# Good free image manipulation software? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 1, 2018, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-image-manipulation-software/809798 "2018-03-01T04:20:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lukekane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ec9cab/32.png) [@lukekane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lukekane)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-image-manipulation-software/809798/1 "2018-03-01T04:20:12Z")
I’m no kind of artist and Photoshop is way more than I need. I’m looking for some simple and hopefully simple to learn freeware so I can experiment with different filters and mess around with color values in photographs–I’m trying to work out an idea I have so I can communicate it more effectively to the talented people who will actually do the work. Any recommendations? Thanks for all help. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-image-manipulation-software/809798/2 "2018-03-01T04:30:08Z")
Try [GIMP](http://gimp.org) [ImageMagick](http://imagemagick.org/script/examples.php) has lots of filters ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-image-manipulation-software/809798/3 "2018-03-01T04:31:06Z")
I love GIMP, but I wouldn’t call it simple for a beginner. Your second link looks fun though ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-image-manipulation-software/809798/4 "2018-03-01T04:47:13Z")
[Paint.net](https://www.getpaint.net/) is simple to figure out, if GIMP doesn’t look good. It doesn’t have a lot of pre-built filters, but it does give decent controls of color values for being free, ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-image-manipulation-software/809798/5 "2018-03-01T04:50:06Z")
ImageMagick was my first thought. It takes a bit of getting over the initial hump learning to use it - but once you have the idea - it is brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-image-manipulation-software/809798/6 "2018-03-01T06:15:03Z")
[Paint.net](http://Paint.net) is definitely the easiest to use of the bunch. Otherwise you can just upload them to Google Photos, Instacrap, etc. and use the filters there. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2018, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-image-manipulation-software/809798/7 "2018-03-01T07:04:45Z")
IrfanView is also pretty good. It’s mostly about conversion or adjustment of the whole image, but it’s a good tool to have in the mix > **[IrfanView - Official Homepage - One of the Most Popular Viewers Worldwide](https://www.irfanview.com/)** > > IrfanView ... one of the most popular viewers worldwide. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-image-manipulation-software/809798/8 "2018-03-01T07:23:05Z")
[Paint.net](http://Paint.net) fits your needs best, but you’ll probably want to add some plugins for the filters you want. They’re free too, just make sure you get them from the official site. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-image-manipulation-software/809798/9 "2018-03-01T11:36:16Z")
I still use Paint Shop Pro 4.12 before turning to more powerful, complicated programs. That version is 20 years old (and I’ve been using PSP since before 4.12 came out.) Google and you’ll find it on abandonware sites. It supports plug-in filters, so google for free Photoshop filters (or free Photoshop plugins) and you’ll find lots of those, too.