If you're craving some Photoshop functionality but don't have the necessary funds, you might be looking for an alternative. Photobie is one option, a free graphics editor that has a major advantage over similar free competitors - it supports layers.
This is undoubtedly Photobie's main selling point - support for layers is one of the keys to advanced graphics editing. It's not all that matters however, so Photobie also has all the other graphics tools you would expect, including cropping, resizing, effects and filters, some of which you'd expect to find in a paid program. The app also supports various screen capture modes and has a GIF animation tool.
Unfortunately, that's pretty much where Photobie's good points end. The interface is ugly and difficult to use. Some actions are very slow to execute, and even if you have experience with other graphics editors, it isn't always apparent how the various tools work. There are tutorials on the developer's website, as well as examples of how the program has been used to create some really nice effects. This would indicate that with study, you might be able to use Photobie to create something special - eventually. You'll need determination and perseverance, however, because using Photobie is no easy ride.
Support for layers is pretty much Photobie's only redeeming factor.
