	Freeware
FILE SIZE:	3.6 MB
SYS REQ:	Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
LIMITATIONS:	None
This is simply a gorgeous program that specializes in making desktop graphics and, for webmasters, will facilitate the making of a favicon for your website. Although the so-called Elastic Gradient tool is a little awkward and seems to do things differently just for the sake of being different, there's a wealth of other tools and features that well make up for it. These include using a paint brush, airbrush, clone tool, text tool, selection tool as well as the option to apply some basic filters such as blur, sharpen, negative, colorize, and more. You can also create up to four custom undo steps which really lends a hand to the creative process. There are numerous startup modes and it can save to .ICO, .CUR or .BMP file formats. ^ Back to top ^

You should also check out Photobucket and ImageShack, both of which provide online image editing resources as well as free image hosting.

Alrighty then, so let's say you've completed your website, prettied it up with some nice looking graphics and launched it onto the internet. Now you're looking at it and wondering if it's really up to scratch. Well let me hook you up with some free website analysis tools to help you find this out...