Photoshop has been around since the 90s, and is undoubtedly beloved by many, but it’s not the only option that can be useful for clothing designers. Many other free and low-cost options allow you to digitally see your designs come to life beyond the paper sketches, ideas for your brand’s social media, or unedited photos for your soon-to-be website or product listings. Consider the following five options if seeking alternatives to Photoshop for your clothing brand.
Photo Pos Pro
Photo Pos Pro is one of the free options on the list, but they also have a premium edition for a small, budget-friendly price. The photo editor appeals to those at varying skill levels, but it has 24-hour customer service if you need assistance. A few of its features include supporting RAW files, replacing backgrounds, adding texture, and adding mosaic or pop-out effects. In addition, there’s an online help section with advice about multiple photo-editing topics, from making someone look taller to using the leveler tool.
Canva
Canva is an easy-to-navigate graphic design tool with plenty of available templates. It has three options for pricing: Free, Pro, and For Teams. The two paid versions offer free trials, so you can test the products with perks like 24/7 customer support, 1TB of cloud storage, and the ability to create special folders. Design options allow you to create everything from logos to video intros.
Canva has an extensive online help section that covers topics like editing videos, creating mockups, and applying filters to a background. Also, check out their Design School for courses and tutorials that may help make the learning process easier.
Photopea
Photopea is a free photo editor that’s very easy to navigate. Whether you’ve been editing photos for a while or just getting started is excellent. They offer multiple templates, including a YouTube banner, experimenting with various photo sizes, and creating ads in numerous layouts to help you add more creativity to your clothing brand.
There’s also an option for creating shirt mockups. Photopea lets you tackle your projects even when you’re not online. Their “Learn Photopea” section covers topics ranging from vector graphics to layer editing.
GIM
There’s a lot you can do with this free image editor. GIMP, also known as the GNU Image Manipulation Program, lets you do tasks like photo retouching, making the most of their painting tools, creating shirt mockups, and photo enhancement. In addition, their tutorials section is beneficial for learning how to use layer masks, adjust colors, make a floating logo, and more. Finally, the “Quickies” page covers the basics, like cropping an image, for those just getting started or who need a refresher.
Pixlr
Pixlr currently has a few options: the advanced photo editor Pixlr E, Photomash Studio for creating visuals, and Pixlr X. Current features available through Pixlr include removing backgrounds, bulk photo editing, making thumbnails and banners, and making newsletters. However, there are differences and similarities between Pixlr E and Pixlr X. For example, while both open most images, the former is geared more toward professionals by offering more advanced options. In addition, video tutorials, webinars, and courses are available via Pixlr.
The best way to determine if any of the options mentioned above are good for you, if you’d instead go with another photo editor, or if you want to stick with Photoshop, is to test them out. Sure, reading reviews can be, and usually is, helpful, but nothing beats going through the process yourself to see how you like it and in what way it can benefit your business. Of course, the above-listed features are only the start of what each photo editor offers.
Avoid going through this testing process when you’re in a rush, working on a significant project, or aiming to beat a deadline. For example, if you’re thinking a design you’ve been working on would look great on the Bella + Canvas Unisex Sponge Fleece Drop Shoulder Sweatshirt. Then, play with your design ideas, schedule time to sit down and go through each photo editor until you narrow it down to one or two that you feel comfortable with and could see helping you level up your clothing brand.
Once you find an option you like, learn as much as you possibly can about it to make the most of your experience and help your clothing brand. If you have a specific question that the website does not address, don’t hesitate to send them an email to get answers from those who know best. Another option is to search for the photo editor name + tutorial, + the specific task you want to accomplish. You’ll likely pull up several viable options, including videos, that could help you with the process.
So what do you do if you’re having a problem on a site figuring out how to accomplish tasks like editing your photos or creating a clothing mockup? The first step is to read the help or FAQ section on each website and – if possible – take a course or browse a tutorial for more in-depth information. They could guide you on doing everything from the beginner basics to the more advanced features while you build your knowledge. Even if you feel you already know what you’re doing, it can be beneficial to start with the beginning “101” advice and work your way up.
Know that you’re not the first person to need a little guidance about what to do, so there’s nothing wrong with seeking out this information, significantly if it can help improve your business and make it easier for you to do specific tasks effectively. For example, suppose there are relevant social media channels. Then, it could also be beneficial to browse through them to see what other users are saying, which may ultimately impact whether or not you use a specific photo editor.
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