KolourPaint
A free, easy-to-use, and lightweight raster image editor for quick adjustments and creative drawing.

The professional-grade, cross-platform open source image manipulator for high-fidelity photo editing and original artwork creation.
In 2026, GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) maintains its position as the premier open-source alternative to proprietary software like Adobe Photoshop. The architecture revolves around GEGL (Generic Graphics Library), which enables high bit-depth processing (up to 32-bit float per color channel) and non-destructive editing capabilities. With the stable maturation of GIMP 3.x, the platform has transitioned to GTK3, offering native HiDPI support and a modernized, multi-threaded interface. Its market position is solidified by its massive extensibility via Python 3 and Script-Fu, allowing for deep integration into VFX and game development pipelines. GIMP serves as a critical tool for privacy-conscious organizations and the Linux community, providing professional-grade color management through LittleCMS and support for specialized formats like OpenEXR and WebP. By 2026, it has successfully integrated community-driven AI plugins for generative filling and upscaling, maintaining its relevance in an AI-augmented creative landscape without sacrificing its core values of freedom and privacy.
A graph-based image processing framework that handles images as a series of non-destructive operations.
A free, easy-to-use, and lightweight raster image editor for quick adjustments and creative drawing.
The professional, open-source vector graphics editor for limitless creative freedom.
The professional-grade creative suite for high-fidelity generative image design using Stable Diffusion.
Realistic procedural graphic effects for high-precision design workflows.
Verified feedback from the global deployment network.
Post queries, share implementation strategies, and help other users.
Full control over widget themes, icon sizes, and dockable dialogs via GTK3.
A comprehensive API for automating image manipulation using standard Python syntax.
Splits images into individual color channels (RGB, CMYK, LAB, YCbCr) for granular control.
Layer masks combined with a powerful Bézier curve tool for precise selections.
Support for C, C++, Python, and Scheme plugins through a modular architecture.
Frame-based animation handling with the MNG and GIF formats.
The need to produce lightweight, highly optimized WebP and PNG assets for e-commerce sites.
Registry Updated:2/7/2026
Export to WebP with metadata stripping.
Analyzing high bit-depth microscopic images with specific color channel requirements.
Creating high-fidelity UI designs without monthly subscription costs.