Linux has made significant strides, and in 2023, it’s better than ever. However, there are still individuals perpetuating a delusion: that desktop Linux is as user-friendly and productive as its mainstream counterparts. After a few discussions on Lemmy, I believe it’s important to provide a clear review of where Linux falls short as a daily driver for average users.
EDIT: can I just make it clear I don’t agree with this article one bit and think it’s an unhinged polemic?
The answer is simple, Gimp is the only “full featured” photoshop replacement. And the os doesn’t matter for this. There is no alternative in windows besides gimp. Apples products also fall short.
And now, why is gimp shit?
Affinity Photo is perfectly fine.
You see, I answered your question. Now, where is the answer you promised? Let me guess, you don’t have any?
GIMP’s interface can definitely be less intuitive for some users.
GIMP does not always seamlessly integrate into professional workflows.
Photoshop offers a more extensive set of advanced features and tools, such as advanced text handling, 3D capabilities, etc, which are not as robust in GIMP.
GIMP’s CMYK support is not robust at all.
GIMP’s non-destructive editing features are poor in comparison to photoshop.
GIMP’s native format (XCF) is not as universally compatible as PSD
GIMP has significantly fewer learning resources. This is more about the community and less about the software.
These are just a few examples.
I think some parts are just a question of perspective. I am not a GFX person. But I have friends that work in this field. One of them starter learning with gimp. And he constantly is ranting about photoshop at work. He claims the interface of PS is garbage, support for some obscure file format is not even there and so on.
So, I think it depends on what your are used to.
For the documentation: yes! And raw image support is an issue to. Mostly because of proprietary bullshit standards, but yes. This is missing.
Does this make gimp to a shit software? No
Well, MS Paint is awesome for something.
GIMP is not a replacement for Adobe’s tools. Anyone who says so is not a professional. It is perfectly suitable for hobbyists and somewhat advanced work but it is a decade behind on features that are considered standard now. FCPX is running into this same problem in the NLE world. Until 2018 or so apple could hang but Resolve, Premiere, and Avid are just so far ahead now and innovating while they languish. At the end of the day if you don’t have modern, advanced tools, you have a ceiling to professional market capture. Adobe then trumps gimp on name recognition and usability so they get the casual market too. It’s just not a contest.