So the day that I finally decided to get with the program and join Picnik (March 1st), is the very day that they announced that they'd been acquired by Google-- That's huge! It's a testament to how amazingly user-friendly, creative and wildly popular the website is becoming.
So what is Picnik, you ask? In their own words-- Picnik is photo editing awesomeness, online, in your browser. It's the easiest way on the Web to fix underexposed photos, remove red-eye, or apply effects to your photos.
That and more, really. And to make things even more convenient, you can upload pictures from your computer OR from any of the slew of Online Photo Web Albums and Social Networks-- Flickr, Picasa, Photobucket, Webshots, Webs, Facebook and MySpace.
So I took an hour to play with their "photo editing awesomeness" and had a bit of fun with a few of my favorite travel photos~
Vancouver, BC - Spring 2005
BEFORE:
A little crooked, and the couple is lost in the overall shot
AFTER:
Sharpened, cropped and straightened photo. Applied 1960's retro effect and polaroid frame.
~♥♥♥~
Venice, Italy - October 2004
BEFORE:
A little washed out, would be even better with a little more vibrant color on the gondolas and buildings.
AFTER:
Cropped photo, applied boost effect and frame.
~♥♥♥~
The Vatican - October 2004
BEFORE:
Pretty but not as much visual "pow" as there could be.
AFTER:
Straightened and cropped photo. Added cross-process effect which made the image come alive.
~♥♥♥~
Butchart Gardens, Victoria BC - Spring 2005
BEFORE:
Would be nice with a little more contrast between the "white" tree and the rest of the background.
AFTER:
Sharpened and cropped photo. Applied tint effect.
~♥♥♥~
Kangaroo Island, Australia - October 2003
BEFORE:
I love this photo as is, but it'd be fun to make it a little more artsy fartsy.
AFTER:
Added HRD-ish effect.
Applied Pencil Sketch effect.
~♥♥♥~
Na Pali Coast, Kauai - Summer 2005
You can also make greeting cards and digital scrapbooking pages.
~♥♥♥~
Then I decided to get all crazy and play with the "Touch-Up" tools. Just for fun I decided to Google "celebrities without make-up". I'm certainly not a celebritymonger but if you've ever had any doubt that they're not real people, then you should check-out these photos... After playing with this tool, you'll never believe those fashion/entertainment mags ever again.
Alicia Silverstone
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Blemish fix, shine-be-gone, wrinkle remover. And I also took the liberty of brightening her eye color, adding mascara and dabbing on a little pink lipstick. Okay, I went a little crazy... at least I didn't add highlights to her hair!
Helen Hunt
BEFORE:
I'd probably frown like that too if some schmuck was in my face, photographing me for their own personal gain.
AFTER:
Had to pull out the big guns-- Wrinkle remover, air brush, dodging (lighten specific region), and er, I also added some lipstick and blush. A little botoxed-looking since I couldn't exactly change her expression. Okay, I overdid it... couldn't help myself again.
Gotta love this Before and After frame too:
~♥♥♥~
So if you can't tell, I'm really excited about this photo editing tool. Sure I still have photoshop, but for a quick fix that I won't lose sleep or brain cells over, no doubt I'll be using Picnik quite regularly. Oh the possibilities!