Since I don’t own Photoshop I have to rely on free photo-editing software programs to modify my favorite shots. Fortunately, as I mentioned in my previous blog, there are a number of outstanding no-charge photo-editing programs available online. I am not shy about experimenting with them and have become a loyal user of a couple of sites in particular: DrPic.com and Phixr.com.
Both sites offer excellent photo-editing programs. They are best suited for quick photo fixes rather than elaborate modifications. In Phixr’s case, you are free to use all of the editing tools on the site free of charge. What’s also nice about Phixr is that it directly supports Facebook, MySpace, SmugMug and Twitter images, minus the browser plugins. In addition, Phixr’s crop tool now allows you to reduce parts of a certain aspect ratio. Also, Phixr can resize your images as soon as you crop them without making you enlist the help of the Resize tool. This eliminates a step, and thus allows you to make avatars in record time.
If you are looking to add special effects to your photos for free, I would suggest using GIMP. The program has an excellent reputation in the photo industry and its special effect tools rival those from Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro. Some of the program’s highlights include:
Lights and Shadows: GIMP allows you to create lens flares similar to the ones in Photoshop, plus you have access to lighting and shadow tools, such as supernova, sparkle, gradient flare, and perspective.
Artistic Effects: The software also has a number of outstanding artistic effect tools, including cartoon, cubism, oilfy, Van Gogh, and predator.
Decor Effects: Unlike Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro, GIMP doesn’t require that you track down plugins to employ special decor effects. The free program includes special effects, such as coffee stains, old photo, rounded corners, and instant image borders, just to name a few.
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