# Free Image Editing Software? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 15, 2006, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-image-editing-software/376482 "2006-10-15T01:43:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![caturday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a87d85/32.png) [@caturday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caturday)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-image-editing-software/376482/1 "2006-10-15T01:43:37Z")
I’ve tried the GIMP for four months and was completely disappointed by this so-called Photoshop alternative. Vic’s VCW was slow and clunky. Picasa is good for quick and dirty but it lacks tools to cut, paste and stuff. I’m wary of Paint Shop Pro because it’s now owned by Corel. Can anyone recommend good image editing software that’ll let me photoshop wacky stuff (i.e. cats) into other stuff (pics of the trojan war, yalta conference) in addition to basic histogram kinda stuff? ---
**Author:** ![IGJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/igjoe/32/5420_2.png) [@IGJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IGJoe)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-image-editing-software/376482/2 "2006-10-15T01:52:12Z")
I can’t actually _recommend_ it, since I haven’t used it. But I’ve heard good things about [Paint .NET](http://www.getpaint.net/index.html). ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-image-editing-software/376482/3 "2006-10-15T02:08:10Z")
Not technically free, but I’ve used Polyview for years. Available [here.](http://www.polybytes.com/) Go to ‘downloads’ to get the latest version. If you like it, register to get rid of the nag screen. ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-image-editing-software/376482/4 "2006-10-15T20:52:24Z")
[QUOTE=caturday] I’ve tried the GIMP for four months and was completely disappointed by this so-called Photoshop alternative. Vic’s VCW was slow and clunky. Picasa is good for quick and dirty but it lacks tools to cut, paste and stuff. I’m wary of Paint Shop Pro because it’s now owned by Corel. Can anyone recommend good image editing software that’ll let me photoshop wacky stuff (i.e. cats) into other stuff (pics of the trojan war, yalta conference) in addition to basic histogram kinda stuff? [/QUOTE] Try the Gimp again. Get a book or take a class. It’s very powerful and free. Crappy image editors produce crappy results. ---
**Author:** ![Baron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9de0a6/32.png) [@Baron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-image-editing-software/376482/5 "2006-10-16T19:08:51Z")
Try Irfanview. Totally freeware and pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-image-editing-software/376482/6 "2006-10-16T19:15:54Z")
[Irfanview](http://www.irfanview.com/), as **Baron** said is a good little program. I came in here specifically to recommend it. It is very easy to use, and fairly dummy proof I think. ---
**Author:** ![caturday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a87d85/32.png) [@caturday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caturday)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-image-editing-software/376482/7 "2006-10-16T23:51:44Z")
[QUOTE=Runs With Scissors] Try the Gimp again. Get a book or take a class. It’s very powerful and free. Crappy image editors produce crappy results. [/QUOTE] AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Thanks but no. GIMP’s interface sucks, nothing works right and I never needed a course for Photoshop. Reckon I’ll just get a torrent of PS and be done with it. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-image-editing-software/376482/8 "2006-10-17T00:07:45Z")
I like Ulead PhotoImpact, but it’s only free in the sense that they keep sticking not-quite up-to-date (but entirely functional) version in magazine cover mounts. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-image-editing-software/376482/9 "2006-10-17T01:02:30Z")
Since you seem to have decided to commit an illegal act, I am warning you that discussion of such is forbidden on this message board. Do not do this again, or face banning. Thread closed.