Best Photo Editing Software

What is Photo Editing Software?

The best photo editing software solutions come with various features, corrections, and effects that allow you to edit your pictures and make them look better and more natural.

Photo Editing Software is designed basically for image editing. It may be used to crop and give a touch-up to the photos. One can even organize the photos into albums and slide shows. Some of the tasks that the photo editor software will be able to furnish include editing the resolution of the picture, cropping the image or individual in the image, adding brightness or contrast to an extraordinarily dark image, merging images, etc.

Why Do You Need Photo Editor Software?

The main purpose of picture editing software is to enhance the quality of the images and alter them to the maximum resolution for a crystal clear display. This would help provide utility services to the end-user, creating value for their money.

Key Processes of the Photo Editing Software

1. 3-D representation: of the image or giving certain image segments an embossed or engraved effect.
2. Picture Collage: making in various forms such as different shapes, on different objects, of different size images in a single collage, etc.
3. Addition: of appropriate color scheme and suggestion of backgrounds, in case of a plain background of the original image.
4. Generation of various forms: The image supplied by the user can be used if the chosen form doesn’t suit the user.
5. A small representation: of the end result product to the user so that the user gets an idea of what the image would look like after editing and arrangement in the inbuilt template ( for eg: frame, Cup, etc.).
6. Enhanced presentation: of the image. The image editor software will upgrade the image's presentation, resulting in a more convincing and alluring portrayal of the image.
7. Availability of Multiple Designs: of representing the image. The change of texture or appearance of the image can also give a more realistic effect.
8. Add On: feature of talk and present. This allows the inclusion of voice messages in the visuals.
9. Freebies: to the early birds in the form of special guidelines and techniques for using certain tools.

Benefits of Photo Editing Software

1. Customization of the features: according to the client's requirement would result in cost benefits. It would curtail the storage-related issues in the device in which it is used.
2. Easy Installation: of the product with less cumbersome rules, regulations, and device requirements.
3. User-Friendly: Layman with little knowledge of technological tools can operate the software easily.
4. User Guide: is also available for reference.

Reliefs to the buyer of Photo Editor Software

1. Easy usage without external help: The software would enable you to work independently and cost-effectively.
2. Perfect Guidance: The user doesn’t need a team to approve or accept the projects (Project management), as the software provides reviews at the end of each assignment.
3. Increase in existing knowledge: Apart from working on the current tools, the user also gets to know and learn about the latest prevailing trends in the market and the likes and dislikes of the same.
4. Increased Goodwill and popularity: of the customer just by word of mouth and by displaying edited images.

The Pic Editing Software will give you enhancement in your work. The choice of software depends on your needs. Hope you had a better understanding of what to buy just by reading the software's features and benefits.

Top Photo Editing Software Trends on Social Media

Trends are never constant, and if you have a social media following that continually waits for you to upload new images, you need to be aware of the latest trends. Trends come and go, and you need to structure your content around those trends to keep your audience interested and hooked. That being said, here is a few photo editing software for beginner trends on social media that are working well nowadays and receiving the audience's appraisal.

1. No filter: This trend has been out for a while now, but it will always be trendy because people want to see the "real" stuff. Too much editing can deviate the edited photo from the original, manipulating the message and turning off your followers. The no-filter trend does not restrict you from editing pictures; you can do the necessary editing to remove blemishes and unwanted entities. However, your aim with the #nofilter tag should be to edit a picture so that it does not lose its natural look and feel.
2. Digital Fim Photo: Another popular trend on social media, especially on Instagram, is the digital film photo trend. In this trend, you can use photo editing apps to produce film-like effects for videos and images. Some popular film photo effects include light leaks, blurs, and vignettes intended to give a photo a vintage, dreamy quality. These nostalgic effects take people back to the '90s when disposable cameras dominated the photography segment.
3. Photo Doodle: Contrary to the "no filter" and "film photo" trends that focus on promoting reality, the photo doodle trend is about adding flair to your photos. If you have spent your childhood decorating your textbook covers, you will relate to this effect as it includes adding a playful look to your photos by applying stickers and brushstrokes. This trend is fun and youthful, ideal for young influencers and brands that want to reflect energy and vibrancy.
4. Vertical Photo: This trend is mainly associated with Instagram. If you have been using Instagram for many years, you must be aware that Instagram is used to allow square photos only. Uploading vertical images was considered an amateur move, but the trend has changed and reversed. With the number of mobile users increasing rapidly, vertical images are gaining more and more popularity. Vertical photos allow you to experiment with composition and frames and produce images that fill more screens and eliminate distraction.
5. Collage Photo Carousel: Collage photos were prevalent in the early 2010s, with almost every other Facebook and Instagram user uploading photo collages. However, this trend lost its popularity as other trends took over, but it has regained its reputation as creative use of this format has been adopted. With uniquely designed layouts, and other scrapbook photo styles photo, brands & influencers are widely using this trend.
6. Uncurated Candid Photo: If you are a regular Instagram user, you must have seen the #candid trend. This effect includes producing pictures that are nonreproducible. For example, the joy on a dog owner's face after reuniting with the lost dog. The emotion cannot be reproduced even by the best photographers and photo editing software (until the dog is lost again).
7. Muted Color Palette: If you are spending too much time adjusting the saturation, vibrancy, and contrast of your images, you need to change the gears. The times of bright photos that used to pop out are gone, as people prefer watching more of the soft and muted tones. Film-like images with subdued colors and white, warm beiges that produce a clean, polished, vintage look are what trends nowadays.
8. Real Food Photo: This trend can be helpful if you upload many food images. You must have seen a lot of mouth-watery pictures of pastries and burgers on Pinterest and Instagram that don't look the same in real life. The audience is over the edited food trend and craves real food photos. Although authentic food images might not look as attractive and appealing as the edited ones, they look more realistic.

Types of Photo Editing Software

All top photo editing software has most of their features in common, with a few standout features that differ. However, a generalized classification is accepted, which divides all best photo editing software for photographers into two types:

• For Beginners
• For Professionals

Let us discuss these two types of software in detail and how they differ.

For Beginners

As the name suggests, beginner photo editing software is designed for beginner photo editors or ordinary people who want to apply a few changes here and there in their photographs. Beginners' photo editing system is less expensive, and most of them are also available for free.

These types of software can be found easily for free and require minimal computer knowledge to operate. For example, in Pixlr Editor, you can change an image's contrast, brightness, and FX with a simple click-and-drag & drop method. Nowadays, many digital cameras come with in-built photo editing software for beginners.

More basic beginner photo editing tools come with one or two essential functions, only like applying frames & borders and cropping the image. Some advanced software also provides contrast, brightness, and color adjustments. Not many, but a few beginner software provide professional features like changing the image's resolution, making the image more realistic, etc.

For Professional

Unlike beginner photo editing software, these types of software are not readily utilized by day-to-day home computer users. Most professional photo editing software is expensive; it can cost two or three times more than beginner software. Moreover, they are hard to master and require skills and practice. These skills are essential because professional photo editing software embodies many features that professionals can utilize only if they have in-depth knowledge of all available features and options. Some professional photo editing software that is commonly used by professional graphic designers, art directors, and photographers are:

• Adobe Photoshop
• Corel Paintshop
• PhotoDirector 7 Deluxe

Although professional photo editing tools can be expensive and hard to master, they can produce unbelievable results that are otherwise impossible to achieve with beginner photo editing tools. These types of software can change the complete look and feel of the image by offering unique features like retouching photos, changing colors, eliminating backgrounds, erasing blemishes, healing spots, and much more.

Some advanced professional photo editing software also allows you to change the file format, add watermarks, change the photo size, etc. Like beginner photo editing systems, these tools also use the same click and drag & drop method. However, the high number of features increases the complexity of the software; therefore, if mastered, professional photo editing software is equally easy to use.

Best Photo Editing Software for Beginner Photographers

1. Adobe Lightroom Classic: One of the best qualities of Adobe photo editing software is that it is excellent for beginners and professionals. For beginners, this software offers many free Lightroom tutorials, and free Lightroom presets, making it easy for beginners to learn and develop their photo editing skills on the go.
2. GIMP: GIMP is widely regarded as the best free alternative to Photoshop, and rightly so. It might not offer as many features as Photoshop, but it is not too bad either. Most importantly, it is an open-source platform and completely free to use. Purchasing software can be a challenge for a beginner, and GIMP helps beginners overcome that challenge. However, be prepared to counter some bugs.
3. Pixlr Editor: Pixlr Editor is widely used as a photo editing software for personal use because of its retouching interface. It is arguably one of the easiest pic editing software to use, considering the wide range of features it provides. Pixlr is free to use and can be compared to Adobe Lightroom in terms of features and functionality. However, you might get annoyed by too many ads in Pixlr.
4. Paint.Net: Similar to Pixlr, Paint.Net is a photo retouching software. It is free and comes with an easy-to-use and understandable interface. Despite being free, basic software, it offers many useful tools and features.
5. ACDSee Ultimate: Not that popular, ACDSee Ultimate is an excellent alternative to popular software for beginners like Lightroom and Photoshop. Moreover, it is also regarded as a combination of Lightroom and Photoshop, but in an easy-to-use way for beginners.

Best Photo Editing Software for Professional Photographers

1. Skylum Luminar: Skylum Luminar has quickly gained popularity as one of the most powerful and favored photo editing tools for professional photographers. Starting with a one-time fee, it offers features like AI Editor/Slider, Exclusive filters, Image Layers, Dedicated presets, and Adjustment Layers.
2. Capture One: Capture One is another RAW image editor favored by professional photographers because of its solid distinctions. Capture One features Interface customizability, Annotations, Advanced Color Editing, Layers, and a one-time, flat fee. It also offers Advanced Color Editing and a quick interface.
3. ON1 Photo RAW: The support for the ON1 RAW format is gradually becoming a deciding factor for many editors. Apart from RAW support, this software has stackable filters, many presets, and various other solutions. This software also offers Live adjustments and previews and 170 photo editing effects.
4. Canva: Canva is a graphic design tool with a huge user base and following. It has a free and paid version and is ideal for beginners and professionals. This software is suitable for photographers that own a website, as they can apply all the necessary effects suitable required for excellent website content.
5. PicMonkey: PicMonkey is another popular graphic design package that allows you to create and edit photos, collages, and touch-ups. It is ideal for beginner photographers, as it helps you develop your design skills and increase your creativity. It offers all basic design and edit tools like Filters, effects, templates, and automatic sizing. 

Photo Editing Software for PC

1. Adobe Photoshop CC: Adobe Photoshop CC continues to be one of the best photo editing software for PC. With new additions like the Auto-select tool, loads of font and drawing capabilities, support for the Microsoft surface dial, and raw camera profiles, the 2018 edition has turned out to be better than ever.
2. DxO PhotoLab: Although slightly more expensive than similar software, it can produce results that no other software can. Some stand-out features of this software include Haze remover, Powerful local adjustments, Geometry corrections, and Excellent autocorrection & noise reduction.
3. Corel PaintShop Pro: Like Adobe Photoshop, Corel Paintshop continues to dominate the image editing software market. It offers powerful effects that are continuously updated. It is available at a one-time affordable price, making it an ideal Photoshop alternative.
4. CyberLink PhotoDirector: Another popular PC photo editing software, CyberLink PhotoDirector, offers a powerful and friendly interface. Its significant features include Cool multiple exposures, active noise reduction, and faux HDR effects. It also provides powerful tools like a Body shaper. Additional features of this software include Tethered shooting, Layer support, and Cool AI styles.
5. Phase One Capture One: This is an excellent photo image editing software for professional editors and photographers. Some features of this software are the Keyword tagging tool, Fast import, a Good photo-adjustment toolset, and a Pleasing interface. However, this tool has some usability issues and lacks online sharing.

Photo Editing Software for Mac

1. CyberLink PhotoDirector Ultra 10: PhotoDirector is the most popular photo editing software for mac users, primarily because of its easy-to-use interface. Although ideal for beginners, this software also caters to professional editors with its wide range of editing tools.
2. Pixelmator 3.3: Less expensive than PhotoEditor, this software offers all the necessary tools and advanced editing capabilities. It offers all the basic editing tools like color management, background removal, filters, etc. However, it does not provide lens distortion correction tools or photo-organizing systems.
3. Affinity Photo: Affinity Photo is the most powerful photo editing tool for Mac. It comprises advanced tools like 42 preset filters, a content-aware fill tool, etc. It also offers a free trial period.
4. Acorn 6: Acorn 6 is an excellent tool for producing natural HDR images. It works in layers to quickly create both panoramic and HDR pictures. It also features an HDR guide that helps you with an easy image combination. It is also compatible with the WAR image format. The only drawback of this software is that it lacks a photo organizer.

Photo Editing Software for Android

1. PicsArt: With more than 250 million users, PicsArt has been one of the most popular photo editing software for android for quite some time. It justifies its popularity as it offers some of the most advanced editing features like changing skin tones and hair colors, stretching and whirling tools, and hundreds of unique filters. 
2. Pixlr: This software to AutoDesk can be compared to Picsart in terms of popularity and features. Almost all the features offered by Pixlr are similar to Picsart, with one drawback- a limited number of filters.
3. Snapseed: Another free-to-use photo editing app for android, it is counted among the most popular photo editing apps for android. Owned by Google, it is a powerful photo editor supporting the RAW format. Additionally, this app is free of cost, with no in-app purchases or advertisements.
4. PhotoDirector: PhotoDirector has a minimalist UI with various enhancement and editing tools. It offers multiple tools and features like light effects, filters, and various add-ons for improving the images and giving them a new life. One of the noteworthy features of this app is the object removal trick, which helps you easily remove unwanted objects from an image.
5. Cymera: Regarded as one of the most excellent photo editing applications for android, Cymera offers an impressive collection of image editing tools. Apart from these image editing tools, it also provides a useful camera function that allows you to turn your camera into a beauty camera.
6. Camly: If you need a photo editing app that is simple and easy to use but is productive and practical at the same time, Camly is the ideal choice for you. Although the simple user interface is its most significant advantage, this application offers all the tools a photo editor should have.