TopTenREVIEWS

By Derek Hardman

When Sxoop Technologies’ Pixenate premiered in 2005, it was among the first of its kind, offering image editing tools and features that were previously only available in oftentimes expensive software programs. With a simple, straightforward interface and a familiar toolset, users could make simple adjustments and improvements to photos from almost any Internet-connected computer. Users could then upload images to popular photo website Flickr or order prints or even screen-printed gifts.

Though Pixenate was among the best in 2005, in the 4 years since its public release, other online image editor programs have made great headway, incorporating more tools, design and edit features and integrating with social networking and other photo sites that have become popular in recent years. However, despite its dated feel and limited functionality, Pixenate remains a powerful and simple web application.

Pixenate Screenshots

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Editing Features:

Online image editing programs generally feature a variety of paint and design tools, filters, effects and other sizing and level adjustments. Pixenate offers a few of each, from simple teeth whitening and red-eye reduction tools to effects like Lomography-style simulation. Users searching for more advanced features might be disappointed to find their resources limited, but, the preview window and history features make making and undoing effects and changes very simple.

Import/Export:

Pixenate is fairly limited in both its import and export options. Users can upload images from their computer, use an existing URL and, more recently, integrate with user Facebook accounts to edit and adjust images already uploaded to the account using the Pixenate app.

Ease of Use:

When it comes to ease of use, Pixenate’s simplicity, limited design and edit features and preview, undo and redo functions actually work in the service’s favor. With no registration required, users can quickly upload, edit, save and share finished images with little or no delay. And, with a product partnership with Zazzle.com, users can have their images screen-printed on mugs, t-shirts, tote-bags and other gifts.

Help/Support:

Pixenate has a fairly detailed “about” section, but it is directed largely towards software and web-based businesses that are in need of an image-editing service. However, the product info section does have an excellent browser compatibility tool, which is a critical tool for web-based applications like Pixenate and other online image editing programs.

Summary:

Pixenate is a simple, effective tool for quickly repairing, resizing and improving photographs and images. However, while it is perfectly suited for ad hoc, on-the-go edits and adjustments it lacks many of the finesse features available in other online image editor programs and traditional software-based programs.