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GIMP VS Acorn

Compare GIMP VS Acorn and see what are their differences

Kimp
Kimp is an unlimited design company, specializing in graphic design (including print and digital designs, custom illustrations, landing page designs and email designs) and video design. featured
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GIMP logo GIMP

GIMP is a multiplatform photo manipulation tool.

Acorn logo Acorn

Acorn is a photo editor built for the rest of us.
  • GIMP Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30
  • Acorn Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-23

GIMP features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    GIMP is completely free to use and open source, allowing users to download, modify, and distribute the software without any cost.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    GIMP is compatible with multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing flexibility for users on different platforms.
  • Extensive Plugin Support
    GIMP supports a wide range of plugins, which can be used to enhance functionality and customize the software to suit specific needs.
  • Powerful Editing Tools
    GIMP offers a comprehensive set of image editing tools for tasks such as photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring, suitable for both beginners and advanced users.

Possible disadvantages of GIMP

  • Complex Interface
    The user interface can be overwhelming and not as intuitive as other commercial software, which can pose a steep learning curve for new users.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users experience performance issues, such as slow rendering times, especially when working with large files or applying multiple layers and effects.
  • Limited Professional Features
    Compared to industry-standard software like Adobe Photoshop, GIMP lacks some advanced features and tools that professionals might need for high-end work.
  • Inconsistent Updates
    Updates and new features can be inconsistent, as the development relies on a community of volunteers rather than a dedicated team.

Acorn features and specs

  • Intuitive Interface
    Acorn offers a user-friendly and intuitive interface that makes it accessible for both beginners and experienced users.
  • Lightweight
    The software is lightweight, ensuring that it runs smoothly without consuming significant system resources.
  • Affordable
    Acorn is priced reasonably compared to other professional-grade image editing software, making it a cost-effective choice.
  • Non-destructive Editing
    Supports non-destructive editing, allowing users to make changes to their images without permanently altering the original files.
  • Extensive Format Support
    Acorn supports a wide range of image formats, making it versatile for different kinds of projects.
  • Vector Tools
    Includes vector drawing tools, allowing users to create and edit vector graphics within the same application.
  • Scripting
    Supports AppleScript and JavaScript automation, enabling users to automate repetitive tasks and workflows.

Possible disadvantages of Acorn

  • Mac Only
    Acorn is only available for macOS, which limits its accessibility for users on other operating systems like Windows or Linux.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    While Acorn is powerful, it lacks some of the advanced features found in more professional software like Adobe Photoshop.
  • Smaller Community
    Due to its niche user base, there is a smaller community and fewer tutorials or resources available compared to more popular software.
  • Occasional Bugs
    Some users have reported occasional bugs or performance issues, which can affect workflow.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its intuitive interface, there's still a learning curve for users who are new to image editing software.
  • Limited Collaboration Tools
    Acorn lacks advanced collaboration tools that some other image editing software offers, which makes it less ideal for team-based projects.

Analysis of GIMP

Overall verdict

  • GIMP is generally considered a good alternative to commercial image editing software, especially for those who are looking for a cost-effective solution. While it may not have all the advanced features or polished interface of some paid options, it is powerful enough for most editing tasks and keeps improving with regular updates.

Why this product is good

  • GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free and open-source image editor that offers a wide range of tools and features for photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring. It is highly customizable and supports various plugins, making it a flexible option for different design needs. Its active community provides extensive support and resources for users.

Recommended for

    GIMP is recommended for beginners, hobbyists, and professionals who need a robust image editor without a financial commitment. It's suitable for users who are comfortable with learning open-source software and those who need a tool for basic to mid-level image editing tasks.

Analysis of Acorn

Overall verdict

  • Acorn is considered a good option for those seeking an easy-to-use and budget-friendly image editor with a rich set of features. Its focus on simplicity and functionality makes it well-suited for hobbyists and professionals who want to perform image editing without a steep learning curve.

Why this product is good

  • Acorn, developed by Flying Meat, is a popular image editing software known for its user-friendly interface and affordability. It offers a wide range of features such as layer styles, non-destructive filters, vector tools, and more, making it a viable option for photographers and graphic designers who do not require the complexity of more advanced software like Adobe Photoshop.

Recommended for

    Acorn is ideal for amateur photographers, graphic design enthusiasts, and small business owners who need comprehensive image editing capabilities without the expense and complexity of high-end software. It's particularly recommended for users operating within the macOS ecosystem.

GIMP videos

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Gimp vs Photoshop - Photo Editing Software - COMPARISON 2018

More videos:

  • Review - GIMP 2020 Preview and GIMP 2019 Recap
  • Review - 10 Reasons to Use GIMP in 2020 Over Photoshop

Acorn videos

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What you MUST know about Acorns Investing

More videos:

  • Review - Acorns App After 9 Months| Acorns Investing App Review 2019
  • Review - My Acorn Investment Aggressive Portfolio App After 1 Year

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GIMP and Acorn)

GIMP

Acorn

Graphic Design Software
92 92%
Graphic Design Software
8% 8
Image Editing
89 89%
Image Editing
11% 11
Digital Drawing And Painting
92 92%
Digital Drawing And Painting
8% 8
Photo Editing
100 100%
Photo Editing
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using GIMP and Acorn. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare GIMP and Acorn

GIMP Reviews

  1. Clipping Path universe
    · Working at Clipping Path ·
    A great site

    This is a great site for photo editing and the software is supper.

    👍 Pros:    Trusted
12 Best Free PosterMyWall Alternatives and Competitors
You can use GIMP as a basic paint tool, a high-quality photo editor, a tool to process many images at once online, a way to make lots of images, or even to change the format of an image. GIMP can do even more because you can add extra features to it using plugins and extensions. You can make it do just about anything you like.
Source: mockey.ai
10 Best Photopea Software Alternatives in 2024 (Free & Paid)
There are 1,439 votes for GIMP and 14 votes for Photopea. GIMP gets 4.3/5, and Photopea gets 4.8/5. These rankings come from real user reviews and can help you choose between the two based on your industry’s needs.
Source: www.geeksforgeeks.org
Best Adobe Photoshop alternatives of 2024
In our experience, GIMP was slightly less responsive and used a few more resources than its proprietary counterpart, but this can be easily forgiven on the basis that GIMP always has been and always will be free and open source.
Source: www.techradar.com
10 Best Adobe Illustrator Alternatives
Check out GIMP, one of the best free Illustrator alternatives which is ideal for any creative.
Source: www.ebaqdesign.com
16+ Best Web Design Software in 2022 (Ranked by a Trusted Expert)
GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It’s a free and open-source software for editing images and a valuable tool to have in your arsenal.
Source: onehourprofessor.com

Acorn Reviews

We tested 4 photo editing alternatives to Photoshop
Acorn is only available on Mac, so if you’re a Windows user who wants to use Acorn you’re either going to be £1000 lighter in the wallet department, or bang out of luck. Max found the interface outdated, resembling a OSX Tiger era UI, but CPU usage is managed brilliantly resulting in a smooth, responsive experience with no curser lag or rendering delays. 7/10
Source: diginate.com
The 9 best alternatives to Photoshop
Image editing software Acorn debuted back in 2007 and has provided hobbyists and artists on a budget with a great, affordable alternative to Photoshop ever since. Features of the software include layer styles, non-destructive filters, curves and levels, blending modes and much more.
Source: www.creativebloq.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GIMP should be more popular than Acorn. It has been mentiond 59 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

GIMP mentions (59)

  • Yurt Calculator
    Image Creative Commons (CC) BY-SA-NC 2005-2017, developed, designed and written by René K. Müller Graphics & illustrations made with Inkscape, Tgif, Gimp, PovRay, GD.pm Web-Site powered by FreeBSD & Debian/Linux - 100% Open Source. Source: about 2 years ago
  • I just cannot understand why they did Paint so bad
    Paint.NET for a familiar paradigm with nicer features. Pinta for an old school, simple Paint experience. Krita for more advanced drawing. Gimp for editing/manipulating photos. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Had to make This after seeing all the post over and over again
    If you don't want to pay for photoshop, check out the Gnu Image Manipulation Program at http://gimp.org which is free. It has most of what you'd want photoshop for. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Super, just Super.
    As good as this suggestion is, without proper links and explanation it means nothing. GEGL is a type of plugins for GIMP, which can adjust the settings of already present effects and create new ones. The most notable ones are made by LinuxBeaver. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Useful apps for Ux designers
    GIMP: FOSS alternative to Photoshop. Like Inkscape, it’s not directly related to UI, but might be handy. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Acorn mentions (20)

View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing GIMP and Acorn, you can also consider the following products

Adobe Photoshop - Adobe Photoshop is a webtop application for editing images and photos online.

Pixelmator - Pixelmator is an image-editing application for Mac and iPad.

Krita - Krita is a professional FREE and open source painting program. It is made by artists that want to seaffordable art tools for everyone. Concept art. texture and matte painters, illustrations and comics.

Pixlr - Pixlr® makes it easy to transform everyday images into stunning works of art.

Affinity Photo - Affinity is the imaging and design suite for creative professionals exclusively for Mac.

Sketch - Professional digital design for Mac.

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