This article introduces free software alternatives on GNU/Linux towards graphic design & 2D animation software on Windows. Yes, I write this article for those switching to GNU/Linux. You'll find here replacements for Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator, Paint Shop Pro, CorelDRAW, and even Macromedia Flash MX. I hope this list helps you finding what you need!
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1. GIMP
It's the replacement for Photoshop. It supports PSD format as well as its own XCF format. It's professional image editor with a lot of filters, effects, plugins, and even additional combo available: GEGL.
- Category: bitmap editor
- Replacing: Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro
- Document format: .xcf
- Input format: .psd, .xcf, .png, .jpeg
- Output format: .png, .jpeg, .tiff, .gif
- Use example: photo editing, cropping, annotating, retouching, digital painting
- How to install:
Fedora: sudo dnf install gimp
Arch: sudo pacman -S gimp
openSUSE: sudo zypper install gimp
2. Inkscape
- Category: vector editor
- Replacing: CorelDRAW, Adobe Illustrator
- Document format: SVG
- Output format: SVG, PNG, PDF, PS, EPS, DXF
- Use examples: designing all vectors: logos, icons, brochures, banners, text arts, mockups, floor planning, etc.
- How to install:
Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install inkscape
Fedora: sudo dnf install inkscape
Arch: sudo pacman -S inkscape
openSUSE: sudo zypper install inkscape
3. Scribus
- Category: desktop publishing (DTP)
- Replacing: QuarkXPress, Adobe InDesign, Adobe PageMaker, Serif PagePlus
- Document format: .sla
- Input: .png, .jpeg, .jpg, .svg, .ai (Illustrator), .eps, .ps, .cvg (Calamus), .fig (XFig)
- Output format: .pdf
- Use example: typesetting, layout designing; books, magazines, newspapers, brochures, posters
- How to install:
Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install scribus
Fedora: sudo dnf install scribus
Arch: sudo pacman -S scribus
openSUSE: sudo zypper install scribus
4. sK1
sK1 is a vector editor but it's specialized for prepress and printing. You can imagine sK1 as Inkscape except it supports CMYK by default.
- Category: vector editor
- Replacing: CorelDRAW, Adobe Illustrator
- Document format: .svg, .sk1, .plt
- Output format: .sk1, .sk2, .plt
- Use example: designing vectors, CMYK printing
- How to install:
Ubuntu: download here
Arch: sudo pacman -S sk1
openSUSE: download here
Fedora: download here
5. MyPaint
- Category: bitmap editor, digital painting
- Replacing: Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, PaintTool SAI, Clip Studio Paint Pro, ArtRage Studio Pro, Autodesk SketchBook Pro, Paintstorm Studio
- Document format:
- Input format: .ora .jpeg .jpg .png
- Output format: .ora .jpeg .jpg .png
- Use example: all kind of digital paintings, concept arts, illustrations
- How to install:
Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install mypaint
Fedora: sudo dnf install mypaint
Arch: sudo pacman -S mypaint
openSUSE: sudo zypper install mypaint
6. Krita
- Category: digital painting, 2D animation
- Replacing: Adobe Photoshop, PaintTool SAI, Clip Studio Paint Pro, ArtRage Studio Pro, Autodesktop SketchBook Pro, Paintstorm Studio, Macromedia Flash MX
- Document format: .kra
- Input format: .kra .psd .xcf .ora .odw
- Output format: .kra .psd .ora .jpeg .png .tiff .tga
- Use example: digital painting
- How to install:
Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install krita
Fedora: sudo dnf install krita
Arch: sudo pacman -S krita
openSUSE: sudo zypper install krita
7. Pinta
- Category: bitmap drawing, painting
- Replacing: Microsoft Paint, Photoshop, IcoFX
- Input format: .jpeg, .jpg, .png, .tiff, .tga
- Output format: .jpeg, .jpg, .png, .tiff, .tga, .ora, .bmp, .ico
- Use example: simple drawing, annotation, layering
- How to install:
Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install pinta
Fedora: sudo dnf install pinta
Arch: sudo pacman -S pinta
openSUSE: sudo zypper install pinta
8. KolourPaint
- Category: bitmap painting
- Replacing: Microsoft Paint, Photoshop
- Input format: .psd (Photoshop), .xcf (GIMP), .kra (Krita), .svg (Inkscape), .exr, .ora
- Output format: .jpeg, .jpg, .png, .tga, .xpm, .ppm, .bmp, .eps, .mng (animation), .ora
- Use example: bitmap editing, drawing, annotating
- How to install:
Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install kolourpaint
Fedora: sudo dnf install kolourpaint
Arch: sudo pacman -S kolourpaint
openSUSE: sudo zypper install kolourpaint
9. GNU Paint
- Category: bitmap editor, painting
- Counterparts: Microsoft Paint
- Use example: simple painting
- How to install:
Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install gpaint
Fedora: sudo dnf install gpaint
Arch: sudo yaourt -S gpaint
openSUSE: compile from source instead
10. Shutter
- Category: screenshot tool, image editor
- Replacing: ScreenshotCaptor, Photoshop
- Document format: PNG, JPEG
- Output format: PNG, JPEG
- Use example: bitmap editing, cropping, annotating
- How to install:
Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install shutter
Fedora: sudo dnf install shutter
Arch: sudo pacman -S shutter
openSUSE: sudo zypper install shutter
11. Synfig Studio
- Category: 2D animation software
- Replacing: Macromedia Flash MX
- Document format: .sifz, .sif, .sfg
- Input format: .sifz, .sif, .sfg
- Output format: (.mp4, .flv, .divx, .xvid, .ogv, .wmv using ffmpeg), .gif, .mng
- Use example: tweening animation, bumper animation, advertisement animation, movie animation
- How to install:
Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install synfigstudio
Fedora: sudo dnf install synfigstudio
Arch: sudo pacman -S synfigstudio
openSUSE: use https://software.opensuse.org/package/synfigstudio
12. Tupi
- Category: 2D animation vector
- Replacing: Macromedia Flash MX
- Document format: .tup
- Input format: .svg, .png, .jpeg, .jpg, .gif, .xpm
- Output format: .swf (Macromedia), .flv, .avi, .asf, .mov
- Use example: movie animation, bumper animation,
- How to install:
Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install tupi
Fedora: use https://software.opensuse.org/package/tupi
Arch: sudo yaourt -S tupi
openSUSE: compile from source instead
13. Shotwell
- Category: image viewer, cropper, enhancer
- Replacing: ACDSee
- Input format: .jpeg, .jpg, .png
- Output format: .jpeg, .jpg, .png
- Use example: cropping
- How to install:
Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install shotwell
Fedora: sudo dnf install shotwell
Arch: sudo pacman -S shotwell
openSUSE: sudo zypper install shotwell
