Alternatives to Expensive Image Editing Software

Layering tools and features helped establish Photoshop as the end-all-be-all of Photo Editing software leading to the coining of the phrasal verb “photoshop” to describe anything related to extracting and super-imposing different layers onto canvases. Now, however, many of these layering tools and features once available in Photo Editing software programs are available in several Online Image Editing programs, giving users tools to create and transform images for free from any Internet-connect computer.

The following are considerationsthat ought to taken when considering a program for photoshop-like functions:

Program Feature Availability

Though most Online Image Editing programs have features to add text or visual embellishments, many lack proper layering and canvassing tools with which to extract and superimpose images onto photos.

Mouse or No Mouse?

Some Online Image Editing programs like Pixlr offer free-hand crop tools that generally require a considerable degree of precision that might yield better results if executed using a traditional mouse as opposed to a touchpad.

File Type Compatibility

Some image file formats are suited for certain purposes, such as GIF, which is often used for animation. However, many image file types, including GIF, can be difficult to resize or reshape, making it a poor choice for image cropping and layering. Other formats like JPEG and PNG are more flexible and efficient than GIF.

Layering Options

Many programs offer more than simple extricate, move and paste tools. Several programs, including Pixlr, provide users with tools to merge canvases, move layers to the forefront or the background, flip vertically or horizontally, rasterize, flatten, duplicate, delete and even create layers from scratch. These additional tools can help improve results and can supplement and even substitute for tools and features found on software-based Photo Editing software.

Using the Online Image Editing side-by-side review, see which programs offer tools and features to effectively extract and apply images onto canvases.