A common question we get asked by our clients is how to do edits to images before they are uploaded to WordPress to use on the (awesome) websites we have built them.
Up until recently we have suggested they either purchase a cheaper stripped back version of Photoshop called Photoshop Elements by Adobe or download a free image editor called GIMP (yes I know the name sounds funny!!).
The price for Photoshop Elements is £80 which can be off putting especially for startups who have limited budgets and would only really use it for doing occasional small edits to images. There is also a learning curve with Photoshop which can be quite steep if you have had no prior experience of using image editors. GIMP is a good free option and offers a lot of the features that Photoshop does but again there is learning curve and if you use more than one PC you will need to install it on each and keep it up to date when newer versions are released. You can find out more about GIMP and download it here http://www.gimp.org/
A good alternative to these software-based image editors is to use a cloud based image editor. The best one we have found is Pixlr. Pixlr is free to use and being cloud based it can be accessed by any device with an internet connection.
The pixlr online image editor includes image editing and paint tools with photo editing/adjustment thrown into the mix. It does all these more convincingly than any other online image editing program we have used. Whether performing simple image edits such as cropping or scaling to creating a complex layered image including layer styles such drop shadows, glows and bevels effects, Pixlr has you covered! Pixlr is capable of delivering results on par with many of its software-based rivals. Yet, despite Pixlr’s expansive feature-set it remains simple, intuitive and more importantly it is user-friendly.
If you sign up for a free account (top right on the Pixlr interface) you can save your work and templates to come back to and edit later.
Standout Features:
- Detailed tutorials and FAQs (many of which are video tutorials)
- A completely customisable user interface with scalable and movable windows
- Drop-down menus featuring filters, adjustment and layer options
- Intuitive design, paint and image editing features including a dedicated history panel allowing quick undo/redo
- Layer styles allowing effects such as drop shadows, bevels and glows to be easily added
You can dive straight in and start using the Pixlr online image editor here: https://pixlr.com/editor/
Before you start creating your masterpiece don’t forget to signup for a free account so you can save it once done.
Happy image editing 🙂