Top Photo Editing Tools

There are many different online photo editing services available to edit your photos. These products have similar tools and features to get your photos looking their best. You'll find that there are some tools you don't use much. There are others tools that you will most likely use on a regular basis.  We will go over, what we consider, the top photo editing tools that you will use the most.

Top Photo Editing Tools:

• Rotate
• Crop
• Resize
• Black & White
• Add Text

Bonus tools to look for:

• Red-Eye Removal
• Auto-Fix

These tools can vary slightly depending on the service you use. Knowing how to take advantage of these tools will benefit you and your pictures.

Rotate:
Rotating an image is useful when the layout of the photo is saved at the wrong angle. Most rotating tools will rotate in increments of 90 degrees, in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Rotating your photo might just be as simple as selecting the photo’s rotation in the drop down menu of the appropriate tab. Or you may need to select the rotation tool in the tab, which will pop up directional arrow buttons. Click the direction button you need for your photo to rotate.

You might need to repeat the instructions if your photo needs to be rotated a full 180 degrees, although, there are some services that allow you to rotate an image a full 180 degrees.

Crop:
Cropping tools cut out the extra sections of a picture that you don't need, allowing the main object of the photo to be the focal point. Some edit services have automatic crop size box that appears on the photo. Adjust the position of the crop area by clicking the center of the box and dragging it to the area you want to crop around. To adjust the size of the crop areas, click and drag any of the four corners of the crop box. Once you have the correct size and area selected to crop, simply click the “crop” or “apply” Button. If a crop button does not appear, some services ask you to double click the area to apply the crop.

If your cropping tool doesn’t have an automatic crop size box appear, you will most likely need to click and drag the crop size box manually. You can do this by clicking the photo where you most likely want the crop to begin, and then drag the crop area to the appropriate size. You might be able to adjust the position and size once you have added your crop box. After you have the correct area is selected, apply the crop. Be careful, there are some photo editing services that will automatically crop what you will originally select to crop, not allowing you to adjust the position or size of the area.

Resize:
There are times when your photo is too big to upload to your email or to a social media site. With the resize or image size tool, this will not be a problem. When you select the resize tool, and dimensions box will appear that shows you the current height and width of your photo. Replace the current height and width with new dimensions to resize your photo; some services will need you to click “apply.”

Sometimes typing in your own height and width leaves your photo distorted. To avoid this, simply check the box that says “keep proportions,” or “constrain.” Type in the height or the width your photo needs to be, and the service will configure the other dimension based on the one you typed in.

Your photo is measured in pixels. If you are unfamiliar with pixel measurements it might be easier for you to resize your image using percentages. Many of the services available will have a percentage box available for you to adjust the size of your photo.

Remember when it comes to resizing a photo, it is always better to try to make the image smaller. Trying to make it bigger will most likely leave the image looking pixilated or blurry.

Black & White:
Converting your photo into a black and white or a grayscale image is a great way to give it a different look. Most online photo editing services will have a black and white tool available. Selecting this tool will automatically adjust your photo into a black and white image.

If your service doesn’t offer an automatic black and white tool, there is another way to convert your photo. In the adjustment tab there will be a saturation tool available, select that tool and drag the saturation slider to -100. This will adjust the saturation of the image to only show black and white.

Add Text:
Adding text to a photo can make it really fun and personalized. Selecting the text tool will make a text bar appear on the image. Some services will need you to click the place on the photo where you want the text box to appear. Some services will allow you to type directly in the text box on the photo, but others require you to enter your text in a small text box located on the tool bar.

Change the font, size, and color of the text by using the tools on the toolbar that will be present after the text tool is selected. Once you have completed the text, you may move the text box to where you would like the text to appear on the photo. Be aware that there are services that will not allow you to move the text once a spot is selected.

Red-Eye Removal:
Red-eye removal or reduction is not always available in every online photo editing service. If this tool is available to you, it is a very useful one. Red-eye removal will allow you to select the eye of the person and in some cases an animal. This tool will automatically get rid of the red-eye effect left from many camera flashes.

Auto-Fix:
Auto-fix or adjustments is another tool that is very useful, but it is not always available in many online photo editing services. When you select this tool, the service will automatically adjust the color, exposure, hue, and lighting of your photo. The auto-fix tool gives you a simple, one-step process for editing your photo.

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