# Is there any such thing as a free version of something like PhotoShop? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 10, 2004, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-such-thing-as-a-free-version-of-something-like-photoshop/249738 "2004-06-10T23:58:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-such-thing-as-a-free-version-of-something-like-photoshop/249738/1 "2004-06-10T23:58:40Z")
I’m not a graphics person by any stretch of the imagination, but every now and again I want to take something in .bmp format and turn it into a .jpg, or shring or enlarge a picture. I can’t justify spending money on something I _might_ use twice a year, and I hate bugging friends for stuff like that. Anyone have any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-such-thing-as-a-free-version-of-something-like-photoshop/249738/2 "2004-06-11T00:14:38Z")
> [@chique](#): > > I’m not a graphics person by any stretch of the imagination, but every now and again I want to take something in .bmp format and turn it into a .jpg, or shring or enlarge a picture. If that is all you want, try [Irfanview](http://www.irfanview.com/). It’s free. It won’t do all the fancy-schmancy stuff photoshop does, but it will resize and change formats. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-such-thing-as-a-free-version-of-something-like-photoshop/249738/3 "2004-06-11T00:41:39Z")
[www.gimp.org](http://www.gimp.org) - almost as powerful as Photoshop ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-such-thing-as-a-free-version-of-something-like-photoshop/249738/4 "2004-06-11T00:47:45Z")
Here is a graphic converting program, [Graphic Converter](http://www.graphic-converter.net/) . ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-such-thing-as-a-free-version-of-something-like-photoshop/249738/5 "2004-06-11T01:40:58Z")
If all you want to do is shrink/enlarge and convert from .bmp to .jpg and back, and if you’re using Windows, you’ve already got what you need: MSPaint will do all of that (and pretty much nothing else). On my computer, it’s Start-\>Programs-\>Accessories-\>Paint. If you want something a little more advanced, I’ll second the recommendation for the [Gimp](http://www.gimp.org). ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-such-thing-as-a-free-version-of-something-like-photoshop/249738/6 "2004-06-11T04:56:31Z")
[http://www.jasc.com/products/paintshoppro/](http://www.jasc.com/products/paintshoppro/)? JASC software has a free product called Paint Shop Pro that is basically a watered down version of Photoshop. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-such-thing-as-a-free-version-of-something-like-photoshop/249738/7 "2004-06-11T05:01:53Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > [PaintShop Pro: Photo Editing Software by Corel](http://www.jasc.com/products/paintshoppro/)? > > JASC software has a free product called Paint Shop Pro that is basically a watered down version of Photoshop. Actually, it’s only a trial version that works for sixty days. After that you, have to buy it (or redownload it free, but that’s a pain in the ass). ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-such-thing-as-a-free-version-of-something-like-photoshop/249738/8 "2004-06-11T05:13:33Z")
These are basic features of Win XP. When you use the Windows picture editor. Very easy to do those things. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-such-thing-as-a-free-version-of-something-like-photoshop/249738/9 "2004-06-11T05:14:54Z")
> [@Stinkpalm](#): > > These are basic features of Win XP. When you use the Windows picture editor. Very easy to do those things. Paint is a pain IMHO. The new Windows Picture editor lets you do all the basic photo stuff. I hate Paint because you can’t zoom out to less than 100%. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-such-thing-as-a-free-version-of-something-like-photoshop/249738/10 "2004-06-11T05:28:44Z")
I’ll second Irfanview if all that’s wanted is resizing and format conversion. Quick and easy, and if you’re not going to do anything more advanced, probably a better bet than the Gimp (of which I’m also a fan, but in this case it seems like a sledge hammer to drive finishing nails). ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-such-thing-as-a-free-version-of-something-like-photoshop/249738/11 "2004-06-11T16:26:32Z")
I’ll 3rd Irfanview. It has some nice features for being free. One I use alot is the batch conversion tool. It allows you to select multiple images to resize and convert to different formats. ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-such-thing-as-a-free-version-of-something-like-photoshop/249738/12 "2004-06-11T22:02:18Z")
> [@jackelope](#): > > If all you want to do is shrink/enlarge and convert from .bmp to .jpg and back, and if you’re using Windows, you’ve already got what you need: MSPaint will do all of that (and pretty much nothing else). > > On my computer, it’s Start-\>Programs-\>Accessories-\>Paint. Unless your computer is crappy and old like mine is, in which case your only options are 16-, 32-, and something-bit .bmps. 😛 I went with Irfanview and I think it’s just what I need. Thanks for the suggestions, y’all. 🙂