Photo editing gone online
April 6th, 2008 | Published in Uncategorized
Now that Adobe has recently released the official beta of the much talked about Photoshop Express, it’s good to look at a couple other online image editors that have been in the market longer than PES. The free version of Picnik is really basic and therefore also quick and easy to use. It doesn’t really feel like an online Photoshop at all but it does the job when you’re quickly uploading a photo to Flickr, Facebook or Picasa and want to give it a little basic make-up before sending it off. Picnik Premium offers more features – that I haven’t got to test – for an annual subscription fee.
Splashup is currently in beta like Photoshop Express, and it’s the one of the three that feels the most like the real Photoshop experience. It looks and feels like PS. If you’re used to PS, then the learning curve is really low. Of course none of these free online image editors have the features or the power to replace Photoshop or any other full-on image editing application, but Splashup feels like the one that I could actually use every now and then when I just don’t feel like I need to launch Photoshop just to do something basic before I put the image online.
The great thing about Photoshop Express is that it comes with free 2GB storage space for your photos. Neither Splashup or Picnik offer that. But for the overall user experience I’d choose Splashup over PES – it feels more like the “real thing”.
About the author
I’m an interaction designer, information architect, strategist and creative lead, multi-skilled and versed in creative, strategy and technology. I’m also known as an electronic musician who has traveled the world from Tampere to Tokyo. I earned my experience as art director, concept designer and creative director in Scandinavia, praised for its award-hoarding digital agencies, then went on to work in the Middle East, the United States, and Canada. Currently, I work as Interaction Design Director at R/GA as well as a freelance interaction designer and information architect. My work has been awarded with national and international awards.
Email Karri | All posts by Karri Ojanen