If you want professional looking photos, then using the right photo editing software is just as important as having the right camera, or having the right skills as a photographer.
Unfortunately, for hobbyists and newbies it’s hard to know which photo editing software is the best. This is especially important as some of the providers try to lock you into expensive 12 month commitments.
We have tried to make the decision easier for you by outlining some of the best photo editing, manipulation and retouching software packages for beginners below.
What is the Best Photo Editing Software for Beginners?
Miku
Most people today, especially those who are not that into photography, are not so fond of photo manipulation. It could be because they are too busy. Or perhaps, they know they are not that creative to do such a task. Whether it is the former or the latter one attractive option could be to outsource the work and hire a professional photo retoucher. This is what many of the top photographers, brands and influencers do.
But how can you do this without breaking the bank and spending hundreds of bucks? In comes MIKU.
MIKU is a photo editing, retouching and manipulation app which, instead of you doing the job yourself you can outsource the job to a team of professional editors who are online 24/7.
The team have done hundreds of thousands of edits and will do just about anything you ask of them in under 20 minutes! You also have unlimited revisions if you aren’t happy with the results the first time.
There are a wide variety of options to choose from and there is also a free text box where you can type your instructions. It is also possible to chat with the editor to make sure you get what you want.
Some of the pre-populated options include changing lighting and colors, skin tone alteration, adding and removing objects or people, face and body retouching, changing the background, changing eye color and more!
Here are the other features:
• Pimple and wrinkles removal
• Facial hair removal
• Stretch marks removal
• Nose and face slimming
• Eyes enlargement and color-adjustment
• Eyebags removal
• Teeth and skin whitening
The are also experts at retouching product photos for online stores.
The app is free to download and available to both iOS and Android devices. On iPhone you get 3 free jobs to start and 5 free jobs for every friend you refer!
2. Photoscape
If you are happy to make the edits on your pwn then try Photoscape editor. It has a simple, accessible, yet sort of odd interface with easy-to-use tools. It comes with an array of features that will definitely alter and improve the image’s quality. For instance, it lets you split and merge pictures of your choice. Apart from that, it also allows you to create GIFs, raw conversion, use of different filters, and open a PSD file.
At once glance, the app’s interface could give an impression of ‘difficult to use.’ But don’t get intimated by it. The tools and features included in the editor are not too complicated to understand. The filters are new and easy to manipulate, as well. And once you get the hang of it, it will be as easy as a breeze editing photos using Photoscape.
3. Paint.NET
If you prefer a quick and straightforward photo fix, image editor Paint.NET simplicity and easiness will serve you well. Apparently, it is the elevated version of the popular Paint application installed in every Microsoft computer. It serves a different purpose, though, as Paint only lets you draw images.
Paint.Net is ideal for urgent and not-too-complicated image manipulation. It comes with several editing tools with an interface that resembles Paint. It lets you save unlimited edit history which you can use to undo or redo alterations you wish to apply. Images automatically open in individual tabs too.
But what’s truly impressive about it is that it is rich with useful features that resemble some of the favorite tools on Adobe Photoshop such as the Clone Stamp and Magic Wand. It is why it is now being compared to Adobe Photoshop and GIMP. It is accessible and easy to understand, which makes it among the most recommended photo editing software for beginners.
4. Canva
Turning a hobby into a commercial business is what everybody hopes they could do. If you are planning to monetize your photography, try Canva. It is an image manipulation program that—instead of using different brushes and clone tools—makes invitations, posters, cards, and polished social media posts (Instastory, for instance). As such, it is ideal for business-minded individuals, employees, influencers, and even ordinary individuals who like to have a rose-colored glass kind of social media life.
As mentioned, you would not find some features that other photo editing software has on there. However, it does have the following:
• Vignette effects
• Brightness adjustment
• Sharpening
• Sliders for tint application
• Saturation and contrast adjustment
• Exposure adjustment
• Text editing features
• Other image elements alteration
Canva is free as well. However, if you wish to have vast options and larger cloud space, the app offers a paid version too. For free users, they will have at least 1GB of free cloud storage along with more than 8, 000 templates they can use for different purposes. It also comes with two folders to keep all your designs and drafts neat and organized.
5. GIMP
Do you prefer advanced editing but with a smooth learning curve? GIMP would be the top pick photo editor for you then. GIMP or GNU Image Manipulation Program is an open source and free to download application that allows its users to edit their pictures in a much simpler process but with Photoshop-like results.
It is packed with an array of advanced tools and highlights to help users create the image they wish to do. It also does numerous actions that premium software, like Adobe Photoshop, can do.
Here are some:
• Flaws removal
• Includes layers, masks, and curves
• Clone stamp
• Healing tools
• Wide variety of brushes
• Has an option to customize personal brushes
• Angle alteration
• Smart selection tools
But what’s genuinely breathtaking about GIMP (aside from its premium like features and free of charge app) is that it has a lot of scripts and plugins that are very handy for its users. They have the privilege to pick whatever they need—whether it is comic book creator or 3D screenshots—it sure is worthy of installing. Apart from that, you can take it anywhere and use it on different computer or laptop. Just save it in a flash drive, and that’s it, you can then open it to any devices you want.
6. Adobe Lightroom
Have you heard filter presets? Perhaps you have stumbled upon a person on Instagram who sells them. Filter presets can be applied easily using one of our top best photo editing software for beginners: Adobe Lightroom.
Adobe Lightroom is an image editor program that, as what its name tells, comes with tools that help create Photoshop-like outcome. It is easy to operate and includes useful features to enhance an image’s quality.
In fact, a recent update last April 2018 called Camera Profiles now allows users, especially professional photographers, to have a much smoother workflow compared to before. It now includes luminance masking and new color range that lets users to choose photo subsets quickly. It gives precise and quick editing results.
Here are some of the features included in the application
• Easy learning curve
• Professional color correction
• Has an array of Lightroom presets to opt from
• Advanced customization tools
• Saves original files automatically
• Has extra export settings
CONCLUSION
If you are time constrained and don’t want to spend the time and money required to learn a new software then we recommend MIKU, the price is just as competitive as the other software packages and the editors have access to all the tools above and more, in addition they have decades of experience.
If you have more time on your hands then we recommend lightroom for youir image editing needs, it isn’t capable of advanced editing like Photoshop but for a beginner it is probably enough for you to handle.
If you want to create invitations, graphics for your Pinterest and social media then we also suggest trying Canva.