I'm seriously considering switching to Linux, but Adobe software is still the main obstacle because I use it every day. Tools like GIMP are useful, but they don't replace my professional workflow, and Substance 3D Painter is too valuable to give up. I've read that some older Adobe versions can run with Wine and various workarounds, but I would need relatively current software, especially Painter, because newer releases added important features such as ribbon paths. I've also heard about WinBoat, which runs Windows applications inside Linux, but I haven't found much specific information about Adobe. What is the current practical situation? Are there reliable options for Photoshop and other Adobe applications, and does Substance Painter work through Steam or Proton? I'd prefer not to dual-boot because I use these applications so frequently that it would feel like staying on Windows. I'm open to a virtual machine if it performs well, particularly since Painter handles most of the demanding work.
2 Answers
If Adobe is essential to your daily work, staying on Windows or keeping a Windows installation available may still be the least frustrating option. Linux alternatives are improving, but Adobe has not provided native Linux versions, and compatibility layers can break when the applications or services update. A small Windows partition or a properly configured VM is safer than relying on unofficial support for current Adobe releases.
Substance 3D Painter is available through Steam and can generally be used on Linux with Proton, so that may solve the biggest part of your workflow. Photoshop and the rest of Adobe’s suite are much less dependable. Older Photoshop releases may work through Wine, but compatibility varies, so a Windows virtual machine is usually the more predictable solution.
That’s encouraging about Painter. I’d be fine using the Steam version and handling Photoshop separately through a VM or another workaround, as long as I can avoid dual-booting.