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Best open-source Creative tools

The best open-source creative split in the c17.io catalog is GIMP for raster/photo (Photoshop), Krita for painting, Inkscape for vectors (Illustrator; code on GitLab), and Kdenlive or Shotcut for a timeline (Premiere Pro). These are workstation installs. Penpot remains the Figma-shaped collaborative board. Photopea is not open source.

Open the stackStart on Railway

Ranked picks

  1. 1

    GIMP

    GPL raster editor — the c17 Adobe Photoshop stack.

    When to pick it: Photo retouch and general image work on the workstation.

  2. 2

    Krita

    GPL-3.0 digital painting already on the Photoshop stack.

    When to pick it: Illustration and painting, not photo retouch.

    10,580 stars in the catalog

  3. 3

    Inkscape

    GPL vector editor — the c17 Adobe Illustrator stack. Canonical repo is GitLab.

    When to pick it: SVG/PDF artwork on the workstation.

  4. 4

    Kdenlive

    GPL-3.0 MLT/KDE timeline — the c17 Adobe Premiere Pro stack.

    When to pick it: Cuts and tracks on a desktop, not a hosted editor.

    5,891 stars in the catalog

  5. 5

    Shotcut

    GPL-3.0 Qt video editor named next to Kdenlive.

    When to pick it: The other OSS timeline if Kdenlive is not the shape.

    15,447 stars in the catalog

How they compare

ToolLicenseSelf-hostBest for
GIMPGPL-3.0-or-laterEasyPhoto retouch and general image work on the workstation.
KritaGPL-3.0EasyIllustration and painting, not photo retouch.
InkscapeGPL-2.0-or-laterEasySVG/PDF artwork on the workstation.
KdenliveGPL-3.0EasyCuts and tracks on a desktop, not a hosted editor.
ShotcutGPL-3.0EasyThe other OSS timeline if Kdenlive is not the shape.

Related pages

FAQ

GIMP or Krita?
GIMP for photo/raster. Krita for painting. That is the Photoshop stack FAQ.
Why not Photopea?
Photopea is not open source. This ranking only lists OSS paths.
Are these free?
GIMP, Krita, Inkscape, Kdenlive, and Shotcut are GPL-family as listed. You run them on a workstation. Template users never pay c17.
How do I deploy it?
Install from the official site. Railway is the wrong box for the editor. File shares stay on /stacks/files-you-own; Figma-shaped design stays on /stacks/penpot-design.

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