This comparison article rates the top 3 graphic design software tools for web developers: Photoshop, Gimp, and Paint Shop Pro.

For web developers, choosing the right graphic design software can be a tough and expensive process, fraught with faulty recommendations and biased preferences.  We’ve used them all, and have come up with recommendations to help you choose, rating them 1-5, with 5 being the highest rating.

Let’s start with the overall ratings:
Adobe Photoshop
Cost: 3 – $699
Overall Rating: 4.5
Memory useage: 3
Amount of features: 5
3rd pary tools available: 5 (Important)
Easy to learn: 3
New features in development: 5 

Gimp:
Cost: 5 – $0 Free
Overall Rating: 4
Memory useage: 4
Amount of features: 2
3rd pary tools available: 2
Easy to learn: 4
New features in development: 1 

Corel Paint Shop Pro XS:
Cost: 4.5 – $49.95
Overall Rating: 4
Memory useage: 4
Amount of features: 4
3rd pary tools available: 2
Easy to learn: 5
New features in development: 5 

Comparisons:

Report Date: January 19, 2010Rated 1-5, with 5 being the highest rating
Tool:	Adobe Photoshop	Gimp	Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2
Operating Systems	MAC, Windows	Most all	Windows
Cost	3 $699	5 $0  Free	4.5 $49.95
Memory use	3	3	4
Features	5	3	4
Use of web format images	5	5	5
3rd party tools available	5	1	3
Easy to learn & use	3	2	5
Advanced features such as Color Doge, Linear tools	5	4	2
Layer capabilities	5	3	4.5
Integrated filters:
Photo frame	1	0	5
Convert to B/White & sepia	5	4	5
What the filter menu looks like:
Photo Handling Capabilities
Integrated handling of photos and artwork	1	1	4
Perspective correction for photos	4	3	5
HDR (merging of different images into higher resolution composite)	5	3	5