Nolen Jonker

Midrand

Senior Editor at MUO

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Articles

I replaced my entire graphics workflow with these open-source gems

5 days ago | xda-developers.com | Nolen Jonker

I've been slowly replacing the creative tools I relied on with free and open-source alternatives. It was mainly out of exploration at first, but then canceling all my Adobe subscriptions also forced me to find better options. Now, I've finally overhauled my graphics workflow and haven't looked back. From photo editing to digital painting, these apps don't just compete with their proprietary counterparts; they've actually improved how I work.
Why DaVinci Resolve's Fairlight is the audio tool Adobe should have made

1 week ago | xda-developers.com | Nolen Jonker

Adobe has dominated the creative industry for years with its suite of gold-standard tools. However, Audition feels a little outdated when it comes to audio post-production. It's powerful on paper but has clunky integration with other software, can get sluggish with large sessions, and simply lacks some key features I value in a comprehensive audio editor. Enter Fairlight, a page in DaVinci Resolve that is a full audio editing suite.
I cancelled all my Adobe subscriptions: Here's what I'm using instead

1 week ago | xda-developers.com | Nolen Jonker

I never thought I was going to cancel all my Adobe subscriptions, but subscription fatigue and underwhelming updates helped me finalize the decision to pull the plug. And it turns out I didn't need Adobe software, not when there's a whole world of free and one-time purchase alternatives that are just as capable. Some of the tools aren't only "good enough," they're actually fun to use, too.
Why I'm finally saying goodbye to Adobe after five years

1 week ago | xda-developers.com | Nolen Jonker

Adobe has been at the center of my workflow for a long time. I've subscribed, unsubscribed, and upgraded through several of its programs, mainly Photoshop and After Effects. At first, it was easy to justify the subscriptions — these tools have helped me sharpen my editing skills and allowed me to create some of my best projects. But over time, I couldn't ignore the cracks that started to show.
4 things GIMP does better than Photoshop

2 weeks ago | xda-developers.com | Nolen Jonker

When I first started using GIMP, it was easy to hold it up to Photoshop's standards and notice how different GIMP was and where it fell short. But after spending more time with GIMP, I also started to notice a few things it actually does better than Photoshop. GIMP might not have the brand power or the Adobe polish, but it has a growing list of tools and features that go deeper, work smarter, and offer more creativity and control than its commercial counterpart.
5 reasons I use DaVinci Resolve instead of After Effects for motion graphics

2 weeks ago | xda-developers.com | Nolen Jonker

I used to swear by After Effects and believed that there simply wasn't another tool that could do what it does. This belief was reinforced by using familiar plugins, already being in the Adobe ecosystem, and just muscle memory. At the time, I only used DaVinci Resolve for color grading work. But when I realized how powerful Resolve was, I started using it for other editing tasks, and eventually tinkered with the Fusion page.
4 reasons why GIMP isn't a Photoshop alternative

3 weeks ago | xda-developers.com | Nolen Jonker

GIMP is a software you'll come across most often when looking for free or open-source alternatives to Photoshop. It does serve as a viable alternative for many creators. However, many forget that GIMP was never developed or intended to be a Photoshop clone. Instead of the usual "GIMP vs. Photoshop" contest narrative, I think we should recognize GIMP on its own terms because judging it as a replacement for Photoshop sometimes misses the point.
6 ways Photopea outperforms GIMP

4 weeks ago | xda-developers.com | Nolen Jonker

When looking for Photoshop alternatives, Photopea and GIMP are probably the two options you'll come across most of the time. Both are powerful and capable, but they're not built the same. So if you find yourself stuck between GIMP and Photopea, it's worth comparing their strengths and weaknesses to figure out which one is best for your project's needs. Here, I'm going to focus on the ways Photopea steps up where GIMP tends to stumble.
4 reasons why I ditched Adobe Express for this design tool

4 weeks ago | xda-developers.com | Nolen Jonker

If you've been looking for easy or free design tools, you've probably come across Adobe Express. It's a highly rated, easy-to-use graphic design program with a comprehensive set of features, even in the free version. But it's not the only contender worth considering. If you're like me and not interested in getting locked into the Adobe ecosystem, and if Canva doesn't quite do it for you, let me introduce you to Picsart.
5 Photoshop features I always use to speed up my workflow

1 month ago | xda-developers.com | Nolen Jonker

Photoshop can feel like a maze of menus and sliders, especially with new features constantly popping up. Features can be fun to explore, but not all of them actually help you work faster. Over time, I've picked up a handful of tools, settings, and shortcuts that make things faster and simpler. So if you're looking for ways to get things moving, try these...