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Quick Guide: Online Photo Editors

By Nancy Hendrickson Premium

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With news that Google is abandoning its photo-editing service, Picasa, you may be wondering how you’ll edit your pictures now. The choices are many, both online and via your mobile devices. Some services feature one-click fixes, stickers, frames and fun collages; others have the sophistication of high-end editing software. To save you time in choosing a photo-editing tool, we’ve tracked down four of our favorite photo-editing websites, including two that also have free apps for both iOS and Android mobile devices. Whether you’re a photo-editing genius or you want the ease of simple photo fixes, you’ll find your perfect solution below.
 
Website Cost Description and Fave Features User Tips
Canva free Easy-to-use tools include Resize, which easily decreases image size for sharing via email or online. Lots of filters let you change the tone of your photos.

  • quickly resize images
  • adjust contrast, brightness, saturation
  • crop and filter with fun effects
  • rotate or flip image
  • download edited photos
When resizing photos, check Lock Aspect Ratio. This keeps the image measurements in proportion so the picture won’t look “stretched.”
Fotor  free, with premium features The clean, easy-to-use interface includes a full suite of tools for basic editing, effects, decorative frames, and social media templates. It offers multiple options for collage designs.

  • choose Edit, Collage or Design from the main menu
  • iOS and Android apps
  • tilt-shift editing option blurs background
  • HDR tool combines the best of three similar images
To keep a free account, don’t select features with a diamond icon. Double-click stickers for an additional menu with lots of options.
PicMonkey  free, with premium features  This full-featured editor, collage and graphic design tool is useful for headshot touch-ups.

  • basic photo editing tools
  • create fun graphics for social media
  • upload photos from computer, Facebook or Dropbox
  • share finished image to social media
Doing basic photo editing? Use the Auto Adjust button for a quick fix. Try Special Effects for fun additions like snowfall and holly.
Pixlr  free  This free suite makes editing as easy or as complex as you choose. Pixlr Editor is similar to Photoshop Elements; Pixlr Express is geared toward a quick fix.

  • in Editor, use tools such as layers and curves
  • in Express, find borders and other creative effects
  • online image editing
  • iOS and Android apps
 Try the fun effects tool in Express to give a modern image a vintage look. Use the Type tool to add a saying or a caption identifying who’s pictured.
 
From the May/June 2016 Family Tree Magazine 

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