Testing the best free photo editing software

Graphics and photographs play a central role in the World Wide Web. Web service providers use visual elements to make their services more appealing, companies use high-quality photographs to improve their advertising and social networks would completely lack a central focus without images. Product images, holiday photos, and profile pictures have a key element in common: they are rarely published online without some kind of digital editing. Having the perfect photo has become a popular sport and is no longer just reserved for professional photographers and designers.

As a result of this, many social media platforms have integrated their own photo editing tools into their sites that are mostly geared towards being used on mobile devices. However, those who are unsatisfied with the simple effects and filter options usually opt for traditional photo editing software on their PCs, because there are lots more available functions. Adobe Photoshop is above and beyond the most popular photo editing software, with both amateur and professional photographers using it for decades. 

However, many people are not looking for the highest quality photo editing standards, preferring cheaper alternatives instead because of the considerable cost of buying Adobe Photoshop. There are a number of free programs available that can offer more than satisfactory photo editing results.

The range of functions a program has is the most important feature that distinguishes between paid photo editing software and those that are free of charge. The fact that freeware products usually have fewer editing options is not necessarily a disadvantage: amateur photographers, in particular, often benefit more from the simplicity of a free tool, while still achieving a good result. Some features, however, should be included as a rule in the photo editing software so that it is versatile and user-friendly. The following features will be included in all the best photo editing software, even if it is free:

• Correct sharpness, color, and exposure
• Crop and rotate
• Loss free scaling
• Cropping and removing objects
• Creating photo montages
• Customization with filters and effects
• Be able to work on several planes
• Be able to import different image formats

Aside from having basic functions perhaps, the processing methods that photo editing software (whether free or paid) offers, plays the most important role. It is important that the functions are not only available but also easy and intuitive to use. A clear layout of the program (menu and toolbar, buttons etc.) contribute to this.

In the recent past, observers have noticed two things related to digital imaging: firstly, demand for programs has risen significantly. The previously mentioned social networks have played an important role in this. Secondly, today’s users have a much higher expectation of what their photo editing software should be able to do. At the same time, it must be user friendly and not require much time and effort to get to grips with. All tools need to be integrated and should be able to be used quickly and without much prior knowledge. Anyone checking out the market will be able to find free of charge photo editing programs that meet these high demands.

In addition to classic desktop programs, web apps are becoming more and more popular. These can be used on any internet browser and do not require installing. This means that it is irrelevant what operating system the user has, the only thing you need is a working internet connection. In some cases, you need to be registered to a site to use their photo editing program.

The following section provides information about desktop and web applications. A comparison table summarizes the similarities and differences of different programs:

This alternative to the standard paint program Microsoft Paint has been developed continually over recent years, making it suitable for more demanding tasks. This means you can work on multiple planes with parallel processing of various projects that can be easily navigated between using tabs. Each tab shows a small thumbnail, making it easy to navigate to your chosen project. It includes basic optimization tools for brightness, saturation, contrast or hue, as well as a graduation curve for tonal value correction, and a tool for removing the red-eye effect. Paint.NET also provides the following tool options:

• Softener and sharpener
• 3D rotation and zoom effect
• Black and white, and sepia filters
• Gradient generator
• Release tool, or wand.

Even the standard scope of features is quite impressive. There is also a lengthy plug-in directory, for anyone who is missing an effect or filter.

In addition to numerous tools for the tool palette, you can also find extensions that allow you to import and export additional file formats (such as the Photoshop format .psd). Paint.NET records every step of your progress, which means you can undo your changes at any time.

Pixlr Editor is the best proof that even free online photo editing software can keep up with the established, paid versions. The visual display and the standard editing controls allow the user to forget that it is only a web browser app – especially when full-screen mode is used. The clear, intuitive, visually appealing menu bars and boxes are easily recognizable from comparable programs, so experienced users and newcomers alike will quickly feel comfortable. Apart from its outstanding usability, the software also impresses with its many functions. For example, the photo processing program provides the following image customization features:

• Softener and sharpener
• Burn corrector
• Red-eye remover
• Gradation curves
• Automatic tonal correction

In addition to the versatile selection of correction tools, Pixlr Editor also offers numerous filters for altering photos and graphics. You can make them blurred, pixelated, transform them into reliefs, or make the images sepia or warm. There are plenty of customization options available throughout the entire editing process.

There are a few aspects where Pixlr Editor reveals itself as free photo editing software, as opposed to a high-quality program that comes with a high price: foreign language versions are not all properly translated and the workflow history is limited to just 14 entries. Additionally, there is also advertising on the site, although this can be closed with a click.

Like most open source applications, GIMP is modular, so it can be expanded at any time. In addition, control elements can be organized and turned on and off as desired. It lacks a standard configuration, which would include the most important features that are normally permanently located in the main dashboard. This, in turn, makes it unnecessarily difficult to get started. However, anyone who uses the software regularly and develops their own preferences and technique can configure, set and save their own array of preferred settings. In terms of functionality, GIMP’s other photo editing software cannot be beaten. For example, the following filters and effects are available freely:

• Soft drawing (eg., Pixels, motion blur)
• Enhancements (eg., red-eye removal, blurring edges)
• Light and shadow effects (eg. glitter, lens reflex)
• Artistic changes (eg., cartoon, oil painting effects)
• Borders and effects (eg., coffee stains, rounded edges)
• Animations (eg., shading, waves)

Touch-ups, such as color distribution, contrast, and brightness can be adjusted easily with GIMP in just a few clicks. There are also tools for trimming, scaling and rotating the images, as well as tools for editing individual elements. The fact that the photo editing software is free of charge means that it would be unfair to expect extensive export formatting options. GIMP offers typical image formats such as .jpg, .gif or .bmp to archive formats like .gz or .bz2, to web formats like .html or .xhtml in terms of exports.

Krita does not just attach importance to useful tools like brush stabilizers and a large selection of brush types, but it does emphasize a modern design to offer artists the best platform for their work process. Unlike GIMP, the KDE project has pre-configured standard layouts for various projects (like “standard”, “animation” or “big picture”), which allow even inexperienced users to get started right away. If desired, the tool specifications can be adapted to the user’s own wishes using a drag-and-drop function in the settings menu. The fact that Krita is first-class, free photo editing software, is also demonstrated by the convincing selection of rework, filter and transformation tools. Among other things, the application contains the following editing features:

• Brightness/contrast curve
• Burn mode
• Color balance
• Blur
• Sharpen
• Edge detection
• Oil painting

The mask function allows you to apply effects to the various image layers of the project. There are also options for cropping, mirroring or scaling images to a new size. You can document your work steps during the course of the project by activating the “dockable dialogue” in the preconfigured layout. Is it, therefore, possible to jump back a few steps at any time, in order to undo changes. International versions of Krita contain a few untranslated elements.

Editor Express tools are based on the proven Photoshop algorithms that allow the use of filters and effects to achieve first-class results. Compared to the original photo editing software, however, the functional scope of this free alternative is significantly lower. Anyone who wants to edit down to the smallest detail when working on photos and graphics reaches the limits of this web tool quite quickly. When it comes to simple optimization and transformation processes, there are hardly any applications that can compete with Express Editor. Among other things, the following functions are available once you upload an image:

• Scaling (fixed sizes or individual)
• Auto-correct mode
• Retouch
• Red-eye corrector
• Post-exposure
• Pixelate
• Cartoon drawing
• Focus and blur

The tool is very intuitive to operate, with a particularly well-organized dashboard. The tools are divided into two categories “Edit” and “Decorate”, the former being subdivided into three sub-categories “Basic”, “Adjustments” and “Effects”. The strength of the effect is already pre-configured, but you can adjust manually with a controller. The biggest limitation of this photo editing software is, however, the fact that you can only import and export images in JPG format.

It is clear from the start that RawTherapee has a lot of development options. The various menus and quick-start bars allow you to edit imported images down to the smallest detail. Since RAW files can be very large, the queue provides an ongoing conversion process that does not interfere with the project you’re working on. Multiple images can be edited at the same time with the program thanks to the comparatively high system utilization. It is not recommendable, however, with older computers. Each work step is processed non-destructively by RawTherapee so that the images retain their best quality. In addition, all steps are stored in order to be able to jump back at any time during processing. Available features include:

• White balance
• Saturation, contrast and brightness corrector
• Exposure compensation
• Sharpener
• Color filtering
• RGB tone curves for maximum control of colors and exposure

RawTherapee is, undoubtedly, one of the best photo processing programs for RAW files that the open source and freeware markets have to offer. Users are provided with everything necessary to improve and edit their photos. Since you can personalize and save your dashboard settings, it is easy to optimize numerous images with the same settings. However, the open source tool is less suitable for larger, creative adjustments due to the small number of effects and the lack of a tool for fine work (such as brushes).