Switching to Linux means choosing a distribution and checking current hardware compatibility.
Switching to Linux means choosing a distribution and checking current hardware compatibility.
I've faced problems before when opening GIMP to export .psd files via code, with the RGBA8888 values being inaccurate. I promised myself never to use it again. Four years ago, Krita caused an external monitor connection to drop when the program launched. Now I prefer using Photoshop inside a VM, since it functions reliably, which is why I marked it as essential.
discord offers a built-in Photoshop client that performs poorly, so I’d consider learning GIMP or Krita—both feature-rich editors with Windows versions. Google Filestream poses challenges; while some clients function, functionality is often inconsistent. Insync remains the only reliable option despite its poor user interface. Your hardware should handle it without issues. Bluetooth works better with PipeWire, though it’s still under development. The problem isn’t Linux itself but the manufacturers who don’t contribute. Manjaro is solid, but Fedora is preferable since it includes PipeWire by default. Keep in mind that Fedora requires some configuration with flathub and RPMfusion, which are disabled due to Fedora’s Red Hat ties—this is straightforward. If you prefer a Windows-like experience, the KDE Plasma release is an option, though Gnome may be more stable in audio. For rolling releases, Solus could work but its repos are limited because it’s a curated distro. Among non-Ubuntu distros, Steam support is strongest, though you might need to adapt Ubuntu fixes if problems arise.
The advice to move away from Photoshop seems unlikely to come from someone who actually uses it heavily. If they did, they wouldn't hold such strong views. Running Photoshop inside a VM is problematic. The best choices are Mac or Windows for Photoshop. Gimp and Krita aren't available, and they fall far short of Photoshop's capabilities. Gimp lacks non-destructive editing, adjustment layers, CMYK support, and many other essential features. It's clearly unsuitable for professional projects.