Paint.net has long been called the best free replacement for Photoshop. That is quite a claim and I checked to see if it lives up to the claim.
The program has an attractive, clean interface that will be very familiar to anyone with photo editing experience. It seems quite sparse when compared with Photoshop – fewer tools on the toolbar and fewer floating pallets are available. This simplicity may be a good thing for the casual user, but frustrating to the more experienced user. The program can open and save the major graphics formats, with the exception of Photoshop’s PSD format.
What I liked about Paint.net –
Text – The way text is handled is simple and intuitive – very nice. However, kerning and leading is not adjustable and style adjustments are few. It supports layers and unlimited undo. It has a decent selection of filters and more can be added through plug-ins. The overall simplicity of the program is attractive.
Misses include limited selection tools, as well as limited options and adjustments on all tools. Paint.net is for Windows only.
– – The Bottom Line – –
Is Paint.net a replacement for Photoshop? No. Photoshop is capable of much more than Paint.net is capable of. However, for someone with less demanding needs or a thin wallet, Paint.net is an excellent option. It is free, so give it a shot.
DUMMR.com 
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