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Inspiring
December 31, 2022
Question

Alternative to Photoshop

  • December 31, 2022
  • 3 replies
  • 2273 views

It seems that Adobe is gearing Photoshop for 7 year olds these days by adding  features that clutter, are annoying and buggy. The biggest, most annoying bug is the help menu. Once launched, it is impossible to exit. A HUGE bug that has been missed because Adobe probalbly now has 12 year olds in charge of software design. Unbelievble! Can anyone recommend an alternative to Photoshop, one built for professional adults? 

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3 replies

NB, colourmanagement
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 4, 2023

In my opinion, there is NO real alternative to Photoshop, users generally just choose the options and features they want, ignoring the unwanted options. 

Some users do choose Affinity but in my tests [perhaps 23 months ago] I gave up because the colour management seemed buggy and when printing  application colour management (think: Photoshop Manages Color) was entirely missing. So, it's not possible to use ICC profiles for third-party media. 

Deal breaker for me. 

 

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net - adobe forum volunteer - co-author: 'getting colour right'
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management

NB, colourmanagement
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 4, 2023

Perhaps try resetting Photoshop preferences? 

(read this entire post before acting please)

Resetting restores Photoshop's internal preferences, which are saved when Photoshop closes. 

If they become corrupt then various issues can occur.

 

Here’s some info on how to do that:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html

Manually removing preferences files is the most complete method for restoring Photoshop to its default state: 

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#Manually

 

Note re macOS: The user Library folder is hidden by default.

To access files in the hidden user Library folder, see here for how to access hidden user library files. 

https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/access-hidden-user-library-files.html

 

Unexpected behavior may indicate damaged preferences. Restoring preferences to their default settings is a good idea when trying to troubleshoot unexpected behaviors in Photoshop. check out the video

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#reset_preferences

 

Learn how to access and modify Photoshop preferences and customize per your frequent workflows

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html

 

And here’s an earlier forum discussion as an aid to understanding

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/quick-tips-how-to-reset-photoshop-preferences/td-p/12502668

 

You may want to backup your settings and custom presets, brushes & actions before restoring Photoshop's preferences.

Here is general info about that:  https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#BackupPhotoshoppreferences

 

 

Before you reset your preferences

in case of future issues, I suggest you make a copy as Adobe may need one to check problematic references. 

Quit Photoshop.
Go to Photoshop's Preferences folder

Preferences file locations: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/preference-file-names-locations-photoshop.html\


  [on MacOS see: Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings

  Note for those on macOS: - be aware that the user Library folder is hidden by default on macOS. 

  https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/access-hidden-user-library-files.html

  In the Finder, open the “Go” menu whilst holding down the Option (Alt) key. 

  Library will now appear in the list - below the current user's “home” directory. ]

 

Now you can drag the entire Adobe Photoshop [Version] Settings folder to the desktop or somewhere safe as a back-up of your settings.

 

 

Note for those on macOS:

Preference preservation is affected by macOS permissions, 

you’ll need to allow Photoshop ‘Full Disk Access’ in your Mac OS Preferences/Security and Privacy

 

 

 

It may even be time to reinstall Photoshop. 

 

It’s recommended that you use the Adobe CC cleaner tool to remove all traces first. 

(See above about preserving preferences though! Its worth preserving them unless they are corrupted.)

 

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

Uninstall Photoshop BUT make sure to choose the option “Yes, remove app preference”.

 

Once that process finishes, start the installation process and look into the “Advanced Options”. Uncheck “Import previous settings and preferences” and choose to “Remove old versions”.

 

I hope this helps

neil barstow, colourmanagement net :: adobe forum volunteer

google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management

Simmer1
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 31, 2022

Hey,

I am sorry to hear you are having trouble with Photoshop on your machine. This link may help you: 

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb /photoshop-slow-lags.html

 

This is just my opinion of course but one would be hard-pressed to find another program that comes close to Photoshop.

 

Although Procreate might be a decent alternative.

 

Happy 2023!

Sim

 

jane-e
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 31, 2022

@Indie767  and @Simmer1 

 

Because this is a help site for Adobe, we are not allowed to recommend non-Adobe applications. You can use Google to look for alternatives.

 

Photoshop is the photo-editing application for professionals. Adobe also has Photoshop Elements for non-professionals.

 

I don't have the issue with closing the Help menu that you do. Can you show a screenshot of what you are seeing? We should be able to help you with that and other issues.

 

Jane

 

jane-e
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 1, 2023

@Indie767 

This is how the Discover panel looks on my computer. I resized it as short and and narrow as I possibly could.

  • What size is your monitor?
  • What have you set the resolution to in Windows OS?
  • What do you have in Preferences > Interface?

I have two button at the top on my Discover panel. One is the Close button and the other makes it full size, which might be what you have. If you can either pull the panel down or change the monitor resolution, then maybe, just maybe, taking it off full size will solve your issue.

If not, this needs to go to the Bugs or Ideas section with a request to resize the panel more than you can now. There are already scroll bars, but it doesn't resize enough for your purposes.

 

I am on macOS, but it should be the same.

 

Jane

 

 


 

@Indie767 

 

I confess that I don't use the Discover panel as much as Trevor does, but I just clicked the Gear icon at the bottom and learned that "Escape" will close the panel. You might need to press it twice as explained below. Will that work for you?

The panel can be resized, and I think a feature request asking to make it even smalled for the reasons you give would be worthwhile. Start a new thread since this one is cluttered, and tag it as "Ideas" instead of "Discussions".

 

Jane