Although nowadays mobile phones and cameras usually take very good, almost perfect photos, there is always room for improvement, however small it may be. Surely we have ever seen the need to retouch a photo, adjust brightness, contrasts or colors and even remove unwanted elements from that photo. And to carry out this task we can turn to one of the many photo editors that we can find for Windows.
In the variety is the taste, we always say it. And when we talk about software, we can often find an infinity of programs to carry out a task. Thus each user can choose the one that best suits the needs of the moment.
Basic, web or professional, what program do I need?
We can find a lot of programs to edit photos. In addition to having free and paid alternatives, as always, we will also find much more complete and professional programs, and other simpler programs to make basic adjustments. Therefore, it is important to find out what type of program we need to choose the one that best suits our needs.
The first thing we have to ask ourselves is: why do I want the photo editor? If we have to make some small adjustments, touch-ups of contrast or color, or apply filters, surely we are not interested in complicating ourselves, and with a simple editor we will be satisfied.
Things change when we need to make other changes and more advanced adjustments. Simple photo editors are more basic and, although they have a much more intuitive interface, their functions leave many to be desired. In these cases it is necessary to resort to much more complete programs, professional photo editors , that allow us to do much more with our photos.
Finally, if we want to carry out simple touch-ups and we do not want (or cannot) install any program on our Windows, there are excellent online alternatives . These are usually much more limited in functions, and there is also the problem of privacy when uploading photos to an external server. But they are an interesting alternative that we can also consider.
Quick and easy programs
The following programs are characterized by being simple and basic programs. Any user will be able to use them without problems to edit and retouch their photos, but we cannot ask for professional results, mainly because many of the options lack many functions and tools.
Windows 10 Photos App
Windows 10 comes with the Photos app installed by default. This program, in addition to allowing us to open and view the photos in Windows, also has a simple (very simple) photo editor included. Also, totally free.
The Windows photo editing application basically has 3 sections to edit our photos. The first of them will allow us to crop and rotate the photos very easily. The second will allow us to easily apply color filters and effects to photos. And the third one adjusts the color, the clarity, the bullet and eliminate the red eyes. We will also be able to draw, add animated text and even 3D effects to photos.
If we need more editing options, then the program refers us to Paint 3D.
PhotoScape
When we talk about simple programs to edit photos, PhotoScape is one of the first that comes to mind. This software allows you to open and edit any photo you have on your computer in a very simple and fast way. With it we can adjust the size of the photo, modify the brightness and contrast, adjust the white balance, correct the light, add text, draw, remove red eyes and much more.
This program has a very simple and intuitive interface from which we can upload the photos and choose the tool that we want to use to retouch the photo.
We can download PhotoScape for Windows from the following link . There is also a version for the Microsoft Store, and a paid UWP “Pro” edition.
Photoshop Elements
Photoshop is the best program for photo editing, we have no doubt about that. However, this program is one of the most complicated and professional that we can find. Therefore, if we are looking for a simple and fast alternative, it is not the best option.
Adobe has a sister program, Photoshop Elements, designed to make it easy for users to create and edit photos. This software, in addition to helping us organize our photos, has a large number of tools, very simple to use and intuitive, that will allow us to improve our photos, and even recover those that have been spoiled.
Among its strengths we can highlight AI. The entire program has advanced artificial intelligence that, in addition to guiding us through all the editing steps (along with a complete assistant), will always help us achieve the best finish for the photos. It also has features such as removal of backgrounds, deletion of unwanted objects and replacement of background that provide added value.
We can download Photoshop Elements from the Adobe website . This program is paid, and its license costs 100 euros, one-time payment.
Photoshop Express
If we are looking for something even easier to use than Photoshop Elements, we can turn to Adobe’s free editing software: Photoshop Express . This software allows us to make all kinds of basic editing adjustments, such as cutting, linking or rotating photos, in addition to having AI-based automatic correction functions (in case we don’t want to complicate ourselves) and the possibility of applying up to 15 different filters to our Photographs.
Photoshop Express is free to download for Windows 10 from the Microsoft Store .
IrfanView
For users who do not need anything special and settle for something very basic, IrfanView is an option to consider. The main objective of this program is to see photos. However, it has some basic editing options that will allow us, for example, to draw inside the photo with tools inherited from MS Paint. It also has interesting functions, such as color correction, it will give us a plus of utility to this software.
We can download IrfanView from its website .
Paint.NET
For many, this program is the intermediate point between Paint and Photoshop. Although its functions do not reach those of Photoshop, Paint.NET has a very simple and intuitive interface that will help us without problems to carry out any type of retouching or editing on our photos.
This program has support for layers and tools that allow us to touch up almost any aspect of our photographs without complications. In addition, it is a totally free program, with no limited functions or hidden costs, although the UWP version is paid in “donation” mode.
We can download Paint.NET for free from its website .
FastStone Image Viewer
FastStone Image Viewer is a very fast, easy to use, intuitive and powerful photo viewer, converter and editor. This program wants to be an “all in one” for users who want to be able to open their photos in Windows and retouch those that can be improved, but without complications. It supports a large number of different formats (including RAW) and has everything that any user, without professional purposes, may need to edit their photos.
We can download FastStone Image Viewer for free from the following link .
Fotophire Editing Toolkit
Fotophire is a program, developed by Wondershare, that allows us to edit our photographs very quickly and easily. This program has a simple editor that allows us to touch up the aspects of the photo that we don’t like, in addition to offering us tools typical of other programs, such as a tool to crop the photo and a function to delete unwanted elements and parts.
This software also has functions such as Maximizer, which allows us to zoom to the most important part of the photo without losing quality, or Focus, to adjust the colors and the blurring of the photos as we like.
We can download Fotophire Editing Toolkit from its website .
Paint – Paint 3D
Of course we cannot forget about Paint and its improved version, Paint 3D. This is one of the most basic drawing programs that has been present in the operating system since its inception. The truth is that Paint offers us very few editing options beyond drawing on top of the original photo. However, Paint 3D already offers us some more functions and features to help us retouch the photos.
We have left these Paint programs for last because, although they may be useful on some occasions, the most common thing is that they do not. Their functions are very limited and, although they edit photos, they certainly do not do it in the best way.
PhotoWorks
PhotoWorks is another photo editor for Windows 10. It’s very easy to use and suitable both for newbies and professionals in image editing.
Most of the PhotoWorks tools are powered with AI. So you can enhance your pictures, perform color correction, get rid of imperfections and distortions automatically. Still, PhotoWorks gives you lots of freedom: you can edit pictures manually as well. Crop large images using various grids, remove color casts with Curves, replace backgrounds with smart tools, use Clone Stamp and Adjustment Brush for precise correction, etc.
The portrait photographers will enjoy the Portrait Magic feature. These are AI presets for enhancing skin tone, removing blemishes and applying digital makeup. PhotoWorks lets you tweak the chosen preset: change the tone, sharpen facial features and remove glare. Apart from the portrait presets, there are 180+ one-click effects and 3D LUTs you can use to change the overall atmosphere in your picture.
Apart from Windows 10, PhotoWorks also supports Windows 8.1, 8, 7 and XP. You can download PhotoWorks from its website (ze swojej strony internetowej).
Web based applications
The best programs do not always have to be installed on the computer. Today, thanks to the latest web technology, we can have a large number of programs and tools directly from our browser, programs that we do not have to install and that just by visiting a website, regardless of the PC or device we use, we can use them. no restrictions.
Canva
Canva is not an online photo editor as such, but a web application that will allow us to create our own pamphlets and our own images from previously created designs or adding our own resources from scratch. This website is very useful especially for preparing content to share on social networks or for use in marketing events.
We can start using Canva from its website . We can use this website for free, or pay for the “Pro” version that includes other functions and features.
Google Photos
Google Photos is Google’s well-known online photo platform. The best feature of this platform is that it offers us an unlimited space to upload all our photos to the cloud, being able to download them whenever we want or access them from any device. In addition, it has a series of editing functions that will allow us to retouch, edit and improve our photos very easily from the browser, or from any of its apps.
We can start uploading and editing photos with Google Photos from this link .
Pixlr
This online photo editor is somewhat reminiscent of Photoshop. Thanks to it we will be able to quickly edit any photo on our computer from the browser itself without installing any additional software on the PC. It has an intuitive and very easy to use platform and AI tools that will allow us to achieve exceptional results. It supports all kinds of image formats, including PSD projects created with Photoshop.
We can access Pixlr’s free online photo editor from the following link . This web application has a free version and a paid version.
Lightroom
Photoshop does not have an online version. However, Adobe does offer us a photo editor that we can use from the browser: Lightroom. Lightroom is almost a Photoshop complete designed to adjust the values and parameters of photos quickly and easily. This web tool allows us to touch up all the parameters of the photos and apply filters to give them a unique finish. In addition, it has one of the most powerful AIs (Adobe Sensei) that will help us achieve the best finish for photos.
We can access Adobe Lightroom from the browser from this link . Photoshop Lightroom is included in the Adobe photography plan.
I love IMG
I love IMG offers us a wide collection of online tools to edit all kinds of images from the browser. On this website we can find tools such as image converters and compressors and, of course, editing tools that allow us to crop, edit, rotate or add watermarks.
This is one of the most intuitive and simple websites that we can use to retouch and edit our photos. An alternative that, without a doubt, we should not stop trying.
We can access the I love IMG photo editing tools from here. This website is free, although we have a “Premium” plan, which costs 6 euros per month, which offers more functions and tools.
PicMonkey
PicMonkey is one of the most complete photo editing web applications that we can find. This website has a very clear and intuitive design and will allow us to easily edit our photos, as well as create all kinds of artistic graphic designs using our photos. We can adjust different parameters of our photos to give them a better finish, apply effects and even make skin adjustments to our photos to make it perfect.
We can quickly start editing with PicMonkey from this link . This website offers us a trial version, but to use it without limits we must pay a subscription.
Fotor
Fotor is another graphic tool, that we can use from our browser without downloading or installing anything, and that offers us an all-in-one to easily edit photos. With it we can create graphic designs and make collages of our photos by simply dragging and dropping, being able to quickly cover the needs of any user who, without professional purposes, needs to touch up a photo or create compositions.
We can start using Fotor from the following link . We can use this editor for free, but some of its functions are limited to users of Photos Pro, the paid version.
BeFunky
BeFunky is probably the most complete online photo editor we can find. This website is mainly divided into 3 sections: the first one, the editor, the second one, a tool for making collages, and the third one, a graphic designer.
This website offers us a wide variety of tools to retouch photos, as well as retouching functions, a large number of effects, a function to add frames, graphics, text … Although it does not reach Photoshop level, it is one of the most complete alternatives, professional and easy to use that we can run from our browser.
We can access BeFunky from here. The basic editor is free, but many of the additional features involve paying a subscription of $ 7 a month.
Professional programs
Finally, if the previous programs fall short, we can always resort to much more complete and professional alternatives. We can find programs to edit photos both free and paid that will offer us tools of all kinds with which we can do practically what we want to give the desired finish to the photos.
Adobe photoshop
Of course, the best program to edit and enhance photos with a professional finish is, and always has been, Adobe Photoshop. This professional photo editor offers users a lot of tools to be able to do whatever they want with their photos.
This program offers a large number of retouching and editing tools with which to improve photos or remove unwanted objects, as well as the possibility of cropping parts of the photo and playing with effects or colors. A wide variety of editing tools allow us to select objects to treat them individually, to play with the focus of the photos or to deform parts of them.
We can buy Photoshop from the Adobe website . Photoshop is paid by subscription, and is included in the Adobe photography plan.
Gimp
Of course, GIMP has a rival that follows it closely. And this rival is undoubtedly GIMP. This program to edit photos is characterized by offering many of the functions and tools that Photoshop offers, but it does it completely free and open source. The interface is highly customizable (and we can even make it identical to Photoshop) and the learning curve is similar to that of Adobe software.
Although it is true that some functions and features are not up to the standards of Adobe software, and that some elements, such as layer management, leave much to be desired, for those users who do not have professional or commercial purposes, it can be a great alternative that we can use it completely free of charge.
We can download Gimp from its website .
Paintshop PRO
This Corel photo editing software is somewhere in the middle between Photoshop and GIMP. The interface of this program is almost identical to that of Photoshop, and it has a large number of tools that will allow us to adjust the elements of the photos to make changes and corrections to the image.
This photo editing program has support for working with layers, has tools for retouching and restoring photo details, brushes and drawing tools, support for HDR and is compatible with RAW photos. In addition, it has advanced AI that will help us always get the best effects for our photos.
We can buy Paintshop PRO editing software from this link . We can try this program for free for 30 days, and after that period of time we will have to pay the license, a license that costs 50 euros.
Affinity Photo
Affinity Photo, formerly known as Serif PhotoPlus, is a simple, fast and professional program at the same time to be able to carry out all kinds of edits and adjustments to our photos without problems. This program is compatible with all image formats (including RAW photos) and allows us to carry out all kinds of edits and touch-ups showing the changes in real time. Thanks to its tools, filters and layers we will be able to achieve an impeccable finish and impressive compositions.
We can download Affinity Photo from its main website . This program is paid, and its license costs 55 euros, one-time payment.
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
Lightroom is not an editing program like Photoshop, but rather a program that complements it. This software is not focused on editing, but instead focuses on retouching photo parameters. Lightroom has very simple tools to use to be able to give the finish that we want to our photos, both from the mobile, from the PC and even from the web. It has a large number of tutorials, an advanced AI system to improve photos and a large number of controls from which we can adjust our photo as we like.
Lightroom is included with the Adobe Photoshop photography pack, and we can access it from the following link .
Capture One
Capture One Pro is one of the most complete alternatives to Photoshop to carry out any photo editing and retouching work. This software is characterized above all by its immense customization options, since it allows us to adjust its interface, and all the elements, as we wish. It also has a large number of camera profiles by default that facilitates the work of editing RAW photos and allows us to achieve more realistic colors.
The layers, HDR, curves and levels and editing functions included in this program make it a very complete and professional option, although with a rather steep learning curve.
We can download Capture One from its website . Of course, its license costs almost 500 euros, so, initially, it may be out of reach for many.