Chrome Os started as fiddling more than than a browser, but Google has added Android and Linux app support to requite Chromebooks a somewhat respectable software library. You know what'southward still missing, though? Photoshop. While you lot can't get Adobe's dominant photo editing tool, at that place are a number of apps that can practise at least part of what Photoshop does. Hither are five options y'all might be able to utilize in place of Photoshop on a Chromebook.

GIMP

The GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) is the nigh full-featured Photoshop culling available on Chromebooks. However, it's still lacking some of Photoshop's more pop features, and information technology'southward a Linux app. Setting up Linux requires a few extra steps, and not all Chromebooks are powerful enough to run GIMP well. First, find the Linux beta toggle in your Chrome OS settings (merely search for it). You tin can install GIMP with the following commands.

sudo apt update

sudo apt install gimp

Some newer Chromebooks support GPU acceleration for Linux apps, so you'll want to plow that on if bachelor. GPU acceleration is a flag under chrome://flags/#crostini-gpu-back up. GIMP has support for multiple image layers, brushes, filters, transformations, and it can open about any paradigm format. You might have to unlearn some Photoshop habits, though.

Photopea

Chrome OS is all about the web, correct? And then it just makes sense that your photo editing solution lives on the web. Photopea is a surprisingly capable editor y'all tin open in the Chrome browser.

The UI is essentially a clone of Photoshop, but in that location'south less power under the hood. You can command layers, apply filters, employ brushes, and even create simple vector graphics. It's costless and ad-supported, but you tin can pay for a premium version ($9 per month) with no ads and more editing history.

Snapseed

At the polar opposite end of the spectrum from GIMP is Snapseed. This is a very limited editing experience considering it'south an Android app. That means the UI won't exist platonic for a keyboard and mouse, but it's easier if your Chromebook has a touchscreen.

Snapseed might be sufficient if all yous need is basic cropping, filters, and prototype tuning. Information technology even has some RAW file processing capabilities, though not equally robust as GIMP or even Polarr. You can get Snapseed from the Play Store, where it's bachelor free of charge.

Pixlr E

Pixlr comes in two flavors: Eastward and X. Pixlr Ten is a simpler application and not much of a Photoshop replacement, merely Pixlr E is in the aforementioned general category as Photopea. It'south an online clone of Photoshop with a healthy but non overly impressive characteristic set.

Information technology doesn't have quite as many tools every bit Photopea, and some of them are locked behind the paywall. That said, information technology'due south enough capable if you simply need to tweak an epitome, shuffle layers, or resize. Pixlr is a bit cheaper than Photopea at the base level. You can get rid of the ads and become more tools for $7.99 per month or $3.99/mo when paid yearly. The professional version ($14.99.mo) includes stock photos, overlays, and more than.

Polarr

Whereas Photopea and Pixlr endeavour to imitate Photoshop, Polarr is more akin to Lightroom. And so, it's more than useful for processing photos than creating new graphics from scratch. It still has many useful editing tools like filters, automobile retouching, layers, and numerous prototype adjustments. The filters are as well considered higher quality than the web-based options. Withal, you lot but get a few filters in the complimentary version.

The Pro version has more than of those plus masks, perspective command, batch export, and more. Information technology's $three.99 per month and includes access to the full characteristic set on all platforms: Chrome Bone, spider web, Android, macOS, and Windows.

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About The Author

Ryan Whitwam (7194 Articles Published)

Ryan is a tech/science writer, skeptic, lover of all things electronic, and Android fan. In his spare time he reads gilt-age sci-fi and sleeps, but rarely at the same time. His wife tolerates him as few would. He's the author of a sci-fi novel called The Kleptomaniacal City, which is available on Amazon and Google Play.

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