Technology

I read through all the comments and responses. @harfang@slrpnk.net you need to make slides quick and easy using drag and drop and font layouts. That's why you use Canva from what I can tell. So getting hardcore image manipulation is not necessary, nor collaborative style programs.

You can, with minimal effort, use Libreoffice Impress. Its PowerPoint without the Microslop. What this requires is you find a good source for properly licensed fonts and images, places like Pixabay and such.

You can use GIMP if you want to, but it reads like you just need to learn to use the tools in Impress. Again, GIMP is basically a Photoshop replacement. I'm not sure you need that.

Here is my work flow I used to make pretty slides and lecture decks that rely on prompts and imagery for students, not death by text:

-Outline in Libreoffice Writer. -Search for images on Pixabay, Unsplash, or Wikimedia Commons. -Search for, or use incorporated, fonts. Two to three font faces. -Build a draft presentstion in Libreoffice Impress -Set it down, walk away for a bit. -Return and edit as needed.

Dear H,
Canva has features other programs might not have, such as real-time collaboration. What I'd like to ask is what features of Canva you use that aren't in slide presentation software like Powerpoint/Google Docs/Libreoffice Impress. That way, it would be easier to suggest alternatives. :)
Have a nice day,

User

Dear H,

GIMP is a private and ethical (free) alternative to Canva.

Love, U

If it's a local tool, there's libreoffice impress.

There's also their online version, though it seems more IT focused.

For slides you can use Impress or Reveal.js

markdown > pandoc > reveal.js is easy, depends on what you're doing graphics-wise in your slides

(I use LaTeX Beamer slides made with pandoc, but they're not flashy)

Another option could be Inkscape which can make multipage documents. You can even animate them using jessyink.

I'm not sure if GIMP is an alternative if you're looking for drag and drop?

I use Libre Impress for slides, unsplash/pixabay/wikimedia commons for high quality images.

Depends on what aspects of Canva you speak of.

• Graphics manipulation, a la Photoshop - GIMP
• Generative AI graphics - There is no ethical alternative
• Printing (t-shirts, posters, etc) - There are many out there, but you will have to create your design in GIMP first.

Not specific, but this site is a good starting point when looking for (generally) more ethical services. Many of the listed are open source, or were created specifically to combat these data sucking abusive monopolies.

https://european-alternatives.eu/