Do you want to edit some photos that you didn't do very well or have small defects? Well, if you intend to proceed from a computer, I have a list of photo editing programs that should be right for you: they are almost all free and, while integrating various advanced photo editing tools, they are very simple to use.
Indeed, some of the software I will talk about are included "standard" in Windows and macOS; others, however, can be downloaded separately. Then there are services that can be used directly from the browser and apps to be installed on smartphones and tablets and used on the move.
So, you want to learn more about these photo editing programs? Very well! Make yourself comfortable, take all the time you need to concentrate on reading the next lines and, more importantly, try to put into practice the directions I will give you. There is nothing left for me to do but wish you a good read and a good time!
Free photo editing programs
Let's start by getting to know some of them free photo editing programs: I'm sure they will be able to fully satisfy your needs, whether you have a Windows PC or a Mac.
Windows 10 photo
Your PC is updated to Windows 10? In that case, you can retouch your photos by taking advantage of some editing features in the application Gallery, which is the default image reader of the latest major release of the Microsoft operating system.
To use it, double-click on the photo of your interest or right-click on its preview and select the items Open with> Photos from the menu that opens. After opening the photo of your interest with the program in question, click on the button Edit and create situato in alto a destra e seleciona la voce Modification give the menu check if you press.
At this point, via the tab Rule located at the top right, select one of the tools available to correct the main parameters of the photo (eg. light, colore, Red eyes, Etc.).
When you are satisfied with the changes made to the image, click the button Save (l'icona del floppy disk), so as to save the output image. Easier than that ?!
GIMP (Windows / macOS / Linux)
GIMP is another solution you can turn to to retouch your shots: it is an excellent free, open source and multi-platform program that, according to many, is the best free alternative to Photoshop. It has dozens of brushes, advanced filters to apply special effects to images and is structured with an interface, divided into three parts, which is really very comfortable to use. It supports all major graphic file formats, both for reading and writing, and is also suitable for those who are just now taking their first steps in the world of photo editing.
To use GIMP on your PC, you must first download it. Then connect to its download page, click on the red button Download xxxx and, on the page that opens, click on the orange button Download GIMP xxxx directly. Once the download is completed, open the file you obtained and follow the instructions that appear on the screen to complete the setup.
It was used Windows, click on your bottone Yes and then click on the buttons OK, Install e end. If you use a Macinstead, drag GIMP into the folder Applications macOS, right-click on the software icon and select the item apri twice in a row, in order to overcome the restrictions imposed by Apple on non-certified software (this must be done only when starting GIMP for the first time).
At this point, you are ready to edit a photo with GIMP. So go to the menu File> Open (top left) and, after choosing the file you want to act on, use the program editor to make the desired changes.
In the central window of the software, you can see the photo you imported into GIMP, while on the left is the toolbar which allows you to recall the various tools that can be used to make changes to the image (eg add text using the Text tool, clone portions of photos to cover defects in the image using the Clone tool, etc.). On the right of the screen, however, there is the panel that allows you to manage the levels of the image, the channels of colore, the traced and view the chronology of the changes made. When finished, you can save the changes made by selecting the item Save as ... from the menu Fillet.
If you want to learn more about GIMP, I suggest you take a look at the tutorial I have dedicated to the program. I am sure it will help you.
Paint .NET (Windows)
Another useful program for retouching your photos is Paint .Net, born as a revised and corrected version of Windows Paint (even if it is not produced by Microsoft) and over time has become one of the favorite photo editing programs for users who simply need to "fix" their photos, without the need for tools particularly advanced. It allows you to adjust colors, contrast and brightness of the photos, correct various defects and apply various interesting filters that can also act on the individual layers of the images.
Paint.NET is free, but I would like to point out the possibility of purchasing a paid version from the Microsoft Store at a price of 6,99 euros, which allows you to make a contribution to its development. I also point out that, to work, Paint .NET requires the use of the component .NET Framework from Microsoft (if it is not installed on your computer, you can download it from this page).
To download Paint .NET for free, go to this page, click on the link paint.net xxxx at the top right (under the wording Free Download Now) and, once the download is complete, open theZIP archive you have obtained and run the program paint.net.xxxx.install.exe which is located inside.
Nella finestra che si apre, fai clic sul pulsado Yes, put the check mark on the wording Rapida (actually it should already be checked), click on the button NEXT, put the check mark on the wording Accept and, finally, press on the buttons NEXT e end. After installing and starting Paint .NET, select the entry Apri ... from the menu Fillet, which is located at the top, and select the image you want to retouch.
Then use the program interface to make the desired changes. Through the instrument panel, located at the top left, you can use the tools that allow you to select portions of photos, add writings, draw on the image and so on. Through the color panel, at the bottom left, instead, it is possible to select the color of the drawing tool that you want to use to draw on the image, while using the layers panel, at the bottom right, you can manage the levels.
If you want to change the parameters of the photos with Paint .NET, instead, I suggest you go to the menu Adjustments, at the top, and select the parameter to be modified (eg. Bianco e nero, Brightness / Contrast ... and so on). Opening the menu Effectsinstead, you can change the sharpness, blur, distortion, etc.
When you have finished making changes to the image, remember to save the output file by selecting the item Save with name ... from the menu Fillet. Semplice, see?
MacOS photo
You use a Mac? In that case, know that you can retouch your shots by acting directly from the application Gallery pre-installed in macOS. To use it, start it by clicking on its icon (that of stylized flower) present on the bar Dock or in Launchpad, locate the photo you want to edit and double-click its miniature.
If the photo you want to edit is not already in the program library, drag it with the mouse in the main window of the latter.
Now, in the screen that has opened, click on the button Modification, located at the top right, and make the desired changes to the image. Among other things, you can adjust the image parameters using the tab Rule, apply presets on the fly (using the filters) and possibly perform a cropping of the image (using the Cut out).
When you are satisfied with the changes made to the photo, remember to save them by clicking on the button end, which appears to be located in the upper right corner of the window. Simple, right?
Other free photo editing programs
There are so many other free photo editing programs that deserve to be taken into consideration to retouch their shots. Here are some very good solutions for Windows and macOS.
- Photoworks (Windows) - it is a photo editing program that boasts a simple and intuitive user interface and some advanced functions that allow you to correct defects, apply filters, remove skin imperfections and so on
- PhotoFiltre (Windows) - is an application that allows you to edit photos through some ready-to-use filters and through some simple photo editing tools. It doesn't offer advanced editing tools, but this shouldn't be a problem for anyone who doesn't need to heavily retouch their shots.
- Paintbrush (macOS) - is an application for macOS that integrates a simple and intuitive user interface, characterized by the presence of useful tools both for editing photos and drawing on them. This solution is also suitable for those who have no particular needs.
Professional photo editing programs
Let's now move on to the part dedicated to professional photo editing programs, or those software designed to be used by expert photo editing users and, of course, also professionals in the sector.
Photoshop (Windows / macOS)
A name, a program. Adobe Photoshop is the most famous and used photo editing software in the world, thanks to which enthusiasts and professionals in the sector can modify, correct and transform any digital image by applying dozens of special effects. Its user interface, with the advancement of versions, becomes less cumbersome and easier to use even for less experienced users.
The program is paid - as it requires an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, which starts at 12,19 euro / month - but one is available free trial version without functional limits that allows you to fully test the potential of the program for a period of 7 days.
After downloading and installing Photoshop on your computer, select the entry apri from the menu Fillet (top left) and choose the image to edit. Then select one of the tools in the toolbar placed on the left and act directly on the image placed in the central pane. On the right, however, you can find the layers panel which allows them to be managed and organized in the best possible way.
Given the complexity of using this program and its countless features, reading my guide on how to use Photoshop will surely be useful if you want to start mastering the famous Adobe software.
PhotoWorks (Windows)
If you are looking for a professional level photo editing program that, however, is not too expensive or difficult to use, I can only recommend. Photoworks. It is a photo editing software for Windows that combines an extremely intuitive user interface (structured in convenient tabs and also translated into British) with a number of advanced features, such as i automatic filters to automatically correct imperfections in portraits; the tools of face shaping to change the proportions / sizes of the nose, mouth and eyes; the function of background change to cut out subjects and change the background of photos quickly; the color filters applicable in one click and - for more advanced users - the ability to work with i RAW files and adjust in a granular way all the technical parameters of the image.
To download the trial version of PhotoWorks lasting 5 days, connected to the official website of the program and click on the button Download now, present in the center of the page. Then start the .exe file obtained and, in the window that opens, click on the buttons Yes, OK e NEXT. Then place the check mark next to the item I accept the terms of the license agreement and finish the setup by pressing in sequence on NEXT three consecutive times (uncheck the box Send system information about software operations, if you do not want to send anonymous usage statistics) and then on Install e end.
When installation is complete, start PhotoWorks via its icon that appears on the Windows desktop (or from the Start menu) and choose whether continue with the trial version or if insert a key, to activate one of the competing versions of the software via a license key.
At this point, click on your button Open photo present in the center of the program window, choose the photo to edit and use the tabs at the top and the menus that appear sideways to apply the desired changes. In the card Improved find the adjustment bars to change all the basic parameters of the image (divided into the tabs main, Colors e Sharpness); in the card Instruments find tools like those for crop the image, adjust the parameters of geometry, colors, curve, apply the vignetting e change background to the photo. This last tool works in an almost magical way: it is enough to "color" the subjects to be kept green first, then the background to be deleted red and so you can change the background of the shot in a handful of clicks.
By moving to the tab Retouching, you can find other “highlights” of PhotoWorks, such as the function Magic portrait, which allows you to automatically enhance faces with a single click, and tools face shaping, to change the proportions and dimensions of the nose, mouth and eyebrows. Also, there are the corrective brush, to remove unwanted elements from photos, the tool clone stamp, That of red eye removal and much more. Finally, in the tabs Effects e Text there are, respectively, color filters divided into categories and tools to add custom texts and stickers to the photo.
Once you have applied all the desired changes (you can easily undo or redo the last action performed, using the appropriate arrow icons), you can save your photo by clicking on the button Save (top right), by adjusting the level of quality of the output file and pressing the button Save. I also point out that by clicking on theeye you can see the original photo, while clicking on the icon of the photo with the divider in the middle you can compare it with the retouched one.
The full version of PhotoWorks is available in three editions: PhotoWorks Standard, which for 14 euros offers all the essential editing tools, corrects blurry images, enhances portraits in one click and eliminates unwanted objects from photos; PhotoWorks Deluxe, which for 21 euros adds perspective / distortion correction and 150 photo effects to be applied in one click and, finally, PhotoWorks Pro which for 27,30 euros also adds the function to change / remove the background from the photos. For more information, visit the official website of the program.
Other professional photo editing programs
There are also other professional photo editing programs which I advise you to evaluate, as they could be useful for making various changes to your shots, without necessarily signing up for subscriptions.
- Affinity Photo (Windows / macOS) - is a professional photo editing program that offers a vast set of advanced editing tools, which justify its purchase price: 54,99 euros one-time.
- CorelDRAW Graphics Suite (Windows / macOS) - it is a professional suite for graphics and photo editing, which includes various software for editing and managing images. It costs 699 euros and you can test its features for free for a limited trial period.
- Pixelmator Pro (macOS) - This is a powerful yet simple to use photo editing application that you can purchase for $ 43,99 on the Mac App Store.
Free online photo editing programs in British
As I told you in the introduction of the article, there are also gods free online photo editing programs in British which can be used directly from the browser: let's see some of them closely.
Photopea
One of the best web applications to retouch photos online is Photopea, which is free, available in British and working without the use of additional plugins, as it is based on HTML5 technology. Before describing how it works, let me remind you that there is a paid version of the service, which starts at $ 5 / month, which does not have the advertising banners present in the free version.
To take advantage of the free version of Photopea, go to the home page of the service, click on (X) located at the top right (to remove the welcome message that appeared on the screen) and translate the application interface into British, by selecting the item cityno from the menu More > Language, located in the upper right corner of the screen.
Pray, select the voice apri from the menu Fillet and import the photo to retouch. To retouch the imported shot, you can take advantage of both the tools built into the toolbar located on the left and on the shooting parameters through the functions present, for example, in the menus Image> Adjustments e Filter> Contrast.
When you are satisfied with the work done, select the item Export as from the menu Fillet, select the format in which to export the image (ex. PNG, JPG, SVG, etc.) and then click the button Save, to complete the operation.
Other free online photo editing programs in British
If Photopea seems too complicated to use, try these others free online photo editing programs in British.
- Pixlr X - is a web application dedicated to image editing. Since it is based on the WebGL library and takes advantage of the HTML5 Canvas elements, it does not require the installation of additional plugins to work.
- Polarr - is a well-known online photo editing service that allows you to retouch your shots by applying ready-to-use filters.
- BeFunky - is another web application dedicated to photo editing that also integrates some useful tools to carry out small graphic works and even some photo collages. Basically it is free but, by subscribing to its Premium version (which starts at $ 6,99 / month), it is possible to eliminate the advertising that characterizes the free version and take advantage of some extra functions.
Photo editing app
If you want to make use of some photo editing app for smartphones and tablets, in order to retouch your shots on the go, consult the list of solutions below: I'm sure it will come in handy.
- Snapseed (Android / iOS / iPadOS) - one of the best photo editing apps which is developed by Google and which is characterized by a simple and well organized interface, which offers the possibility to use various editing tools and even some ready-to-use filters. use.
- VSCO Cam (Android / iOS / iPadOS) - those who want to retouch their shots by applying ready-to-use presets, cannot fail to consider VSCO Cam. The app, however, also integrates some editing functions that allow you to act on some shooting parameters.
For more information about the use of these and other photo editing apps, please read the guide that I have entirely dedicated to the subject. I am sure it will help you.
Article produced in collaboration with AMS Software.
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