Good replacement for Illustrator and Photoshop?

[hajime]

Hello, I am now looking for free/low-cost yet professional replacement for Illustrator and Photoshop that can do the job well. Here are the requirements:


Illustrator features that I need:
- load and save files in eps format. Should be able to read files made by previous versions of illustrator.
- the ability to import a photo and add vector illustrations, pointing arrows, words on it.
- the ability to add user-defined layers (not essential but good to have).
- availability of different types of pointing arrows.


Photoshop features that I need:
- isolate and extract an object from a photo
- load and save in eps format. The import files could be ones made by previous versions of illustrator
- the ability to copy and paste vector illustrations from eps files to a photo
- add pointing arrows and text
- the ability to add user-defined layers (not essential but good to have).

I tried gimp and inkscape but didn't quite like the user interfaces.

I use the resulting files as figures for LATEX documents.

Any good recommendation appreciated. Thanks.

 

[thekev]

Tried pixelmator for the photoshop replacement? It's entirely possible that you won't be able to replace both with one application. I have yet to see perfect vector tools in any raster based software.

 

[hajime]

Tried pixelmator for the photoshop replacement? It's entirely possible that you won't be able to replace both with one application. I have yet to see perfect vector tools in any raster based software.

Thanks. Pixelmator looks good but my trial version of illustrator CS5 has expired. I cannot test compatibility. Anybody tried to exchange eps files between pixelmator and illustrator? Can we also copy and paste between the two applications? Are they fully compatible? Perhaps I should get pixelmator and illustrator CS5.5 Not sure if such combination could do all the things I listed.

 

[hajime]

Just heard back from the company that makes Pixelmator:

"Pixelmator has the tools for cutting out objects from images.
Pixelmator doesn't support EPS file format.
You won't be able to copy and paste EPS vector files as vectors.
The arrows can be created, though templates are not available.
If you have in mind layer styles, those are not available."

Looks like I need to continue the replacement search.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

I'm sorry to say the *best* in terms of replacements will be Pixelmator or Inkscape, personally I'd be sticking with Adobe...

 

[talmy]

Look at Eazydraw. It claims to import EPS although I've never tried it, and it will export EPS. Primarily a vector based application although it will import/export bitmapped images. You can download a Demo at http://www.eazydraw.com

 

[hajime]

Look at Eazydraw. It claims to import EPS although I've never tried it, and it will export EPS. Primarily a vector based application although it will import/export bitmapped images. You can download a Demo at http://www.eazydraw.com

Thanks for the suggestion.