Photo editing software has come a long way over the past few years, improving both in looks and functionality. You can now make the most of your photos, whatever your level of experience.
Photo editing software makes it easy to touch up faces and skin tone, remove blemishes entirely or just lighten them a little bit. It can also be used to sharpen the photo which is particularly useful for older photographs that have become blurred with time; this will bring back some of those lost details. The overall result should be much more appealing and professional looking.
If you’re a beginner, then perhaps the best place to start is with photo editing software that includes some preset actions such as ‘Auto Fix’ or even just ‘Enhance’. These can often be used on their own without any further customization required. Alternatively, there are plenty of other photo editing software options out there where you can go through each setting and make adjustments as needed.
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is one of the best photo editing software options available today. It’s quite complicated, but powerful and extremely versatile for both beginners and more advanced users. There are also plenty of tutorials out there to help you get started with it if needed.
One feature that I particularly like is Adobe Photoshop’s ‘Content Aware Fill’ tool. This allows you to remove objects from a picture with ease by allowing Photoshop to fill in the gaps where necessary. This is a great tool for creating professional looking images without having to spend hours editing them, although it does require some practice and patience before you can master it properly.
Adobe Photoshop is one of the most used photo editing software in the world. It has many features that allow you to edit your photographs and pictures so they look their best.
Key Features:
- Adobe Bridge: This feature allows users to organize, view, open files with only a few clicks.
- 18 layer support: You can now work on multiple layers simultaneously with Photoshop CS.
- Camera Raw: This feature allows you to open RAW files on Mac OS X and Adobe Bridge.
- Customizable user interface: You can now customize your toolbars, menus according to what works best for you. If you are new, the options will be made more accessible so that it is easier to use.
- Live Filters : You can now apply filters on your photographs and pictures without having to open them in another application first.
Adobe Lightroom Classic
If you’re looking for a more basic photo editing software with fewer options, then Lightroom is another good option. This photo editing software tool is only available as part of Adobe’s Creative Cloud package but it has everything that most users will ever need.
It also includes some pretty nice layout tools so if you want to create a photo book then this is a good option.
Key Features:
- Organized photo library: Easily organize your collection of photographs and pictures.
- Advanced filter tool: You can now make accurate adjustments to the tone, color, clarity using a more advanced set of tools. This is an easy way to enhance photos without having to spend hours editing them individually.
- Improved photo book creation: You can now create photo books with ease using this feature.
- Non-destructive image editing: You don’t have to worry about saving changes that you make because they are non-destructive and reversible so you never lose a previous version of your image ever again.
Adobe Photoshop Elements
Adobe Photoshop Elements is probably the best photo editing software tool for beginners. It has a fairly simple interface and there are plenty of tutorials out there to help you get started with it including video guides that can be followed step by step if needed.
Adobe Photoshop Elements is the perfect choice if you are looking for an easy to use tool that can give your photos a professional look.
Adobe Photoshop Elements Key Features:
- Powerful photo editing and organizing software.
- Intuitive and easy to use interface.
- Advanced camera RAW file support.
- Create custom print products, web galleries & slide shows with templates for beginners.
DxO PhotoLab
If you’re looking for an alternative to Lightroom and Photoshop, DxO PhotoLab is a great option. It has some really nice features including the ability to easily create photo books using different templates that can be customized as needed.
Automatically adjusts exposure for shadow detail recovery as well as highlight clipping but also enables you to control brightness levels manually. This software is able to recover color information in highlights that are overexposed into a better range of colors along with more details.
The software has a range of powerful presets as well as the option to save your own unique look on any photo through its non-destructive editing process. This makes it easy for anyone to try different styles and see what works best with their photos without worrying about making permanent changes that cannot be undone. There is even an auto enhance tool that can be used to automatically improve the appearance of your photos with just one click.
Key Features:
- Automatically adjusts exposure for shadow detail recovery as well as highlight clipping but also enables you to control brightness levels manually. This software is able to recover color information in highlights that are overexposed into a better range of colors along with more details.
- The software has a range of powerful presets as well as the option to save your own unique look on any photo through its non-destructive editing process. This makes it easy for anyone to try different styles and see what works best with their photos without worrying about making permanent changes that cannot be undone. There is even an auto enhance tool that can be used to automatically improve the appearance of your photos with just one click.
Corel PaintShop Pro
Corel PaintShop Pro is another good alternative to Photoshop Elements. It’s not quite as powerful but it still has some nice features that are worth exploring, particularly if you don’t want to pay for access to Adobe software.
Key Features:
- Provides more than 300 different effects with the ability to adjust them for better results
- Enhance any picture by removing red eye, whitening teeth or changing background color.
- Allows you to edit photos in its original form without having to crop it first. This makes photo editing simple and quick.
CyberLink PhotoDirector
CyberLink PhotoDirector is another good option. It’s not quite as well known but it still has a lot to offer and the interface is really easy to get started with, making it great for beginners.
Key Features:
- Advanced camera RAW file support.
- Powerful photo editing and organizing software
- Intuitive user interface with an easy to use layout.
- Create custom print products, web galleries & slide shows with templates for beginners.
Phase One Capture One Pro
Last but not least is Capture One Pro by Phase One. This software provides the ultimate in RAW file editing for professional photographers which means it offers you complete control over your photo to create a unique look that suits your style and needs while also providing powerful organizational tools so that you can keep track of all your photos at once.
Key Features:
- Provides the best color correction tools for photographers.
- Has a non-destructive workflow so that you can experiment with different looks until you find something perfect for your photo or images.
Adobe Photoshop Express
Adobe Photoshop Express is a free photo editing software that gives you all the basic tools to enhance your photos. It provides some nice filters and just enough features to keep casual users happy but it doesn’t have as much on offer compared with other options such as Corel PaintShop Pro or CyberLink PhotoDirector.
Key Features:
- Adjust the brightness, color and vibrancy of your images.
- Add filters to give your photos a unique look or feel.
- Straighten horizons, remove red eye & crop photos for better composition.
ACDSee Ultimate
ACDSee Ultimate is a powerful photo editing software that offers more than just basic tools. It’s packed with features and extras so it can be overwhelming for casual users but if you want something flexible then this could definitely be the best option to consider.
Key Features:
- Contains all the standard photo editing tools you’d expect, such as exposure and contrast adjustments.
- Has a range of unique photo effects that can be used to change the look of any photograph.
- Provides an extensive set of organizational features for keeping track of your images with ease.