Comparison of raster graphics editors

General information

Basic general information about the editors: creator/company, license/price etc.

	Creator	First public release date	Latest stable version	Cost (USD)	Software license
Ability Photopaint	?	?	4	$29.99	Proprietary
ACD Canvas	?	?	X	$349.99	Proprietary
Adobe Photoshop	?	?	CS2 / 9	$599.00	Proprietary
Alias SketchBook Pro	?	?	2	$179.00	Proprietary
ArtRage	?	?	2.0	$19.95 Full version $0 Free version	Proprietary
Brush Strokes Image Editor	?	?	2	$20.00 Full version $0 Version 1	Proprietary
CinePaint	?	?	0.18	Free	GPL
CodedColor PhotoStudio Pro	?	?	4.3	$39.00	Proprietary
Corel Painter	?	?	9.1	?	Proprietary
Corel Paint Shop Pro	?	?	10	$99.00	Proprietary
Corel Photo-Paint	?	?	9	$289.00 $299.00	Proprietary
Deluxe Paint	?	?	5	?	Proprietary
GIMP	?	?	2.2.10	Free	GPL
GIMPshop	?	?	2.2.8	Free	GPL
GraphicConverter	?	?	5.7.3	$30.00	Proprietary
Kolourpaint	?	?	1.4.1	Free	GPL
Krita	?	?	1.4.2	Free	GPL
MacPaint	?	?	2.0	?	?
Macromedia Fireworks	?	?	8	$299.00	Proprietary
Microsoft Office Picture Manager	?	?	2003	?	Proprietary
Microsoft Paint	?	?	?	Free	Proprietary
Microsoft Photo Editor	?	?	?	?	Proprietary
mtPaint	?	?	2.10	Free	GPL
OpenCanvas	?	?	4	$54.55 $72.73	Proprietary
QFX	?	?	8	$399.00	Proprietary
Paint.NET	?	?	2.6	Free	MIT
Picasa	?	?	2.1	Free	Proprietary
PicMaster	?	?	3.95	$29.90	Proprietary
Pixel image editor	?	?	1.0	$32.00	Proprietary
Pixia	?	?	3.3	Free	GPL
Tux Paint	?	?	0.9.15	Free	GPL
Ulead PhotoImpact	?	?	11	$89.99	Proprietary
Ultimate Paint	?	?	2.88	$34.95	Proprietary
WinImages	?	?	7.5	$99.95	Proprietary
	Creator	First public release date	Latest stable version	Cost (USD)	Software license

Operating system support

The operating systems on which the editors can run natively (without emulation), meaning which operating systems have which editors specifically coded for them (not, for example, Adobe Photoshop for Windows running on Linux with Wine).

	Windows	Mac OS X	GNU/Linux	BSD	Unix
Ability Photopaint	Yes	No	No	No	No
ACD Canvas	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Adobe Photoshop	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Alias SketchBook Pro	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
ArtRage	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Brush Strokes Image Editor	Yes	No	No	No	No
CinePaint	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
CodedColor PhotoStudio Pro	Yes	No	No	No	No
Corel Painter	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Corel Paint Shop Pro	Yes	No	No	No	No
Corel Photo-Paint	Yes	No	No	No	No
Deluxe Paint 1	No	No	No	No	No
GIMP 2	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
GIMPshop	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
GraphicConverter	No	Yes	No	No	No
Kolourpaint	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Krita	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
MacPaint	No	Yes	No	No	No
Macromedia Fireworks	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Microsoft Office Picture Manager	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Microsoft Paint	Yes	No	No	No	No
Microsoft Photo Editor	Yes	No	No	No	No
mtPaint	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
OpenCanvas	Yes	No	No	No	No
QFX	Yes	No	No	No	No
Paint.NET	Yes	No	No	No	No
Picasa	Yes	No	No	No	No
PicMaster	Yes	No	No	No	No
Pixel image editor 3	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pixia	Yes	No	No	No	No
Tux Paint	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ulead PhotoImpact	Yes	No	No	No	No
Ultimate Paint	Yes	No	No	No	No
WinImages	Yes	No	No	No	No
	Windows	Mac OS X	Linux	BSD	Unix

Note 1: Deluxe Paint only runs on AmigaOS, Atari ST and MS-DOS.

Note 2: GIMP also supports SkyOS.

Note 3: Pixel image editor also supports OS/2, MorphOS, BeOS, and QNX.

Features

	Selection editing	Layers	Histogram	Scripting
Ability Photopaint	?	?	?	?
ACD Canvas	?	?	?	?
Adobe Photoshop	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes 4
Alias SketchBook Pro	?	?	?	?
ArtRage	?	?	?	?
Brush Strokes Image Editor	?	?	?	?
CinePaint	Yes	Yes	?	Yes
CodedColor PhotoStudio Pro	?	?	?	?
Corel Painter	?	?	?	?
Corel Paint Shop Pro	Yes	Yes	?	?
Corel Photo-Paint	?	?	?	?
Deluxe Paint	?	?	?	?
GIMP	Yes	Yes	?	Yes
GIMPshop	Yes	Yes	?	Yes
GraphicConverter	?	?	?	?
Kolourpaint	?	?	?	?
Krita	?	?	?	?
MacPaint	?	?	?	?
Macromedia Fireworks	?	?	?	?
Microsoft Office Picture Manager	?	?	?	?
Microsoft Paint	No	No	No	No
Microsoft Photo Editor	?	?	?	?
mtPaint	?	?	?	?
OpenCanvas	?	?	?	?
QFX	?	?	?	?
Paint.NET	?	?	?	?
Picasa	?	?	?	?
PicMaster	?	?	?	?
Pixel image editor	?	Yes	?	?
Pixia	?	?	?	?
Tux Paint	?	?	?	?
Ulead PhotoImpact	?	?	?	?
Ultimate Paint	?	?	?	?
WinImages	?	?	?	?
	Selection editing	Layers	Histogram	Scripting

Note 4: Only macros, no real scripting.

Color spaces

	RGB	Indexed	Grayscale	CMYK	HDR
Ability Photopaint	Yes	?	?	?	?
ACD Canvas	Yes	?	?	?	?
Adobe Photoshop	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?
Alias SketchBook Pro	Yes	?	?	?	?
ArtRage	Yes	?	?	?	?
Brush Strokes Image Editor	Yes	?	?	?	?
CinePaint	Yes	?	Yes	?	Yes
CodedColor PhotoStudio Pro	Yes	?	?	?	?
Corel Painter	Yes	?	?	?	?
Corel Paint Shop Pro	Yes	?	?	?	?
Corel Photo-Paint	Yes	?	?	?	?
Deluxe Paint	Yes	?	?	?	?
GIMP	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
GIMPshop	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
GraphicConverter	Yes	?	?	?	?
Kolourpaint	Yes	?	?	?	?
Krita	Yes	?	?	?	?
MacPaint	Yes	?	?	?	?
Macromedia Fireworks	Yes	?	?	?	?
Microsoft Office Picture Manager	Yes	?	?	?	?
Microsoft Paint	Yes	?	?	No	No
Microsoft Photo Editor	Yes	?	?	?	?
mtPaint	Yes	?	?	?	?
OpenCanvas	Yes	?	?	?	?
QFX	Yes	?	?	?	?
Paint.NET	Yes	?	?	?	?
Picasa	Yes	?	?	?	?
PicMaster	Yes	?	?	?	?
Pixel image editor	Yes	?	?	Yes	Yes
Pixia	Yes	?	?	?	?
Tux Paint	Yes	?	?	?	?
Ulead PhotoImpact	Yes	?	?	?	?
Ultimate Paint	Yes	?	?	?	?
WinImages	Yes	?	?	?	?
	RGB	Indexed	Grayscale	CMYK	HDR

Bitmap file formats: Import

	BMP	GIF	JPEG	JPEG 2000	MNG	PNG	TIFF	PSD	PSP	XCF
Ability Photopaint	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
ACD Canvas	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Adobe Photoshop	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes 5	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Alias SketchBook Pro	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
ArtRage	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Brush Strokes Image Editor	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
CinePaint	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	?	?	Yes
CodedColor PhotoStudio Pro	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Corel Painter	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Corel Paint Shop Pro	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Corel Photo-Paint	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Deluxe Paint	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
GIMP	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
GIMPshop	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
GraphicConverter	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes 6
Kolourpaint	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Krita	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Partial 7	No	No
MacPaint	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Macromedia Fireworks	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes 8	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Microsoft Office Picture Manager	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Partial 9	No	No	No
Microsoft Paint	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Microsoft Photo Editor	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
mtPaint	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
OpenCanvas	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes 10	No	No
QFX	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	?	Yes	Yes	No	No
Paint.NET	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
Picasa	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
PicMaster	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	?	?	?
Pixel image editor	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?
Pixia	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Tux Paint	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Ulead PhotoImpact	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Ultimate Paint	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
WinImages	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
	BMP	GIF	JPEG	JPEG 2000	MNG	PNG	TIFF	PSD	PSP	XCF

Note 5: Requires an optional plug-in from the installation disc.

Note 6: Requires Mac OS X or later with installed Image Magick application of the Fink package or any other distribution.

Note 7: PSD is only supported up to version 6, from version 7 on, the Photoshop file format is closed.

Note 8: QuickTime plug-in required.

Note 9: Only viewing and editing of the first page.

Note 10: Only in openCanvas 4 Plus, not in regular openCanvas 4.

Bitmap file formats: Export

	BMP	GIF	JPEG	JPEG 2000	MNG	PNG	TIFF	PSD	PSP	XCF
Ability Photopaint	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
ACD Canvas	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Adobe Photoshop	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes 5	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Alias SketchBook Pro	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
ArtRage	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Brush Strokes Image Editor	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
CinePaint	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	?	?	Yes
CodedColor PhotoStudio Pro	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Corel Painter	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Corel Paint Shop Pro	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Corel Photo-Paint	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Deluxe Paint	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
GIMP	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
GIMPshop	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
GraphicConverter	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Kolourpaint	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
Krita	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Partial 7	No	No
MacPaint	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Macromedia Fireworks	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Microsoft Office Picture Manager	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Partial 9	No	No	No
Microsoft Paint	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Microsoft Photo Editor	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
mtPaint	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
OpenCanvas	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes 10	No	No
QFX	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	?	Yes	Yes	No	No
Paint.NET	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
Picasa	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
PicMaster	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	?	?	?
Pixel image editor	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?
Pixia	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Tux Paint	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Ulead PhotoImpact	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Ultimate Paint	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
WinImages	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
	BMP	GIF	JPEG	JPEG 2000	MNG	PNG	TIFF	PSD	PSP	XCF

See also

• List of bitmap graphics editors
• Bitmap graphics editor
• Raster graphics aka Bitmap
• Vector editors versus bitmap editors