Home / Photoshop drawing alternative
A Photoshop alternative for drawing on Windows
If you use Photoshop mainly to draw and paint, Limner is a focused native Windows beta that exchanges supported PSD raster layers and imports .abr brush tips.
| Limner | Adobe Photoshop | |
|---|---|---|
| Price model | Free during beta; post-beta pricing not announced | See Adobe's current plans |
| Built for | Drawing and painting | Photo editing and everything |
| Platform | Windows | Windows, macOS, iPad, web |
| PSD | Opens and exports layered PSD | Native |
| Photoshop .abr brushes | Imports | Native |
| Broader art workflows | Vector and Animation workspaces; separate Books | Vector and basic animation; no Book project |
| Generative AI | None | Firefly built in |
Drawing first, not photo editing
Photoshop is a broad photo and image editor that many artists also paint in. Limner is built specifically for drawing, painting, inking, and comics. That focus keeps it lighter and quicker to learn if art, not retouching, is what you do.
It exchanges supported files
- Imports supported 8-bit RGB raster layers from PSD files up to 8192 by 8192 pixels.
- Exports layered raster PSD, plus PNG, JPEG, and SVG.
- Imports Photoshop
.abrfiles as brush tips.
This is a practical bridge, not a lossless round trip for Photoshop masks, smart objects, adjustment layers, text, effects, or every group structure.
Pricing during the beta
Limner is free during the beta. Post-beta pricing has not been announced publicly.
What Limner adds
- Editable vector line art alongside raster painting.
- A separate frame-by-frame Animation workspace and multi-page Book projects for Illustration or Vector pages.
- Native 4K timelapse recording, saved in the file.
- Pen pressure and tilt through Windows Ink, with inking correction.
An honest comparison
Photoshop is far deeper for photo editing, retouching, compositing, color management, and studio pipelines, and it is an industry standard for good reason. Limner does not replace that. Limner is for artists who mainly draw and paint on Windows and value a focused workflow with opt-in process-video recording.
Common questions
Can Limner open PSD files?
Yes. File, Import PSD opens supported 8-bit RGB raster layers as a new document, up to 8192 by 8192 pixels. Limner also exports layered raster PSD.
Can I use my Photoshop brushes?
Limner imports tip shapes from Photoshop .abr files. Dynamics and behavior use Limner's own brush settings.
What does Limner cost?
Limner is free during the beta. Post-beta pricing has not been announced publicly.
Is Limner a full Photoshop replacement?
No. Photoshop is far deeper for photo editing and retouching. Limner is focused on drawing, painting, inking, and comics.