Photo Editing for Free – Pixls Offers Tutorials for Open Source Software Like Gimp and Darktable

I am a huge proponent of the open source platform.  Sure, there are two sides to the open source vs. proprietary argument, but it’s still too early in the week to be arguing something that heavy.

There are numerous reasons to use open source software for photo editing.  Perhaps you prefer the Linux operating system, maybe you’re on a tight (or nonexistent) budget, or maybe you just wanna “stick it to The Man.”  Whatever your reason, there are an increasing number of solutions available to you.

This is where Pixls.us comes in.  Founder Pat David started the website as a resource for those looking to use open source editing software.  There are treasure troves of information and quality tutorials for applications like Photoshop and Lightroom yet very little (in comparison) for programs like Gimp and Darktable.  David aimed to change that.

Pixls’ mission statement is, “To provide tutorials, workflows and a showcase for high-quality photography using Free/Open Source Software.”  The site covers tutorials and workflows for a variety of applications, effectively providing a one-stop-shop for a ton of information.

There was a time when I would have scoffed at open source alternatives to major software applications, but the features and technology of these programs have come a long way in recent years.

The best part, especially for those of us who work better when we understand the method behind a particular madness, is that these aren’t simply pithy or simple tutorials.  Pat goes into great detail about not only how to perform certain tasks or complete a process, but he explains the reasoning and science behind it.

A few highlights include:

• An Open Source Portrait (Mairi)
• Skin Retouching with Wavelet Decompose
• Digital B&W Conversion (GIMP)

So, if you’ve been contemplating a move to open source software or are simply looking for some help in finding your way around it, stop over at the Pixls website, and get creating (for free)!