Professional image editing.
No subscription.
PhotoFlare Studio brings layers, advanced brushes, and a clean modern interface to Windows, macOS, and Linux. Try every feature free with no time limit. Buy a one-time licence to own it.
Everything you need. Nothing you don't.
Layer System
Full non-destructive layer support with blend modes, opacity, masks, and unlimited undo history per document.
Advanced Brushes
Powered by libmypaint with tablet pressure and tilt sensitivity. Ships with a curated default brush pack.
Essential Tools
Paint brush, eraser, fill, text, line, spray can, blur, crop, resize, selections, magic wand, colour picker and more.
Multi-Document
Open and edit multiple images simultaneously in a clean tabbed interface with independent undo history per document.
OpenRaster Native
Saves to the open .ora format. Imports and exports JPEG, PNG, BMP, TIFF with full EXIF preservation.
16-Bit Workflow
Edit at 16 bits per channel. Layers, blend modes, filters and brushes all run at full depth, and PNG, TIFF and OpenRaster keep it on save. Switch between 8 and 16-bit any time, with undo.
Colour Management
Documents keep their own ICC profile - sRGB, Adobe RGB, Display P3, ProPhoto or your own. Assign or convert profiles, and see colours through your monitor profile.
Soft Proofing
Preview how an image will print or display on another device. Pick an output profile, rendering intent and black point compensation, then turn on the gamut warning to spot out-of-gamut colours. Read Lab and CMYK values under the cursor.
Cross-Platform
One licence covers Windows, macOS, and Linux. Built on Qt 6 with a dark mode default and modern UI.
New to PhotoFlare Studio? Start with the docs.
Step-by-step guides for layers, brushes, and getting your first project set up - plus answers to common questions.
PhotoFlare vs PhotoFlare Studio
Not sure which edition is right for you? Here's how they compare.
| Feature | PhotoFlare Free & Open Source |
PhotoFlare Studio One-time purchase |
|---|---|---|
| Editing | ||
| Essential tools | ✓ | ✓ Extended tool set |
| Selections (rect, ellipse, lasso, magic wand) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rulers | ✓ | ✓ px / cm / in |
| Layer system | - | ✓ Blend modes, opacity, masks |
| Advanced brushes (libmypaint) | - | ✓ Pressure & tilt sensitivity |
| Command-based undo/redo | - | ✓ Separate history per document |
| Colour & Bit Depth | ||
| 16-bit per channel editing | - | ✓ Layers, filters & brushes |
| ICC profiles (assign / convert) | - | ✓ sRGB, Adobe RGB, Display P3, ProPhoto, custom |
| Soft proofing & gamut warning | - | ✓ Intent & black point compensation |
| Export to a target colour profile | - | ✓ |
| File Formats | ||
| JPEG, PNG, BMP, TIFF | ✓ | ✓ |
| GIF | ✓ | ✓ |
| EXIF preservation on export | ✓ | ✓ |
| OpenRaster (.ora) - native layered format | - | ✓ |
| Workflow | ||
| Multi-document support | ✓ MDI windows | ✓ Tabbed interface |
| Image preview in open dialog | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drag & drop file open | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tablet support (pressure / tilt) | - | ✓ |
| Platform & Licence | ||
| Windows, macOS, Linux | ✓ | ✓ |
| Licence | GPL-3.0 (open source) | Commercial - up to 3 machines |
| Price | Free | €79 one-time |
| Updates | Community releases | 1 year free updates included |
Simple, honest pricing
One payment. All platforms. Free updates for a year.
- Windows, macOS & Linux
- Full layer system with blend modes & masks
- libmypaint brush engine with tablet support
- All current and upcoming v2.x features
- One year of free updates
- Activate on up to 3 machines
- No subscription, no cloud required
Have a discount code? Enter it at checkout.
Not ready to buy? Download and try it free.
Frequently asked questions
Is it really a one-time purchase?
Yes. Pay once and own it. There is no subscription, no recurring billing, and no feature locked behind a cloud account.
How many computers can I use it on?
Your licence activates on up to 3 machines. You can deactivate a machine at any time via the customer portal to free up a slot.
What happens after the first year of updates?
You keep everything you have. If you want updates beyond year one, you can purchase an upgrade licence at a reduced price.
Can I still use the free PhotoFlare?
Absolutely. PhotoFlare remains free and open source. Studio is a separate commercial product for users who need layers and advanced brushes.
Which file formats does Studio support?
OpenRaster (.ora) is the native layered format. Studio also imports and exports JPEG, PNG, BMP, and TIFF with full EXIF preservation.
Does Studio support 16-bit editing and soft proofing?
Yes. Documents can be 8 or 16 bits per channel, and 16-bit is kept when saving PNG, TIFF or OpenRaster. For soft proofing, choose an output profile under View → Proofing, then toggle Proof Colours and the gamut warning. Documents stay RGB; Lab and CMYK values are shown as a readout rather than edited.
What if I want a refund?
We offer a 14-day refund policy, no questions asked. Contact us and we'll sort it out promptly.
Working with RAW files? Try Lens - it's free.
PhotoFlare Lens is a free RAW viewer and non-destructive develop tool. Adjust exposure, white balance, tone curves, and crop - then send your image straight to Studio with one click when you're ready for layers and brushes.