The problem with such a high number of tools is that you can easily go for one that lacks the necessary features to help you complete your tasks. Moreover, you can easily end up paying for a software solution even though there is a free version that can be just as effective.
In the following article we are going to discuss the top photo editing tools. Hopefully, you will be able to pick the right tool to meet your needs, and a tool you can easily master, so let’s begin.
5 Must Know Tools for Photo Editing tool
1. PhotoshopPhotoshop has been around for a very long time and with each new version its features and efficiency has improved. It is widely used, and has numerous options that give you countless possibilities for photo editing. It is one of the top photo editing tools for a reason, but for a novice this might not be such a good idea.
Learning how to use Photoshop is really useful, but the whole process will quite possibly turn out longer than expected. However, once you master all the layer manipulation and know all the shortcuts by heart, you will become a lot faster.
Another reason why Photoshop is such a good choice is because you can download free action packs. These action packs allow you to edit photos in one particular fashion, and the end result will look pretty awesome.
The best thing about them is that they allow you to edit images with only a few clicks, so you can end up with great images, even without outstanding skills. The downside is that your photos will only have limited editing options using a certain action pack, so make sure you get more than one, and to get those that are free.
2. Paint NET
Even though Paint NET lacks some advanced features when compared to Photoshop, it is its simplicity that allows it to retain a large number of users. Paint NET is like a super-enhanced version of the well-known program called Paint that is found on every PC, but it is definitely not its clone.
There are numerous community plug-ins created for this tool, which increases its capabilities even further. Moreover, it has really useful features like layers, filters, 3D rotate and zoom, which allows it to be sufficient editing tools for many purposes.
If you don’t want to spend countless hours mastering Photoshop just for basic image manipulation, then Paint NET is your next best friend.
3. GIMP
If there is one Photoshop rival in terms of popularity, it would definitely be GIMP. The number of features and cross-platform accessibility make this tool a worthy competitor. In fact, it is regarded by many as the best free photo editor. It practically never crashes and it is glitch free. Basically, the only difference between GIMP and Photoshop is aesthetics.
Also GIMP has some of the filters that have remained the same for a while now, and they could really benefit from an updated or two, considering for how long they have been around. If you have used Photoshop before, then the GIMP interface will definitely look familiar.
4. Pixlr Editor
If there is one advantage of Pixlr Editor is that it does not require installation and it does not need to be upgraded whenever a new version appears. The reason for this is because Pixlr Editor is browser-based, which means you only need a stable internet connection in order to use it. It is free to use, and it is just as good as other desktop photo editors.
Once you load your photo, you can use layers, masks, and many other tools and features that are available in all of the quality photo editors by Photo editing company. It is worth mentioning that there is no so-called batch editing; you will have to upload numerous images and edit each of them individually.
Also, Pixlr is not available for most mobile devices, so if you are looking for a good smartphone photo editor, this is not the one you are after.
5. Fotor
Fotor is not like other tools on this list, since its primary purpose is to serve as a photo enhancer. However, this makes it the perfect option for those who work as photographers, and make a living by selling stock photos. It has all the necessary tools like clone brush, or healing tool, as well as lots of different and high quality photo filters, which you can use to polish each image to perfection.
All of its features are easily accessed, and it has a really user-friendly interface. With Fotor you can edit or enhance pictures with ease, so your projects won’t be time consuming at all. Another advantage of this software is the ability to edit multiple images at once, or as mentioned previously, batch editing. This will help you save a lot of time, and if you aim for a larger quantity of edited images, then Fotor is the best option for you.
To sum up: there are easy and hard ways to edit photos, but mastering harder tools is more likely to give you better results in the future. So, learning how to navigate through Photoshop or GIMP is definitely time well spent.
If your images do not need heavy editing, there are different software tools you can use to achieve the desired results, and it will be far less time-consuming than doing those same edits in a complex and more versatile piece of software.
Finally, if you do not have time for editing or mastering a particular tool, you can always outsource editing services, and get a really good end result. The only thing to remember is to check whether a provider is reliable by going over his or her, portfolio, job history, recommendations and reviews.
