PhotoDemon screenshot
PhotoDemon

PhotoDemon is a versatile and lightweight photo editor designed for users who value portability and ease of use. This free, open-source software offers a powerful set of tools and features in a compact 19 MB package, making it an ideal solution for quick and comprehensive image editing on any Windows PC, from XP to Windows 11. With no installation required, PhotoDemon can be run directly from a USB stick, SD card, or any portable drive, ensuring that you can take your photo editing capabilities wherever you go.

Key Features of PhotoDemon:

Portability and Lightweight Design:

  • No Installation Required: PhotoDemon does not need to be installed on your computer. It leaves no trace on your system, except for a temporary folder that you can specify in the settings. This makes it an excellent choice for users who need a reliable photo editor that can be run from portable storage devices like USB sticks or SD cards.
  • Small Footprint: With a download size of just 19 MB, PhotoDemon is incredibly lightweight, ensuring that it runs smoothly even on older or low-spec systems.

Extensive File Format Support:

  • Wide Compatibility: PhotoDemon supports a broad range of image formats, including Adobe Photoshop (PSD), Corel PaintShop Pro (PSP), GIMP (XCF), and major camera RAW formats, ensuring compatibility with your existing image files.
  • Advanced Multi-Layer Support: The software offers robust multi-layer editing capabilities, including editable text layers and non-destructive layer modifications, allowing for complex image compositions.

Powerful Editing Tools:

  • On-Canvas Tools: PhotoDemon includes a variety of digital paintbrushes, clone and pattern brushes, advanced selection tools, interactive gradients, and more, providing users with the flexibility to create and refine their images directly on the canvas.
  • Adjustment Tools: Enhance your images with tools for levels, curves, HDR, shadow/highlight recovery, white balance, and many more, all designed to give you precise control over your photos.
  • Filters and Effects: Apply a wide range of filters and effects, including perspective correction, edge enhancement, noise removal, content-aware fill and resize, unsharp masking, gradient and palette mapping, and more, to achieve professional-quality results.

Usability and Accessibility:

  • User-Friendly Interface: PhotoDemon prioritizes usability with features like real-time effect previews, save/load presets on all tools, unlimited Undo/Redo, and a "Fade last action" option. The interface is designed to be intuitive, with keyboard shortcuts, mouse wheel support, and descriptive icons that make it easy to navigate.
  • Language Support: The program is available in over a dozen languages, thanks to contributions from the open-source community, making it accessible to a global audience.

Advanced Features:

  • Macro Recording and Batch Processing: PhotoDemon allows you to record complex editing actions as macros, which can be applied to entire folders of images through the built-in batch processor. This feature is similar to what you might find in office software and greatly enhances productivity for repetitive tasks.
  • Color-Managed Workflow: Full support for embedded ICC profiles ensures that your images maintain accurate colors from editing to final output.

Limitations:

  • Windows-Only Compatibility: PhotoDemon is designed exclusively for Windows operating systems. While it may function on macOS, Linux, or BSD systems using a compatibility layer like Wine, these configurations are not officially supported.
  • 32-Bit Application: Due to its portable nature, PhotoDemon is available only as a 32-bit application. This limits its ability to load or save images larger than approximately 2 GB in size.
 

PhotoDemon is an excellent choice for users seeking a powerful yet portable photo editor. Its extensive features, ease of use, and open-source nature make it a versatile tool for both beginners and professionals. Whether you need a quick edit on the go or advanced image manipulation, PhotoDemon delivers reliable performance without the need for installation, all within a lightweight package.

PhotoDemon - Changelog:

  • Highlights of this release include JPEG-XL support, PDF support (import only, export coming soon!), “magnetic” layer snapping and smart guides, an expanded File > Export menu, improved PSD compatibility, Japanese language support, and much more.
Download PhotoDemon:
Size: 18.51 MB
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