Pixlr

Pros

• Great free tool for photo editing
• Works with most photo formats
• Suitable for Windows users
• Loaded with handy tools for photos
• Lets you edit and add text

Cons

• May seem complicated to new users
• Limited tool options in the free version
• May lack the professional look you want

Pixlr is one of the best free apps for editing photos. It works with most versions of Windows and is so easy to use that anyone can use it. Unlike similar editing apps that have a lot of confusing elements and tools that are hard to use, you won't have any problems using Pixlr to edit the files you saved on your PC. In addition to editing, Pixlr also allows you to create unique designs from scratch in a few minutes.

When you open Pixlr, you have two options. Click on Open Image to use a photo you already have or click on Start Design to create a new piece. You'll also notice two buttons near the bottom of the screen. One button allows you to create a new image without using any of the design tools. The other button lets you enter the URL of a photo you found online. It's helpful to open a new tab and copy the URL of the photo before you add it to the app. Pixlr will only use the image if you enter a URL that takes you right to the photo.

Before you start editing a photo, you can pick one of the available templates. Pixlr gives you a choice of templates on the bottom of the page that their top editors either picked or designed. You might love using a holiday border to create cards that you send out to loved ones or a funky border to highlight an image you want to share on social media. If you own a website or a small business, you'll also find templates that let you advertise flash sales and other events.

Don't worry if you have a hard time finding a template from these options though. Just scroll down a little further on the page to find a series of tags that help you search for the right template for your needs. Pick the Pinterest tag to view the best options for pages you want to highlight on your Pinterest page. Use the YouTube thumb to find templates that help you create a thumbnail image for a video you want to share. Some of the other tags that help you find the right templates include Business Card, Facebook Post, and Instagram Story.

Once you pick the Open Image, Pixlr will open your Download folder and let you pick a photo. You can also change the destination and pick an image from another folder. The app works with most file formats. You will see a series of buttons on the left side of your screen that helps you quickly edit the image. Use Arrange & Style to change the background and rotate the image or pick Animation to add an animated feature. Some of the options include Fade, Rise, and Scrap. These features come in handy if you want to turn different photos into a slideshow.

Pixlr is similar to photoshop and other editing tools but is free to use. With the Layout feature, you can change the scale of the photo and add another layer on top of it. When you click on the Add Text button, you can pick from one of the available text layouts. The app also lets you change the size of the text and its placement on your photo. It has an Add Element button, too. If you want to combine photos or add another image from your PC to your original photo, use this feature.

Some of the other tools that come built-in are similar to those you would find on other photo editing tools. You can crop your image to get rid of things you don't want to see and rotate it to change how it looks. The cutout tool makes removing an area of the photo easy. You might also like the retouch option, especially if you take portrait photos. This tool gives your photos a professional look and removes problems like blemishes from your subjects. Pixlr also has an Effect tool that works like the filters on Instagram to give your image a new and different look.

One of the nice things about Pixlr is that it lets you change a section of your photo without affecting the whole thing. Did you take a photo of your friends that has a stranger making a weird face in the background? You can paint over that person to remove them from the image. The Paint feature also gives you an easy way to add new effects to make your photo stand out. It's just as easy to create special effects that you use in one area of the photo without changing the entire picture.

When you have a group of photos you want to combine, you'll like the Collage option. When you pick the Collage option, Pixlr will open your PC and ask you to pick all of the images you want to combine. You can also use the buttons below your photos to change the layout. This lets you enlarge the photos you like the most and draw the eye to them while making the photos you like less appear smaller. Once you save the collage, you can share a copy online or through email.

The newest free version of Pixlr also includes different text options. Instead of using just the presets found in the app, you can design your own. Have fun picking a new font, changing the size of the letters, and finding the right color that works with your image. You can even move the text around the page to find the best spot for it before you save your work. Pixlr has tons of fonts that work with all types of photos. As you edit the image, you can also edit the text you added. If you pick a different layer, you can keep the text in place and just edit the background or another layer.

Whether you're a professional or an amateur, you might like using the Pixlr community, too. The app helps you quickly connect to the community and upload your final pictures. You can get feedback from other users and leave feedback for them. The community is a great place to find out what people think before you share your work on your site or social media. You can even make some new friends in the community and pick up tips on how to make your images pop from experienced users.

Like other editing apps, Pixlr does have some potential issues. You do not get full access to all of the tools you might want when you download the free version. Pixlr will ask you if you want to upgrade to a premium account. It can also adjust the quality and colors of your photos. If you used similar apps in the past, you might find that Pixlr doesn't make your photos look as good as some of those apps do. Another issue is that some of the tools can seem a little complicated. Those with less photo editing experience may even feel confused. Some users also found that they forgot how to use some of the app's features when they took some time away from it.

It's easy to overlook some of the problems with Pixlr though. Not only does it work on most Windows systems, but it's also compatible with most image file formats. You can access the online community through the app and save your work to share on other sites. Pixlr is one of the top free photo editing tools available today.

Pros

• Great free tool for photo editing
• Works with most photo formats
• Suitable for Windows users
• Loaded with handy tools for photos
• Lets you edit and add text

Cons

• May seem complicated to new users
• Limited tool options in the free version
• May lack the professional look you want