Comparative Review: Affinity Photo 2, GIMP, and Adobe Photoshop
I tried Photoshop, Affinity, and GIMP for a month and the winner isn’t what you think
Xda-developers
Image: Xda-developers
After a month-long trial of Affinity Photo 2, GIMP, and Adobe Photoshop, the unexpected winner for daily photo editing is Affinity Photo 2, praised for its lightweight design and user-friendly interface. However, Adobe Photoshop still reigns supreme for advanced generative AI features, while GIMP serves as a solid, cost-free option for beginners.
- 01Affinity Photo 2 is now free due to its acquisition by Canva, offering a modern interface and robust features for traditional photo editing.
- 02GIMP 3.0 introduced non-destructive editing, improving its usability significantly, though it still lags behind in user interface compared to Affinity.
- 03Adobe Photoshop's AI tools, powered by Firefly, excel in complex tasks like generative fill and edge detection, making it ideal for advanced users.
- 04Affinity Photo 2 is lightweight and efficient, handling large files smoothly, while Photoshop is criticized for being resource-heavy and bloated.
- 05GIMP remains a reliable tool for beginners but may not meet the demands of professional workflows requiring advanced features.
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In a month-long experiment comparing three popular image editing software—Affinity Photo 2, GIMP, and Adobe Photoshop—the results revealed surprising insights. Affinity Photo 2, recently made free through its acquisition by Canva, impressed with its modern interface and powerful features, particularly in traditional photo editing. Its non-destructive RAW editing capabilities rival those of Photoshop. However, users must subscribe to Canva to access its AI features, which underperformed in certain tasks compared to Adobe's offerings. GIMP, now with a significant 3.0 update, introduced non-destructive editing and performance enhancements, making it a viable option for beginners and Linux users. Nevertheless, it lacks the polished interface and advanced capabilities of its competitors. Adobe Photoshop, despite initial skepticism regarding its AI tools, showcased remarkable performance with features like Generative Fill and Magic Eraser, accurately reconstructing backgrounds and understanding lighting. However, its resource-heavy nature and bloated interface raised concerns. Ultimately, while Affinity Photo 2 emerged as the best for daily use, Photoshop remains unmatched in generative AI capabilities, with GIMP serving as a solid entry-level tool.
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