Photopea - A Free Photoshop Clone

Brad Colbow
21 Jun 202110:56

TLDRThe video introduces Photop, a web-based application that closely mimics Adobe Photoshop's functionality. Created by Ivan Cutsker, Photop offers a free alternative to Photoshop, featuring a familiar interface and essential tools for image editing and design. Despite lacking some advanced features and having occasional lag, it performs well on various devices, particularly Android tablets with pen input. The video also highlights Photop's potential as a design tool and its capability to import and edit PSD files.

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 been operating the project for nearly two years and made over a million dollars from ads in the app.
  • 📱 The interface of Photop is identical to Photoshop, including tools, history, layers, and type panels.
  • 🖌️ Photop supports common Photoshop keyboard shortcuts and basic workflow for users familiar with the desktop version.
  • 📂 Users can open and edit .PSD files, and export them back to their desktops after working on them in Photop.
  • 🖱️ The app does not have all the slick UI features of the desktop version, such as collapsing panels by double-clicking.
  • 🎨 Photop can be used as a drawing tool, but the experience may not be as smooth, especially when using certain devices like the iPad.
  • 🌍 The app is accessible on any device that can run a web browser, making it a versatile tool for various users.
  • 📈 Despite the functional similarities, Photop lacks some advanced features like smart objects that are available in Adobe Photoshop.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video?

    -The main topic of the video is the introduction and review of Photopea, a web-based application that closely resembles Adobe Photoshop in terms of features and interface.

  • How is Photopea different from other web-based design tools like Medibang or Fire Alpaca?

    -Photopea is different because it is not just similar to Photoshop, but a feature-for-feature recreation of it, made from the ground up in a web browser.

  • What is the creator's name and how long has the project been around?

    -The creator of Photopea is Ivan Cutsker, and the project has been around for almost two years.

  • How has Ivan Cutsker monetized Photopea?

    -Ivan Cutsker has monetized Photopea through ads displayed along the side of the application, which has reportedly earned him over a million dollars in the previous 12 months before his Q&A on Hacker News.

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

    -Some of the core features of Photoshop available in Photopea include the tools you're used to on the left, such as the brush and selection tools, the history and layers panel on the right, and the type panels.

  • What is the reviewer's opinion on using Photopea for drawing purposes?

    -The reviewer does not recommend Photopea for drawing purposes. He mentions that the lines appear jagged and not suitable for art, suggesting that there are better free options like Medibang and Fire Alpaca for those learning art.

  • How does the reviewer describe the experience of using Photopea on different devices?

    -The reviewer tested Photopea on an iPad, Android tablet (Galaxy Tab S7 Plus), and a desktop. He found it more useful on the iPad for graphic design tasks compared to the actual Photoshop app, but noted that the Apple Pencil did not have pressure sensitivity or was not detected. On the Android tablet, using the Wacom Power Pen provided a better drawing experience.

  • What is the reviewer's verdict on Photopea for users familiar with Photoshop?

    -The reviewer found that for users familiar with Photoshop, Photopea was easy to adapt to with no learning curve, as it retains the same keyboard shortcuts and workflow. He suggests that it might be worth trying out due to its free nature and the core Photoshop features it offers.

  • What is the main sponsor of the video?

    -The main sponsor of the video is Squarespace, an all-in-one platform for creating a website and managing online presence.

  • What are some of the benefits Squarespace offers for website owners?

    -Squarespace offers benefits such as marketing tools, analytics, email campaigns, website analytics, search engine optimization, and the ability to have a custom domain.

  • How can viewers try out Squarespace?

    -Viewers can try out Squarespace by visiting squarespace.com for a free trial, and when they're ready to launch, they can use the code 'bragg colbo' to save 10% on their first purchase of a website or domain.

Outlines

00:00

🖼️ Introducing Photop: A Photoshop Alternative in the Browser

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 noted to be free and ad-supported, with the creator, Ivan Cutsker, having made over a million dollars from ads in the previous year. The discussion includes the app's interface, its similarity to Photoshop, and its potential as a resource for those who need Photoshop's functionalities without the monthly fee. The paragraph also touches on 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, discussing its file handling, layer management, and compatibility with keyboard shortcuts. He demonstrates the app's functionality by opening a PSD file and using various tools, noting that while some desktop UI features are missing, the core Photoshop experience is preserved. However, Brad points out that Photop does not remember clipboard contents from outside the app, which is a significant aspect of his workflow. The paragraph also highlights the app's ability to copy and paste from the web, although it may not recognize content from other art applications.

10:01

🖌️ Assessing Photop's Suitability for Drawing

This paragraph focuses on evaluating Photop's performance as a drawing tool. Brad tests the app with a tablet and assesses its pressure sensitivity and line quality. He finds that while pressure sensitivity is present, the drawing experience is subpar, with jagged lines and lack of smoothness. He compares it unfavorably to other free drawing apps like MediBang and Fire Alpaca. The discussion also includes testing Photop on different devices, such as an iPad and a Galaxy Tab S7 Plus, noting that while the app works on any device with a web browser, the drawing experience varies significantly across devices and is more suitable for design and photo editing tasks rather than art creation.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Photopea

Photopea is described as a complete recreation of Adobe Photoshop that operates within a web browser. It stands out for being free to use and includes a significant portion of Photoshop's features, making it a potentially valuable tool for those needing Photoshop's capabilities without the subscription fee. The script emphasizes its ability to mimic Photoshop to a considerable extent, underscoring both its utility and the surprise that Adobe has not taken legal action against it.

💡Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is a widely used professional software for image editing and graphics design. It serves as the benchmark against which Photopea is compared in the script. The video script discusses how Photopea replicates Photoshop's features, interface, and user experience within a web browser, highlighting the significance of having such a powerful tool accessible for free online.

💡Web Browser

The term 'web browser' is crucial in the script because it underlines the platform on which Photopea operates. Unlike traditional software that requires installation, Photopea's accessibility through a web browser means it can be used on various devices without the need for specific operating systems or hardware, broadening its accessibility and convenience for users.

💡Ivan Kutskir

Ivan Kutskir is mentioned as the creator of Photopea, a significant figure due to his development of a complex tool like Photopea single-handedly. The script highlights his achievement in creating an application that competes with Adobe Photoshop's capabilities and his success in monetizing it through ads, evidenced by the revenue generated over a year.

💡Drawing Tools

Drawing tools are a subset of features discussed in Photopea, highlighting its potential as a drawing and graphic design tool. The script critiques the quality of the drawing experience in Photopea, particularly noting issues with line quality and pressure sensitivity when using graphic tablets, which is a crucial aspect for artists and designers.

💡File Compatibility

File compatibility is addressed in the script through the ability to open and edit PSD (Photoshop Document) files within Photopea. This feature is significant for users who need to work with files created in Adobe Photoshop but do not have access to the software, offering a free alternative for editing and exporting these files.

💡UI (User Interface)

The script discusses Photopea's UI as mirroring that of Adobe Photoshop, making it familiar to those accustomed to Photoshop's layout. However, it notes some limitations compared to the desktop software, such as the inability to adjust the UI elements in the same way, which could affect user experience.

💡Ads Revenue

Ads revenue is mentioned as the monetization strategy for Photopea, with the creator, Ivan Kutskir, having reportedly earned a significant amount from ads within the app. This aspect of Photopea's operation is notable not only for its financial success but also for its role in keeping the tool free for users.

💡Pressure Sensitivity

Pressure sensitivity is a feature discussed in relation to the drawing tools in Photopea, which affects the thickness and transparency of lines based on the pressure applied on the tablet. The script points out that while Photopea attempts to support pressure sensitivity, the performance does not meet the standards of other dedicated drawing applications, impacting its suitability for serious artwork.

💡Cross-Platform Use

The concept of cross-platform use is significant in the script, highlighting Photopea's versatility across different devices such as iPads, Android tablets, and desktop computers. This flexibility is underscored by the software's web-based nature, allowing for a wide range of use cases, though with varying levels of functionality and performance across devices.

Highlights

Photoshop has been recreated in a web browser, called Photop.

Photop is a feature-for-feature recreation of Photoshop and is completely free to use.

The creator of Photop, Ivan Cutsker, has been able to generate over a million dollars from ads in the app.

Photop's interface is almost identical to Photoshop's, which could surprise users accustomed to Adobe's software.

Photop can be a potential alternative for users who need Photoshop's functionalities without the monthly fee.

The app allows users to open and edit PSD files, and then export them back to the desktop.

Keyboard shortcuts from Photoshop work in Photop, maintaining a familiar workflow for users.

Photop supports basic drawing functionalities but may not be optimal for advanced art creation.

The app can be used across different devices, as long as they can run a web browser.

On an iPad, Photop's functionalities are present, but without a keyboard, some users might find it less efficient.

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

On an Android tablet, the app's performance is improved, especially with a Wacom pen.

For users seeking a Photoshop-like experience on Android, Photop is a viable option.

Photop offers core Photoshop features and basic functionalities, but lacks some advanced features.

The app contains ads along the side, which helps support the creator's effort.

Photop might be worth trying for users who are interested in a free, web-based alternative to Adobe Photoshop.