# Paint.NET vs GIMP **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 26, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-net-vs-gimp/454335 "2008-06-26T17:30:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-net-vs-gimp/454335/1 "2008-06-26T17:30:26Z")
As far as a Photoshop replacement which one would be best? Anyone play with either of these? ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-net-vs-gimp/454335/2 "2008-06-26T19:08:05Z")
I’ve played with them both a little, and I very much recommend GIMP if you are looking for a more Photoshop like program. [Paint.NET](http://Paint.NET) is ok for some things though; download both and see which you like! [Paint.NET](http://Paint.NET) is a little easier to use (to me) but it does less, which is why it is easier to use, actually. If it will do the job, you may be happier with it, but GIMP is good for more advanced stuff. I would try both as I said. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-net-vs-gimp/454335/3 "2008-06-26T19:14:30Z")
I’ve never used [Paint.NET](http://Paint.NET), but I’ve messed around a bit with GIMP, and I really like it a lot. It’s much easier (to me) than Photoshop. ---
**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 27, 2008, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-net-vs-gimp/454335/4 "2008-06-27T03:44:58Z")
Here is a good review of both programs plus a couple more: [http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-digital-editor.htm](http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-digital-editor.htm) Hope it helps. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-net-vs-gimp/454335/5 "2008-06-27T04:41:45Z")
Have you considered picasa? Dopers recommended it to me and I like it, though I don’t manipulate photos beyond basic stuff. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-net-vs-gimp/454335/6 "2008-06-27T05:34:40Z")
I’m pretty Mac-centric and from the mention of [Paint.NET](http://Paint.NET) I assume the OP is on Windows. How about Paint Shop Pro? I tend to think of it as the PC equiv of Graphic Converter. Nice little app. ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-net-vs-gimp/454335/7 "2008-06-27T05:36:51Z")
[Paint.NET](http://Paint.NET) - well, it’s more intuitive in a sense that it uses the same Window mechanics as most other Windows software. For GIMP, it runs like a Mac application and it takes a while to get used to it. But GIMP is pretty powerful in its own right, with its own scripting language and automation. But for simple editing, I’ll just stick to [Paint.NET](http://Paint.NET) ---
**Author:** ![Purgatory\_Creek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Purgatory\_Creek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purgatory_Creek)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-net-vs-gimp/454335/8 "2008-06-27T13:33:50Z")
[QUOTE=AHunter3] I’m pretty Mac-centric and from the mention of [Paint.NET](http://Paint.NET) I assume the OP is on Windows. How about Paint Shop Pro? I tend to think of it as the PC equiv of Graphic Converter. Nice little app. [/QUOTE] Corel ate Paint Shop Pro. The current version (X2?) seems to be completely focused on photo manipulation, while they’ve split off the drawing tools and so forth into a different program, the name of which I can’t remember. Something clever like Draw or Sketch, I think. I’m still using PSP 8, but I’ll bite the bullet and buy Photoshop once I’ve saved up enough cash. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-net-vs-gimp/454335/9 "2008-06-27T14:41:58Z")
Unless things have changed recently, the Gimp on the Mac needs the X11 windowing system, which is an optional install from the system disk. You then get a whole collection of Gimp windows, with internal menus, that don’t behave at all like normal Mac ones. Some of them are toolbar windows, and it’s a bit odd because if a different window is selected, you have to click icons in the toolbar twice: once to select the window, and a second time to activate the icon. Then you have to click the image window again to select 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:** [June 27, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-net-vs-gimp/454335/10 "2008-06-27T14:44:37Z")
[QUOTE=CrazyChop] [Paint.NET](http://Paint.NET) - well, it’s more intuitive in a sense that it uses the same Window mechanics as most other Windows software. For GIMP, it runs like a Mac application and it takes a while to get used to it. [/QUOTE] I agree. I can tell GIMP has some advanced features - I just seem to struggle to find them every time. It’s the multi-window interface that does it, I think (although I seem to cope fairly well with that sort of thing in other cases) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-net-vs-gimp/454335/11 "2008-06-27T14:58:16Z")
I think Photoshop is going to have a free online-only version, sort of like Picasa in its capabilities. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-net-vs-gimp/454335/12 "2008-06-27T15:15:25Z")
There’s a hack for The GIMP called “GIMPShop” that changes the way GIMP looks, so that it’s menu layout is the same as Photoshop. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-net-vs-gimp/454335/13 "2008-06-27T21:51:33Z")
You’ll get better answers if you tell us what you want to do with it. If you’re cleaning up home photos, any of the answers so far will work. If you’re preparing photos for professional CMYK printing, or need to manipulate images in non-corrective ways, you’ve got a lot fewer options (basically none). ---
**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:** [June 27, 2008, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-net-vs-gimp/454335/14 "2008-06-27T22:20:51Z")
[QUOTE=Capt. Ridley’s Shooting Party] There’s a hack for The GIMP called “GIMPShop” that changes the way GIMP looks, so that it’s menu layout is the same as Photoshop. [/QUOTE] I have a feeling that CMYK colour spaces (a significant deficiency in the GIMP that was recently solved) haven’t made it into that version yet ---
**Author:** ![MissMossie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@MissMossie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissMossie)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-net-vs-gimp/454335/15 "2008-06-27T22:32:50Z")
I use GIMP for basic photo manipulation and I love it. My main uses are resizing photos, adjusting color levels, and cloning out occasional dust spots from a dirty sensor. I’ve found it really easy to use for minor tweaks like that. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-net-vs-gimp/454335/16 "2008-06-28T03:00:37Z")
I never really used Photoshop, and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how to use GIMP. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-net-vs-gimp/454335/17 "2008-06-28T04:18:08Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] I never really used Photoshop, and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how to use GIMP. [/QUOTE] Yup, I downloaded GIMP so I could try and play in the Fark PS threads, but apparently my skills are totally non existant. I deleted the thing. ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-net-vs-gimp/454335/18 "2008-06-30T15:53:28Z")
[QUOTE=miss elizabeth] [Paint.NET](http://Paint.NET) is a little easier to use (to me) but it does less, which is why it is easier to use, actually. If it will do the job, you may be happier with it, but GIMP is good for more advanced stuff. I would try both as I said. 🙂 [/QUOTE] [Paint.NET](http://Paint.NET) = Leatherman GIMP = Big cantilever tool-box filled to bursting Given that they’re both free, no reason not to have both and use each for whichever it’s best at. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-net-vs-gimp/454335/19 "2008-06-30T16:15:17Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad] I think Photoshop is going to have a free online-only version, sort of like Picasa in its capabilities. [/QUOTE] [Already available](https://www.photoshop.com/express/landing.html).