How to Run Photoshop and CapCut on Linux

Photoshop has no Linux version, and CapCut has no official Linux app. You have two routes: hand off your work through a native Linux editor that saves Photoshop files, or run Windows inside Linux so you can use the real programs. If you only need to send Photoshop files to other people, GIMP is the quickest fix.

Save your work as a PSD file in GIMP

GIMP is a free image editor that runs natively on Linux. It can save files in Photoshop's PSD format, so the people you work with can open them in Photoshop. This fix is confirmed to work for sending PSD files.

1. Open Software Manager from the Linux Mint menu, search for GIMP, and install it.
2. Open GIMP and load your image, or start a new one.
3. Make your edits.
4. Click File > Export As.
5. In the Name box, type a file name that ends in .psd, such as project.psd.
6. Click Export to save the PSD file.

Open the file in Photoshop on another machine before you send it. That way you can check that the layers look right.

Run Photoshop in a Windows virtual machine with VirtualBox

VirtualBox runs a Windows virtual machine inside Linux. Once Windows is running, Photoshop and CapCut both run inside it, just as they would on a Windows PC. This is the option to pick if you need the real Photoshop and not a replacement.

1. Install VirtualBox from the Software Manager or from the VirtualBox website.
2. Download a Windows installer ISO from Microsoft's website. You need your own Windows license.
3. Open VirtualBox and click New. Name the machine, choose Windows as the type, and point it at the ISO file.
4. Start the machine and finish the Windows setup.
5. Install Photoshop and CapCut inside Windows.

A virtual machine uses a lot of RAM and disk space, so check your laptop's specs before you start.

If that's too heavy, try Winboat for Photoshop

Winboat runs Windows apps, including Photoshop, through a Windows virtual machine that runs in the background. A German tech news site, heise.de, reported that Photoshop runs on Linux this way. The tip comes without test results, so treat it as something to try rather than a sure fix. Search GitHub for Winboat to find the project.

Use Photopea if you don't want to install anything

Photopea runs in your browser at photopea.com. Its interface is built to look like Photoshop, and it works with PSD files. Open the site, load your PSD, and make your edits. When you finish, export the file as PSD so it goes back to your clients in the format they expect.

Run CapCut on Linux with Wine, but expect bugs

CapCut can run on Linux through Wine, a tool that runs Windows programs. Its compatibility rating is Bronze, which means it runs but with bugs. Test it on a short project before you rely on it for client work.

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