It is always useful to have viable options to Photoshop
and other expensive image editing software. However, which web-based and
mobile friendly image / photo editors really work? This article
reviews a few popular (and largely free) image editing software.
PicMonkey
Free version (which has numerous
enhancements), which allows photo editing, creating icons, badges,
and graphics. Large array of fonts and quirky seasonal graphics (Day
of the Dead, etc.), touch-up tools included, also can make collages.
Overlays include hair, hats, stars, fireworks, “critters,”
“buggles,” “ordinary beasts.” It is very cute and easy to
use.
Attributes: cloud-based, not necessary
to download, very easy to use interface. Really cute library of
built-in graphics and effects.
Downsides: Some of the more useful
tools and attributes are not free
PortraitPro
Do you ever wonder what photo editing
software celebrity publicists use? After seeing the examples in the
PortraitProfessional.com website, I can see using the
PortraitProfessional software before Photoshop. The lowest-cost
version includes skin smoothing, eye enhancing, hair enhancing, face
sculpting, mouth enhancing tools, along other portrait-specific
tools.
There is a free 30-day trial, and three
levels of features:
Studio Max: $119.95
Studio: $ 59.95
Standard: $ 39.95
Picasa
Picasa is ideal for use with social
media, particularly since it's owned by Google and works well with
Google+ sharing and tagging. It's not available for Macs. Picasa
continues to expand its offerings and now includes 24 new effects.
Unfortunately, Picasa is not cloud-based, but is necessary to
download to an individual computer.
GIMP 2.8
GIMP is one of the longest-lived free
image editing software. It is ideal for image authoring, image
editing, photo retouching, and image composition. It's not
cloud-based – you must download it. The good news is that GIMP is
available for Mac OS X, as well as Windows and Linux.
Pixlr
Pixlr.com has three basic cloud-based /
web-based programs, and you can use Pixlr with your mobile device:
Pixlr Editor: Allows you to create a
new image, or open from file or URL, and edit with a wide array of
effects (including adding text)
Pixlr Express: web-based, with many
different built-in overlays and stickers to allow you to create
custom greeting cards. You may use images downloaded, from your
webcam, or from a URL. It works quite well with Flickr images (tried
out and enjoyed it a great deal).
Pixlr-Omatic: Pixlr-Omatic allows you
to add effects (reminds me of Picasa's effects), along with a wid
range of overlays and borders. You can save to your computer and also
to the cloud at imm.oi
Benefits: Web-based, and you can use
it with your mobile device (as a download, rather than web-based)
Downsides: There are almost too many
options (!) – a guide to creating effective graphics would be quite
helpful.
Now that you have more options, what
are you going to do with your holiday photos? This is traditionally a
time when photos are uploaded and shared, and when digital cards,
greetings, graphics are created not only for social networking, but
also for end-of-year reports, new year brochures, catalogues, and
marketing pieces. It's time to truly differentiate yourself by means
of dramatic images.
