A feather-weight, open-source image editor that weighs just over 10 MB yet packs pro-level power—time to uninstall PS.
About PhotoDemon
PhotoDemon is a compact but mighty photo-editor for Windows. Layer management, effect filters, shadow/highlight recovery, multi-channel curves, content-aware tools and 200+ other functions are squeezed into a single 13 MB executable, while full compatibility with Adobe Photoshop PSD files is thrown in for good measure.
First released in 2013 by a computer-graphics veteran obsessed with performance, the program has evolved through countless builds. At the time of writing the current stable is 8.4, offering dramatically improved speed and stability, and a small team of open-source enthusiasts keeps the updates coming.
Key advantages
- Ultra-portable: 13 MB, no installation, runs from a USB stick
- Covers most everyday (and many advanced) edits with snappy performance
- 200+ UI languages, Chinese included
- Simple, uncluttered interface—virtually zero learning curve
Pro-grade imaging support
- Broad file support: Adobe PSD, Corel PSP, all major camera RAW formats
- Colour-managed workflow with full ICC-profile embedding
- Advanced multi-layer editing with editable text layers and non-destructive adjustments
- Professional canvas tools: digital, clone & pattern brushes, interactive gradients
- Adjustment suite: levels, curves, HDR, shadow/highlight, white balance
- Filters & effects: perspective correction, edge detect, denoise, content-aware blur, unsharp mask, green-screen, lens diffraction, vignette and more
- Batch processor and macro recorder (think Photoshop Actions)
First-hand impressions
I was sceptical that 13 MB could deliver real editing muscle, but PhotoDemon really is a “green” app: unzip, double-click, no internet, no registry bloat. I threw PSDs, RAW files and everyday JPGs at it—brushes, masks, filters and adjustments all felt snappy and produced clean results. Opening old multi-layer PSDs was surprisingly faithful.
Limitations
- Windows only (no macOS/Linux ports planned)
- 32-bit executable, so files larger than 2 GB can’t be opened
- UI aesthetics lag behind commercial apps (typical of many open-source projects)
Still, compared with multi-gigabyte installers, sluggish start-ups and subscription fees—not to mention cracked malware bundles—PhotoDemon is a breath of fresh air for routine image work.
Free & open source
PhotoDemon is 100 % free. Source code is released under the BSD licence on GitHub; you may reuse it in commercial or private projects provided copyright notices are preserved. Note: the project bundles third-party libraries governed by their own licences—details are in the official licence file.