The Edit: Gimp or Krita

gimp and krita logos
Logos (c)GIMP or KRITA

 

Time to edit. You took your photos, now make them beautiful pieces of art …..

    {{deer in the headlights look}} ….

    Ummmm ….. huh? But, Mom said they’re already beautiful?

    {{eyeroll}} ….. is Mom buying any?

    Ummmm ….. no.

    {{groan}}

    >> This is the time when you realize as a photographer your potential to NEVER leave the house and why your mother buys Valium pills by the gallon.

  Your photos are amazing …. and they actually may be.

  Here is the reality …. you either now have to make them marketable or applicable for a client that has indicated they have an interest in purchasing licensing to use your work. The other reality is that you probably don’t have the ability to get a fourth or fifth mortgage on your house (I mean your parent’s house) to pay the monthly subscription to an Adobe Suite. Fear not, there are alternatives …. really …. you don’t have to wait to invest in real estate to be able to edit your work.

  Actually there are many products out there that you can use to work your art into real art … or at least stuff you can sell to buy your next stash of mac ‘n cheese and a bag of rice. Steak? Not yet … baby steps … baby steps. Have patience, it’s your one road to an actual meal. Out of all of these products two stand out: GIMP and KRITA. Both are actually used by industry professionals, both match in number of features, both are generally easy to use. Here are some of their combined perks:

  • Both are created by photographers and artists for photographers and artists
  • Feature sets in number are comparable
  • Both create professional output and are usable in web or print
  • Both are multi-platform, so you don’t have to give up your loved Windows, OSX, or Linux flavor to use them

  Differences, yes …. many professionals I know use both on projects simply because it gives them a wide array of tool sets to get the job done. Here are some features and general differences between each:

  Gimp …

  • Generally easier learning curve when switching over from Photoshop or a like product
  • More filters ….. for photographers this can be a perk
  • Based more on photo editing
  • Decent animation tools, but definitely a learning curve
  • Good RGB output
  • Does not support raw files as of this writing
  • Available for pads
  • Free at Gimp website download (as of this writing $9.99 from the Microsoft Store)

  Krita …

  • Based more on digital illustration and animation
  • Ability to import brushes from other artists
  • Features seem to be laid out better than Gimp
  • Both RGB and CMYK outputs
  • Supports raw files although there are limits as of this writing
  • As of this writing, not fully available for pads
  • Free at Krita website (as of this writing $14.99 from the Microsoft Store)

  Download both, try both, and see which works for you. At least, have a little fun and give your Mom an inkling of hope that you may actually be able to move out some day …. (but then again there is that new 50 million ISO mirrorless camera and new series Lensbaby lenses you have to get first. Yep, you’re going to have your bedroom in Mom’s house until she has passed on to a better place (but don’t tell her ….. hope = health, and you do love her and want her to have hope.)

Links:

-Photo Guy

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