Hey everyone! I'm a 3D artist who's been dedicatedly creating and sharing a new artwork every day for the last five years. I mainly use Blender along with Substance Painter and Marvelous Designer. I realize that the last two programs don't really thrive on Linux, but I can't stand Adobe anymore and I'm okay with dual booting for the rare times I need Unreal Engine.
For a Photoshop alternative, I'm thinking about using GIMP or perhaps Photopea. I'm going to miss certain features like the AI brush for quick render cleanups, but I'm willing to let that go.
I also use the Dehancer film plugin in DaVinci Resolve, which I know works on Linux, though I'm not sure if Dehancer does. Streaming-wise, I use OBS, which I hear runs flawlessly on Linux. For documentation tasks, I plan to use LibreOffice and prefer Opera as my web browser, but I'm open to suggestions for other good browsers.
I've never installed Linux before, so I'm looking for recommendations for a distro that fits my needs:
- **Stability is key** – I need to perform my tasks smoothly without constantly fixing issues.
- **Customizable** – I love the aesthetic flexibility I've seen in various setups.
- **Good NVIDIA support** – I know AMD has decent Linux support, but I rely on NVIDIA for faster rendering.
- **Dual monitor support** – I want to make sure I can extend my desktop without hassle.
- **Bluetooth reliability** – One big reason for switching is Bluetooth issues on Windows, which I've dealt with too long.
- **Resilio Sync** – I need this for syncing files to my NAS, and not sure how OneDrive fares on Linux.
- I'd like popular apps like Spotify and Discord to work smoothly, but I can manage alternatives if needed.
- I rely on AutoHotkey scripts, so any Linux equivalents would be awesome to hear about.
- **Not gaming-centric** – My focus is solely on running my creative work rather than games.
I'm excited to hear your thoughts and recommendations! Thanks for your help!
1 Answer
For a stable and reliable experience, I'd recommend checking out either Debian or Ubuntu with KDE or Gnome. Both are solid options for a dual monitor setup. Debian tends to be a bit more old-school in terms of package stability, while Ubuntu offers newer packages every six months, which can be beneficial for keeping your software updated. Just be mindful that installation of NVIDIA drivers on Debian can be tricky based on your comfort level with reading instructions.
Regarding Bluetooth, it varies by hardware, so my advice is to test it live before committing. If you're serious about transitioning to Linux, it might be worth dipping your toes in, even if it’s not typically recommended for graphic design.
I've been in the VFX biz for a decade and every studio I've worked at runs on Linux. It's a great choice!
Just to clarify, I'm a 3D artist, not a graphic designer. Linux is definitely rock solid for 3D work. Lots of major VFX studios use Linux for a reason!