March 3, 2009

Fun with Photo Editing Filters

If you are participating in the next Brenda Photo Challenge and don’t have a good grasp of photo editing programs, don’t panic! Cindra of Knits & Pics & Favorite Things recently mentioned a free online program called Picnik, and I did a little test drive of it. Let me tell you, it is EASY! Just upload your photo, click on different editing techniques, move a few slider bars, and you can modify your photos in a flash. When the editing is completed, you can then download the file back to your computer. They offer a premium service too if you want more bells and whistles.
Even the best photos can be improved with a little editing (e.g., color balance, contrast, spot touchups, sharpness, cropping). But after you finish those fine touches, you can have a little fun with special effect filters. Let me show you a few examples of how I quickly changed one of my photos using the Picnik program.

Original Photo (Grand Canyon Hopi House)


Using Create/Effects/Sepia


Using Create/Effects/Vignette


Using Create/Effects/Posterize


Using Create/Effects/Heat Map


Using Create/Sandbox/Circle Splash with Hardlight Setting


Go grab a couple of pictures and play with Picnik! And don’t forget to sign up for the Brenda Photo Challenge!

12 comments:

  1. Ahhhhhh...a peaceful place...lololol...
    These are nice sweetie! So kind of you to help out!! I'm not very good at this stuff but I'll try...sweet night to you!!hughugs

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  2. I've been having so much fun with these programs!

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  3. Thanks for the tutorial. I'm really gonna need it if I get a photo ready for the challenge!

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  4. Gee the things that can be done...
    Wonder if it can edit out a kilo or 10!!!

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  5. I like Picnik, paint.net is good too if you want to work offline on yer pics. Those photos you altered came out great!!!

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  6. That program is incredible , thanks for sharing that .
    clares craftroom

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  7. I really liked that last one. Very cool!!!

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  8. AAAAHHHH I LOVE the sandbox! They're all great. I may have to try this one using a picture I already have since my camera is still broken. I guess that would be okay, or do we need to take a new picture?

    You girls ROCK!!

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  9. Sing up, Miz Sally!!!! You don't need to take new pics - old ones will work just fine! Just PLAY! And you need to PLAY with us in the photo challenge, OK?

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  10. Those are all so cool Donna. I am really loving the sepia tone lately and I'll check that program out. I am all for easy breezey these days. I have a few photos ready for the challenge and I think we are going to play in photoshop tomorrow night at my photography class. We have gone over so much technical stuff my head is spinning. LOL

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  11. There are way too many fun things to do to photo, aren't there?

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  12. Woo Hoo! Look at those! How fun!

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