As we all know, Adobe Photoshop is a widely used program for editing photos and images. It is also used by many professional graphic designers.
But, what happens when you want to use an old version of Photoshop? Can you get it for free?
Let’s find out!
Overview of Adobe Photoshop
Photoshop is a raster graphics editor and design program that lets you make, alter, and manipulate all kinds of digital images. It also supports importing images from a variety of file formats, as well as the creation and editing of raster images with multiple layers. Adobe Systems makes Photoshop for both Windows and Mac OS.
After Thomas Knoll and John Knoll developed Photoshop in 1988, Adobe Systems paid for the rights to distribute it commercially. Numerous Photoshop updates have come out in the years since. The most widely used releases of Adobe Photoshop are:
- 2003 – Photoshop CS (Version 8)
- 2005 – Photoshop CS2 (Version 9)
- 2007 – Photoshop CS3 (Version 10)
- 2008 – Photoshop CS4 (Version 11)
- 2010 – Photoshop CS5 (Version 12)
- 2012 – Photoshop CS6 (Version 13)
- 2013 – Photoshop CC (Version 14)
- 2014 – Photoshop CC 2014 (Version 15)
- 2015 – Photoshop CC 2015 (Version 16 and Version 17)
- 2016 – Photoshop CC 2017 (Version 18)
- 2017 – Photoshop CC 2018 (Version 19)
- 2018 – Photoshop CC 2019 (Version 20)
- 2019 – Photoshop 2020 (Version 21)
- 2021 – Photoshop 2021 (Version 22)
Can you get old versions of Photoshop for free?
The short answer is: no; you cannot get old versions of Photoshop for free. Adobe does not offer any old versions of Photoshop for free. However, there are a few ways that you can get your hands on an old version of Photoshop.
Where to find old versions of Photoshop
One way is to find a friend or family member who has an old version of Photoshop and borrow it from them. Another way is to buy an older version of Photoshop from a third-party website or auction site like eBay. And finally, you could try using a free trial of Photoshop CC (the latest version of Photoshop).
So, there you have it! Three ways that you can get your hands on an old version of Photoshop.
Legal implications of downloading old versions of Photoshop
It’s not unusual for people to download old versions of Photoshop – perhaps for use on a private project. But what may not be so obvious is the legal implications of doing so. In most cases, you’re legally allowed to use old versions of Photoshop for private use.
However, there are a few exceptions. If you’re using old versions of Photoshop to create copies of copyrighted works, you may be breaking the law. And if you’re using old versions of Photoshop to create counterfeit goods, you may be subject to criminal prosecution. So make sure you know the legal implications of downloading old versions of Photoshop and be sure to use them responsibly!
Top 5 alternatives to Adobe Photoshop (With free trials)
1. Photopea
Web technologies are constantly improving, so you can do many of Photoshop’s tasks without installing a separate app. Take the case of Photopea, a web-based image editor.
It has most of the same features as Photoshop, another professional image editor, and bears a strong resemblance to it because of its intended purpose. It is compatible with a wide variety of file types, including JPG, PNG, RAW, as well as Sketch, GIMP, and Photoshop PSD.
The selection tools in Photopea range from the standard marquee to a magnetic lasso and a quick selection tool, and the program supports layers and layer masks, as well as blend modes. While it lacks some of the more sophisticated tools found in Photoshop (such as content-aware fill), it has more than enough to offer, is free of charge, and will satisfy the needs of most graphic designers and artists.
Ads are a downside, but upgrading to the paid version removes them and unlocks additional undo levels.
2. GIMP
GIMP (which stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program) has been around for a long time and is a free, open-source alternative to Photoshop. It’s currently compatible with Mac OS X, Linux, and Windows.
We recommend GIMP as a great choice if you’re looking for a free image editor because of its comprehensive feature set, which is comparable to that of Photoshop. Our tests showed that the interface is slightly different from Photoshop, but there is a version that is designed to look and feel like Adobe’s product, making the transition from Photoshop simpler.
Painting tools, color correction, cloning, selection, and enhancement are all part of the full set of features. It also ensures good compatibility, in our experience, so you can use it with all the most common file types. There is also a powerful file manager integrated into the program, which functions similarly to Adobe Bridge.
The GIMP is constantly evolving because it is open source software. Improvements to PSD support in a variety of areas were implemented in December 2021. In that case, you might want to give GIMP another shot even if you tried it in the past and didn’t care for it. For further information, please read our comprehensive review of GIMP.
3. Pixlr
Pixlr is a trio of web-based, mobile-friendly tools for editing images. The first is Pixlr X, an easy-to-use photo editor that can improve your images with just a few clicks and a variety of special effects. Its interface is very similar to that of Photoshop, so anyone familiar with that program should have no trouble picking it up quickly.
Pixlr E is an advanced image editor with a wide variety of options for tweaking your photos. At long last, there’s Pixlr BG, an artificial intelligence-driven program designed specifically for cropping out distracting backgrounds from photos. The basic versions of all three apps are available for no cost, while paid upgrades provide access to premium functions.
4. Luminar Al
When it comes to non-subscription-based alternatives to Adobe Photoshop, Luminar AI is among the best. It’s not the cheapest option, but it’s powerful photo editing software that uses AI and ML to help artists make stunning photos quickly and easily.
We praised Luminar AI, calling it “a terrific new option for photographers who know their images would benefit from some edits, but don’t have the time or knowledge to make them happen.”
As an alternative to Photoshop, Luminar can be used either on its own or as a plug-in for other Adobe programs.
It has some of the best object removal brushes we’ve seen, as well as an instant AI sky replacement, an AI portrait and skin enhancer, sunrays, and advanced AI structure and lighting filters.
The design is simple and easy to use, with most options located in a sidebar. Each has a corresponding button that, when clicked, reveals a set of sliders for adjusting the effect’s parameters. The process of editing photographs with Luminar is quick and easy from start to finish.
There are no subscription fees or minimum purchases required, and the one-time cost is approximately $40 (or £35 or AU$60) for one computer.
5. Canva
Canva is a brand new app that can be used for more than just editing photos. The company behind it says its software will “make design simple for anyone.” As such, the app is loaded with tens of thousands of high-quality design assets, such as stock photos, layouts, and fonts.
You can get many of these components at no cost. Others will cost you a small fee, but still much less than if you were to buy an image from a stock photo website. Use whatever pictures you like, including ones you took yourself. You can whip up a greeting card, business card, or blog header in a jiffy using Canva.
This app is still in testing at the moment. Apply for an invitation or request one from a friend who is already a user of Canva to gain access.
Last Thoughts
There are many different ways that you can get old versions of Photoshop.
Some people prefer using older versions because they think it will save time and effort when doing more complex tasks such as creating digital paintings or 3D models from scratch in Illustrator or After Effects; others find older versions easier to install than newer ones because some software companies require users to purchase licenses before they can make changes to their software; still, others prefer older versions because they think it’s easier to manage and maintain than newer one.
However, it is still better to use the updated Photoshop versions to keep up with the new tools added and edit your designs with ease!
