Hey everyone! So, about four years ago, I tried out Linux by dual booting Mint, and I really enjoyed it. However, I often needed to reboot into Windows to run certain applications that don't work on Linux, primarily Adobe software and a few others. After seeing a PewDiePie video, I remembered how much I dislike Windows. Now, I'm thinking of making the full switch to Linux since I use fewer Windows-only apps nowadays.
I'm looking for recommendations on apps for Linux that could replace Photoshop and Epson Easy Photo Print (or any alternatives). I think GIMP might work for me since I mainly do light editing like resizing, cropping, background removal, and adding text. Is GIMP a solid choice, or should I look into something else?
Additionally, I occasionally work with vector files and usually use Illustrator to export them to PNG format for further editing in Photoshop. What's the best way to handle that workflow on Linux?
Regarding the Epson printer, I know there are Linux drivers available, but has anyone had experience with them? Which Linux distributions work best with these drivers? And on that note, I'm also curious about stable and user-friendly distros that are regularly updated. Thanks for any help you can provide!
3 Answers
As for the Epson printer drivers, they’re surprisingly robust! If you have a newer Epson printer, it might just work out of the box on most Linux distros. The official Linux drivers from Epson (in .deb packages) work excellently on Debian-based systems like Ubuntu and Mint. You can also find comprehensive guides for Arch-based distros if that's your jam. But don't worry too much; most distros have good support for printers these days!
For Adobe alternatives, you definitely can't go wrong with GIMP for basic tasks. It handles resizing and cropping quite well! If you’re looking for an alternative to Illustrator for vector graphics, Inkscape is a great choice and can export to PNG just like you need. You might want to check out WineHQ for running certain Windows apps. They reported that some apps work decently well through it, although your mileage may vary!
That's great to know! I might give Inkscape a shot for my vector work. I'm also curious about any good printing software as I need something to help with paper size and positioning.
Have you thought about using virtual machines? It could help you use Windows apps without rebooting. But it really depends on your hardware. If you can't support it well, you might just want to stick with Linux for your daily use.
Yeah, my laptop isn't the best for that, so I'd prefer to avoid VMs if I can help it.
Sweet, I have an L805 connected via WiFi. Do you think it'll work smoothly on Fedora? I'm considering that distro since it looks great and seems to be updated regularly.