5 Best Photo Editing Software for Beginners
Photo editing is not an easy art to master. Sometimes, editing a photo requires more skill than actual photography. This is why using complex photo editing software can be quite daunting for beginners. However, that doesn’t mean you completely give up on editing. There are some decent apps out there that let you learn the basics of editing and master your way through it gradually. It doesn’t take too much time to learn, and the guides on board will help you with any complications.
So which are some of the best photo editing softwares for beginners? Well, to be honest there are quite a lot of these services available, which makes the choice even harder for new users. But this list will hopefully make your lives a little bit easier as we pick out some of the best entry level photo editing software available in the market.
So let’s take a look.
5 Best Photo Editing Software for Beginners
Adobe Photoshop Elements
The name Photoshop can be quite daunting to a lot of people and with good reason. This software has been used by experts for over a decade now, and is still one of the best photo editing softwares available. But is it suitable for beginners? Well, yes it is. It’s not as complex as other Photoshop software, with some AI features built-in to make editing a breeze. For example, it will gather all your photos and automatically attempt to correct them according to the software’s preset parameters.
This means that most of the core Photoshop features are removed from this app. However, you will still be able to make extensive editing using Elements, although you might take a little more time than usual, especially if you’re a beginner. Photoshop Elements will set you back by $99.99, which is a decent price for an extensive photo editor designed specifically for beginners. You can also choose to get Elements as well as Premiere Pro together for $149.99, saving you $50 in the process.
Pixlr
Pixlr is one of the most popular cross platform photo editing softwares available in the market today. It comes with an Android app, as well as an app for browsers, making it accessible to all the major mobile and desktop platforms in the world. Pixlr has a bunch of tools that can make editing a breeze. One caveat here though is the addition of ads, which the free users have to bear through. You can purchase one of Pixlr’s subscriptions to get rid of ads altogether, which also unlocks some other cool features.
Bear in mind that Pixlr requires a browser that has flash player built-in, so make sure you have a compatible browser before you use it. As far as editing prowess is concerned, Pixlr has covered most bases. The free version is fairly good to start with, and the ability to upgrade to an ad-free and feature rich experience is welcome. You can get on board Pixlr Pro for only $5 a month. It is recommended to get the subscription directly through Pixlr’s site.
CaptureOne
CaptureOne is a bit of a hidden gem on this list, primarily because it contains a slew of features on board, but with little to complain about. The performance of CaptureOne is determined on the kind of computer you have, so expect to encounter sluggishness if you’re using a relatively older computer hardware. The user interface is pretty easy to use with minimal complications, making it accessible to experts and beginners alike.
The service also comes with a cloud storage service, allowing you to pick up all your photos from the cloud rather than manually uploading a file each time. It’s slightly unfortunate, however, that CaptureOne lacks online sharing tools, which is a prerequisite for any modern day photo editing app, but we’re sure it will be fixed in the future.
Mobile users can access the features of CaptureOne on CapturePilot. Much like other editing apps, CaptureOne comes with a free version as well as a Pro version. Every new users gets access to the Pro version for 30 days, which is well worth it if you want to give the premium features a try. Once the free trial expires, you have to shell out nearly $20 a month for the subscription.
Gimp
Gimp is an age-old photo editing app that has stood the test of time for several years. For an app that’s independently developed, Gimp has a large number of users out there, along with a helpful community that will be happy to solve your problems or answer queries about Gimp.
It works on plugins and scripts, which makes it pretty flexible compared to other paid offerings. While it won’t offer features on par with paid offerings, Gimp is an excellent software to get started with, especially if you’re new to photo editing. In many ways, Gimp is much easier to learn than complex software like Photoshop, which offers more features, but also takes some time to fully master. The best part about Gimp is that it’s completely free for download and is devoid of ads, so there’s nothing coming in between you and your edits.
Adobe Photoshop CC
We’ve perhaps saved the best for last. With Photoshop CC, Adobe came out with one of the best photo editing softwares available in the market today. This service comes with a brilliant set of tools to adjust color, shape, contrast, and even add 3D designing. While beginners will find these features a little too daunting at first, there’s no better photo editor out there that can beat the features of Photoshop CC.
Of course, it’s not free. Photoshop CC requires a monthly subscription (no yearly option), and will set you back by $20.99 per month. This is not a hefty fee considering the amount of features that it brings to the table. Of course, you can also download the free version of Photoshop, get acquainted with the features and then decide if you want to get a full subscription. Be sure to check it out.