Photopea - A Free Photoshop Clone

Brad Colbow
21 Jun 202110:56

TLDRIn this video, the reviewer introduces Photop, a web-based application that closely mirrors Adobe Photoshop's functionality. Photop is a free tool, despite its near-identical interface and essential features to Photoshop. The creator, Ivan Cutsker, has managed to monetize the app through ads, earning over a million dollars in a year. The reviewer explores the app's capabilities, including its use as a drawing tool, and tests it on various devices, finding that while it's not ideal for drawing, it excels in graphic design and photo editing tasks. The app's compatibility with keyboard shortcuts and its performance on Android tablets are also highlighted.

Takeaways

  • 🌐 The video discusses a web-based application called Photop, which is a complete recreation of Adobe Photoshop.
  • 💡 Photop is feature-for-feature recreation of Photoshop and is available for free use in a web browser.
  • 🎨 The creator of Photop, Ivan Cutsker, has reportedly made over a million dollars from ads in the app within a year.
  • 📱 The app is designed to be used on any device that can run a web browser, making it accessible across different platforms.
  • 🖌️ While the app works well for graphic design and photo editing, it may not be the best option for drawing due to line quality issues.
  • 🖱️ The app supports keyboard shortcuts and functions similarly to Photoshop on a desktop, providing a familiar experience for users.
  • 📱 The use of an Apple Pencil on an iPad was found to be less effective compared to using a Wacom pen on an Android tablet.
  • 📈 The app has been around for almost two years, and the creator participated in a Q&A on Hacker News discussing the project.
  • 🔍 Despite being a close replica of Photoshop, Adobe has not taken legal action against the creator of Photop.
  • 🎶 The video is sponsored by Squarespace, which is an all-in-one platform for creating a website and managing online presence.
  • 💬 The video creator suggests that Photop might be a good alternative for those who need Photoshop-like capabilities but do not want to pay the monthly fee.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video?

    -The main topic of the video is a review of Photopea, a web-based application that is a complete recreation of Adobe Photoshop.

  • How does the reviewer describe the functionality of Photopea compared to Adobe Photoshop?

    -The reviewer describes Photopea as a feature-for-feature recreation of Photoshop, with a similar interface and tools, but without all the advanced features of Adobe's software.

  • What is the cost of using Photopea?

    -Photopea is completely free to use, although it does display ads along the side of the interface.

  • Who created Photopea and how long has the project been around?

    -Photopea was created by Ivan Cutsker, and the project has been around for almost two years.

  • How much revenue has Ivan Cutsker generated from the ads in Photopea?

    -Ivan Cutsker has generated over a million dollars from the ads in Photopea over the previous 12 months before the review.

  • What is the reviewer's opinion on using Photopea as a drawing tool?

    -The reviewer does not recommend Photopea for drawing, as the lines appear jagged and the experience is not good, especially when compared to other free options like Medibang and Fire Alpaca.

  • On which devices has the reviewer tested Photopea?

    -The reviewer tested Photopea on an iPad, a Galaxy Tab S7 Plus, and a desktop computer.

  • How does the performance of Photopea compare on different devices?

    -On the iPad, Photopea is more useful for graphic design and photo editing, but the Apple Pencil does not have pressure sensitivity. On the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus with a Wacom power pen, the performance is much better, almost as functional as on the desktop.

  • What are some of the core features of Photoshop available in Photopea?

    -Photopea includes core features such as tools, selection, history, layers, and type panels that are similar to Photoshop, but it lacks some of the more advanced features like smart objects.

  • What is the reviewer's final verdict on Photopea?

    -The reviewer is impressed with Photopea, especially considering it's free and has no learning curve for those familiar with Photoshop. However, he advises against using it for drawing and suggests other apps for that purpose.

  • What is the role of Squarespace in the video?

    -Squarespace is the sponsor of the video, and they are promoted as an all-in-one platform for creating a website with marketing tools, analytics, and search engine optimization.

Outlines

00:00

🖼️ Introducing Photop: A Web-based Photoshop Alternative

This paragraph introduces Photop, a web-based application that is a complete recreation of Adobe Photoshop. The speaker, Brad, expresses surprise that Adobe hasn't taken legal action against such a feature-for-feature copy. Photop is free to use, with ads supporting the creator, Ivan Cutsker. Brad discusses the app's interface, which is identical to Photoshop's, and its potential as a resource for those who need Photoshop's functionality without the monthly fee. He also explores the possibility of using Photop as a drawing tool.

05:00

🎨 Exploring Photop's Functionality and Limitations

In this paragraph, Brad delves deeper into Photop's capabilities, including its compatibility with Photoshop's tools and shortcuts. He demonstrates the app's functionality by opening a PSD file, working with layers, and using text tools. However, he notes some limitations, such as the lack of certain slick UI features and the absence of desktop fonts. Brad also highlights the app's ability to copy and paste from the web, but points out that it doesn't remember the clipboard contents from other art applications. He concludes by discussing the brushes and the drawing experience on Photop, noting that it's not ideal for art due to the jagged lines and lack of smoothness.

10:01

🌐 Testing Photop Across Devices and Considering its Potential

Brad discusses testing Photop on different devices, including an iPad and a Galaxy Tab S7 Plus. He finds the app more useful than the actual Photoshop app on the iPad for graphic design tasks, especially with a keyboard. However, he notes that the Apple Pencil doesn't work well with Photop, lacking pressure sensitivity and producing poor-quality lines. In contrast, using the Wacom Power Pen on an Android tablet provides a better experience. Brad concludes that while Photop lacks some advanced features of Adobe Photoshop, it offers the core functionalities and could be a valuable free resource for those familiar with Photoshop's workflow.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Photop

Photop is a web-based application that is a complete recreation of Adobe Photoshop. It is designed to mimic the functionality and interface of Photoshop but operates within a web browser, making it accessible without the need for a desktop application. In the video, the reviewer is surprised by the extent to which Photop mirrors Photoshop's features and capabilities, and how it offers a free alternative for users who might not want to pay for Adobe's monthly subscription.

💡Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is a widely used software program for image editing and graphic design. It offers a suite of tools and features that enable professionals to manipulate and create digital images. In the context of the video, Photoshop is the industry standard that Photop is being compared to, with the reviewer noting the striking similarities between the two applications.

💡Web Browser

A web browser is a software application used for accessing information on the World Wide Web. In the video, the browser is the platform where Photop operates, distinguishing it from traditional desktop applications like Adobe Photoshop. The reviewer highlights the convenience of having a powerful image editing tool available within a browser, making it accessible on various devices without the need for installation.

💡Creative Professionals

Creative professionals are individuals who work in fields that require creativity, artistic skills, and design capabilities. In the video, the reviewer focuses on the needs of this demographic, assessing how Photop serves as a potential alternative to Adobe Photoshop for tasks such as photo editing and graphic design.

💡Interface

The interface in software refers to the point of interaction between the user and the program. In the context of the video, the interface of Photop is noted for being identical to that of Adobe Photoshop, which suggests a familiar and user-friendly experience for those accustomed to Photoshop's layout and tools.

💡Free to Use

Refers to the availability of a product or service without any cost to the user. In the video, Photop is described as being completely free, which is a significant advantage over Adobe Photoshop that requires a monthly subscription fee. This makes Photop an attractive option for individuals or businesses looking to minimize costs.

💡Ads

Ads, short for advertisements, are promotional messages paid for by businesses to market their products or services. In the context of the video, Photop is funded by ads displayed along the side of the application. This is how the creator, Ivan Cutsker, generates revenue to support the development and maintenance of Photop.

💡Drawing Tool

A drawing tool refers to any instrument used for creating artwork, which can be either digital or traditional. In the video, the reviewer explores the capability of Photop as a drawing tool, specifically testing its performance with a tablet and comparing it to other free drawing applications like Medibang and Fire Alpaca.

💡Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of keys on a computer keyboard that, when pressed together, execute a specific command or action more efficiently than using a mouse or other input device. In the video, the reviewer appreciates that Photop supports keyboard shortcuts similar to those in Adobe Photoshop, which enhances the user experience for those familiar with the desktop version.

💡Cross-Platform Compatibility

Cross-platform compatibility refers to the ability of software to function on multiple operating systems or devices. In the video, Photop's compatibility with various devices and browsers is highlighted, emphasizing its utility across different platforms, including iPads, Android tablets, and desktop computers.

💡Pressure Sensitivity

Pressure sensitivity is a feature of digital drawing tools that allows the device to respond to the varying pressure applied by the user, resulting in changes in line thickness or color intensity. In the video, the reviewer discusses Photop's support for pressure sensitivity when using a tablet, but notes that the line quality does not match that of dedicated drawing applications.

Highlights

Photoshop has been remade from the ground up in a web browser, named Photop.

Photop works similarly to Adobe Photoshop but is completely free to use.

The creator of Photop, Ivan Cutsker, has managed to avoid legal action from Adobe despite the feature-for-feature recreation.

Photop has been around for almost two years and has generated over a million dollars in ad revenue.

The interface of Photop is identical to Photoshop, making it easy for users to adapt.

Photop can open and edit PSD files, and users can export them back to their desktop.

Keyboard shortcuts from Photoshop work in Photop, enhancing the user experience for those familiar with the software.

Photop can be used as a drawing tool, but the experience may not be as smooth as other dedicated drawing applications.

The app can be run on any device capable of supporting a modern web browser.

When tested on an iPad with a keyboard, Photop was found to be more useful than the actual Photoshop app for graphic design tasks.

The Apple Pencil does not seem to have pressure sensitivity when used with Photop on an iPad.

On an Android tablet with a Wacom pen, the drawing experience in Photop was found to be much better than with the Apple Pencil.

Photop offers core Photoshop features and basic functions, but lacks some of the advanced features like smart objects.

Despite the lack of advanced features, Photop provides a familiar workflow for Photoshop users with no learning curve.

The presence of ads in the app generates revenue for the creator, which is a unique model for sustaining a free service.

The video review suggests that Photop might be a valuable resource for those who need Photoshop-like capabilities but cannot afford the monthly fee.