Free Photo Editors and Image Viewers

Choose the tool for your image workflow

Editors

GIMP: retouching and image composition

GIMP suits work that needs more control than a crop or brightness adjustment: combining images, making selections and refining separate elements. The project describes photo retouching and image composition as core uses. Plan some time to learn its tools. Start with one representative photo, keep the original and check the exported result in the application or service where you will use it.

Paint.NET: everyday Windows image editing

Paint.NET combines layers, selections, adjustments, text and effects in a Windows application. Its feature documentation is a useful guide to what is included before adding plugins. The download page distinguishes the free direct download from the paid Microsoft Store release. Check the current Windows and hardware requirements if you are using an older PC, and keep a layered project if you expect further revisions.

Krita: built for drawing

Krita is a strong starting point for illustration and digital painting. Its documented tools include brush engines, stabilizers, layer management and animation. Choose it when drawing is central to the task, such as creating an illustration or painting over reference material. Test your tablet and pressure response, and save a project copy before exporting the finished artwork.

darktable: the RAW developer

darktable combines photo management with RAW development. The project's overview explains its non-destructive editing: adjustments are applied when you export a finished image. It fits a workflow involving exposure, color and many shots from a camera session. Confirm support for your camera files, and back up the original photographs as well as the information needed to preserve your editing decisions.

Viewers

IrfanView: viewing and batch work on Windows

IrfanView provides thumbnail viewing, crop and rotation tools, and batch conversion. Those features can be enough when you need to inspect a folder or resize many images. Its publisher states the free-use conditions, including private and specified educational or charitable use; business or commercial use requires a license. Match any required plugins to the program build you download.

XnView MP: organize and process image collections

XnView MP offers browsing, metadata work and batch processing across desktop platforms. The publisher's feature and licensing page lists viewing, renaming and conversion tools, with free private or educational use and a paid company license. Try a small folder first to check supported formats and your preferred organization method before processing a library.

Save an editable copy and check the export

A project file and a shareable image serve different purposes. Preserve the application's editable project when you need to keep layers or revisit text, then export a copy in the format your recipient needs. Check pixel dimensions, transparency, color and compression on that exported file.

For batch work, send results to a separate output folder first. Inspect a few examples before applying the operation to hundreds of images. Keep your originals, especially when converting camera files or repeatedly saving compressed images.

If your starting point is a desktop capture, our screenshot software collection covers capture and annotation tools. For a wider PC setup around your creative work, browse free software for Windows.