Photo Editing Tools: The Ultimate Guide


Honing your photography skills is an important starting point in creating the best photos possible, but having the right photo editing tools is a must when it comes to creating truly stunning images that no camera could take on its own. Here is an overview of the best photo editing tools that are available to both beginners and professionals!

What are photo editing tools?

Photo editing tools allow you to do more with your photos. From adjusting the color and resolution of your photos to adding layers, touch-ups, and other special effects, photo editing tools give you the opportunity to create something special that goes beyond any basic photos you can get from a camera. Edited photos are often enjoyed and shared on their own, and they can also be used for branding materials, invitations, and a wide variety of other promotional materials.

Basic photo editing tools

If you're new to photo editing or are simply looking for a simple program that allows you to create a handful of custom images from time to time, there is no need to spend hundreds of dollars on one of the top photo editing tools on the market. There are several easy photo editing tools available that are more useful options for beginners, many of which are free or very inexpensive. Here are several of the best basic photo editing tools for photo editors that are looking for a simple, easy-to-use option!

Canva

Canva is a free image editing tool that is a top option for creating social media posts. It focuses more on creating branding tools, announcements, and other graphics that are based on provided templates than traditional photo editing, but your photos can also be added to templates to create your finished product.

PicMonkey

PicMonkey is a similar tool to Canva that is also based on mostly using the templates the program provides. It is primarily intended to perfect your photos and branding materials for social media posts, and it includes a wide variety of touch-up and artistic effects.

Best photo editing tools

If you're an aspiring professional photographer or simply looking for a program that has a bit more to offer than basic photo editing tools, there are several top-notch options available that are packed with features. Here are several of the best photo editing tools that are currently on the market!

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop consistently tops lists of the best photo editing tools on the market. The subscription-based program's massive selection of layers, brushes, recoloring options, and a plethora of other editing tools make it a go-to choice among pros that are looking to create works of art that go beyond what any camera can create.

Affinity Photo

Pros that would prefer to switch to a one-time purchase photo editor instead of continuing to pay Adobe's high monthly fees for years have found that Affinity Photo offers the vast majority of features that Photoshop includes at a much lower overall price. Unlike most professional photo and video editing software programs that are intended primarily for a particular operating system, Affinity Photo works equally well across Windows, macOS, and iOS devices.

PhotoDirector 365

PhotoDirector 365 is a subscription-based professional photo editing program that costs significantly less per month than Photoshop. It is one of the best photo editing tools for Windows, as it was designed primarily for these devices, and it includes over 3,000 special effects with more added regularly.

Corel PHOTO-PAINT

Corel PHOTO-PAINT is CorelDRAW's all-in-one photo editing software. Whether you're a beginner or a professional, our graphics suite offers something for everyone. Our photo editor is straightforward enough for anyone to learn, yet provides an abundance of top-of-the-line graphic design tools to turn your ordinary photos into works of art. Our complete graphics suite is available for an affordable monthly subscription that is close to Adobe's monthly cost for a single program.

Conclusion

Whether you're looking for a basic photo editing tool or one that provides the largest variety of professional options available, chances are there is one on the market that is a good fit for your goals. Visit our website to learn more about everything Corel PHOTO-PAINT has to offer or to download your free trial of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite!


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