Round up of free web-based image editors

Because not everyone needs or can afford Photoshop, here's a quick round up of some of the better free web-based image editors. All will allow you to upload an image and do basic photo-editing: resize, rotate, crop, correct exposure, color-correct and sharpen. Some do one thing well, others may do another. Most are Flash based. Your mileage (as they say) may vary.

In no particular order:

  • Picnik - no registration needed but free registration gives you additional features; premium ($) version available. Just acquired by Google, so keep your eye on it.
  • PHIXR - unregistered logins good for 3 hours; free registration lets you save, etc. Same basic corrections as above, plus some holiday effects (goofy) and text tools. It has a quasi-Photoshop-like interface.
  • Pixer.us - no login or registration required. Some interesting effects. No text tools. You can play with some of their default images if you don't want to upload your own.
  • FotoFlexer - no registration required. Good range of basic and advanced tools. Clean, easy to use interface. Has text tools, squishing. Unlike some tools, it lets you use layers. Integrates with your online photo storage like Flickr, PhotoBucket, Picasa, etc.
  • Photoshop Express - the sleeping giant finally awoke and launched their own web-based services. Free but you have to register to use. This gets you the ability to store images in your account. The interface is clean and elegant. Not surprisingly a good range of tools, but no layers. Huh? 
  • Citrify - free (no registration) and premium versions. A spare interface, but it does include good tools for retouching faces, including a blemish remover.
  • Aviary Phoenix - no registration required but you can create a free account. Tools include the standards (see above) and layer support. Another quasi-Photoshop-like interface. Lots of online tutorials. In addition to Phoenix, Aviary has a suite of other online tools, including an audio editor.
  • Splashup - formerly known as Fauxto. Another quasi-Photoshop-like interface. Register or not -- your choice. Advanced tools including layers, or for quick and dirty, there's a Light version as well. Integration with Flickr, Picasa and Facebook.
Here's a more in-depth look at web-based photoeditors, from about a year ago.

Comments

Dan Brekke said…
Thanks for this, Doctor. Nice reference.
Dr Ralph said…
Glad you found it useful, old pal.

Photoshop has evolved into a vast, disk-consuming monster. I've got Photoshop CS4 on my work computer and I don't need a 10th of what it will do.

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