Photo Editing Software Vs. Online Image Editing Programs

Software-based Photo Editing programs have become ubiquitous in recent years, expanding beyond the desktops of graphic designers and other professionals to most PCs, laptops and, now, even netbooks. Yet, as the power and proficiency of computers has expanded, so too has the Internet grown apace in its speed and accessibility, allowing for the development of web applications and web-based programs that effectively substitute for their software-based counterparts.

In recent years, even photo editing programs have become available online. Early efforts might have yielded mixed results, but, many programs are now comparable in quality and can easily supplement and, in many cases, substitute for traditional web-based programs.

Though photo editing software programs like Adobe Photoshop still have a richer feature and toolsets, the following are tools, features and site functions that are offered by many Online Image Editing programs:

Crop, Resize, Reshape, Rotate

Most Online Image Editing programs allow users to make these everyday adjustments to photos and images. Whether you need to rotate photos taken off-axis, resize an image to reduce its file size or crop it altogether.

Adjust Lighting and Other Levels

Like software-based photo editing programs, most Online Image Editing programs allow users to adjust brightness, lighting, hue, saturation, color intensity and others.

Red Eye, Teeth Brightening and Blemish Removal

Generally, most users only require a handful of tools, which makes Online Image Editing programs even more convenient and appropriate. Many such programs include tools to manually or automatically remove red-eye, brighten teeth and remove blemishes to subjects or photo quality.

Professional Filters and Stylish Effects

Sometimes simple adjustments and quick-fixes aren’t enough to make a picture standout. Like many software-based photo editing programs, Online Image Editing programs generally offer a variety of filters and effects, ranging from simple B/W to more art-oriented appliqués like Lomography and others.

Add Visual Embellishments, Text and Scrapbook-like Images

Many programs offers users tools to add text, visual embellishments and other scrapbook-like effects, allowing users to personalize photos and images. Some programs like Picnik even allow users to make collages, scrapbooks and other photo projects.

Extract and Superimpose Images with Layering and Canvas Tools

Several Online Image Editing programs, namely Pixlr, feature layer and canvas tools with which users can“photoshop” images.
Integrate with Social Networking and Photosharing accounts
Many programs allow users to upload photos for editing and adjustment directly from their photosharing and social networking sites, instantly saving any changes made to these photos directly to their accounts.

Professional Printing Services

Many programs offer professional printing services directly or through an affiliate photobook or printing services like VioVio and Shutterfly.

The Online Image Editing sites offer side-by-side and in-depth reviews of 10 of the leading programs across the Internet, including top-rated programs Picnik, Photoshop Express and flauntR.