How to use Photoshop and Photoshop alternatives

Adobe Photoshop: The Industry Standard and its Alternatives

Adobe Photoshop remains the gold standard for raster image editing, a professional's choice for over three decades. Its influence is undeniable, shaping nearly every subsequent image editor. While many paid and free alternatives exist, Photoshop's iconic status persists, its name often used as a verb. Fortunately, many Photoshop skills are transferable to other applications. This guide explores Photoshop's cost, Mac installation, key actions, and popular alternatives.

Installing Adobe Photoshop on Mac:

Photoshop isn't free; it's part of Adobe's Creative Cloud subscription service. There's no one-time purchase option. Subscription plans include:

• Photoshop only: $20.99/month
• Photography Plan (Photoshop & Lightroom): $19.99/month
• Creative Cloud (20 apps): $52.99/month

The subscription model's cost has fueled the popularity of alternative options. Here's how to install Photoshop:

1. Visit adobe.com/photoshop
2. Click "Free Trial"
3. Select a plan and click "Start free trial"
4. Create an account.
5. Download and install Creative Cloud; Photoshop will download automatically.

Essential Photoshop Actions:

While professional photo editing requires advanced techniques, beginners need to master basic actions: resizing, GIF creation, background removal, font addition, and cropping.

Resizing Images:

1. Open Photoshop.
2. Import your image.
3. Go to Image > Image Size (Option ⌘ I).
4. Choose a preset or custom size.
5. Click "OK".

For batch resizing, consider PhotoBulk, a fast bulk image editor.

Creating GIFs:

1. Open Photoshop.
2. Import images as separate layers.
3. Go to Window > Timeline.
4. Click "Create Frame Animation".
5. Select "Make Frames From Layers".
6. Adjust frame speed.
7. Export as a GIF using File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy).

For quick screen recordings, Gifox is a simple, efficient GIF maker.

Removing Backgrounds:

Use the Eraser tool (E) to remove unwanted image sections.

Adding Fonts:

Fonts installed on your Mac are automatically available in Photoshop. Install new fonts via Font Book. For advanced font management, consider Typeface.

For font customization, Glyphs Mini is a user-friendly option.

Cropping Images:

Use the Crop tool (C) to adjust image focus. For quick cropping, TouchRetouch offers a streamlined workflow.

Top Photoshop Alternatives:

• Luminar Neo: AI-powered photo editor with numerous presets and filters.
• Affinity Photo: Professional alternative with PSD support.
• GIMP: Free, open-source editor with a steeper learning curve.
• Pixelmator Pro: User-friendly editor with native M1 support (macOS only).
• CameraBag Pro: Versatile photo and video editor with presets and granular controls.

Mastering Photoshop's basics is achievable. Supplementing Photoshop with tools like PhotoBulk, Gifox, Typeface, Glyphs Mini, and TouchRetouch enhances workflow. Explore the alternatives to find the best fit for your needs. Setapp offers a seven-day trial to test these apps.

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