Editing images is a popular job these days. There are plenty of careers out there that involve editing images due to the digital age we live in. It is a skill that is handy to have in any industry, yet especially if you work in digital. So, here are four different editing software that could be the perfect software for you.
Pixelmator
This is for the Mac users out there and is a serious competitor to Photoshop. A great feature of this software is that it can detect what is on the images and labels the photos. Pixelmator is fast and responsive so editing an image should not be an issue. Additionally, it has a feature where it automatically fills in the blank spaces of images with pixels.
There are plenty of great other features: Layer Styles, Effects, Repair Tool, Shapes, Quick Selection Tool, Colour Presets and many more. It is a highly rated editing software for those that have a Mac, largely because of the number of tools that the software has. Pixelmator also keeps things simple for you. It has a single-window layout that has all of your tools in one area, making it simple and easy to find tools in one spot.
We all make mistakes and Pixelmator considers that, so the Pixelmator Pro has non-destructive editing tools which allow you to easily undo certain things that you didn’t mean to. Unlike Photoshop, it has a one-time purchasing cost which is something that a lot of people prefer compared to monthly subscriptions.
There are a couple of issues with Pixelmator. For starters, it can not be accessed on any other systems other than iOS. Additionally, the basic Pixelmator software does not have non-destructive effects, so you would have to pay to upgrade to Pixelmator Pro. Overall, if you are prepared to pay the upfront cost for Pixelmator Pro, then this is definitely one of the best editing softwares out there.
Inkscape
This is an open-source vector graphics editor just like Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw, and Xara X. It allows you to print high-quality material and it can be just used straight off the web. Many people say that it can be a bit over-complicated at times. However, there are plenty of guides out there that teach you how to use them.
There are plenty of positives with Inkscape. For starters, it is completely free software to use as you access it through the internet. As mentioned before, it can convert images to vectors. They also have a tool called Bezier, which allows you to draw a path, which can be modified later and adds precise curves. There are plenty of other fantastic tools that help create amazing effects that do not require much effort, including Spray, Eraser and Gradient.
Inkscape is also known to have a few negatives as well. One of these is the fact there are too many buttons available that can overcomplicate editing for beginners. Unlike Pixelmator, Inkscape is prone to crashing at odd times due to high amounts of detail. Plenty of detail is not a bad thing when it comes to image editing, however, you want software that can handle that detail if you are using it as a professional.
One final thing to add, Inkscape is not user friendly for smaller screens. So, when you are trying to read the descriptions of tools, it can be cut off at times.
Fireworks
Firework is an image editing software that is made by Adobe, for web designers. Adobe Fireworks has always been second best to Photoshop. In all fairness, Adobe Photoshop is far better but, there are some positives.
Adobe Fireworks is user interface friendly and it is designed to handle larger images that Photoshop can’t. Another great thing about this software is that it allows you to have multiple tabs open, similar to Adobe Photoshop. Furthermore, Fireworks allows you to convert the designs that you have created and change them into interactive prototypes.
Everything has negatives and that includes some of Adobe’s software. Printing a design through Adobe Fireworks can make the printout lose its quality due to the low DPI. There are problems with gradients as well which is why many people will switch over to Photoshop after using Fireworks. There are plenty of bugs out there with the software so it can be frustrating at times, hence Photoshop is usually the preferred programme.
Photoshop
Photoshop is undoubtedly the best photo editing tool out there. However, it can be too pricey for some businesses and small companies. Adobe Photoshop is worth every penny, although it can be quite complicated for some users. The popularity of the platform means there is endless amounts of guidance available that will assist you.
Photoshop is great because of the variety of tools that you can use. The mobile version also has plenty of their tools for quick and accessible editing. Once you have got used to the software, it is actually very user friendly. This is arguably the most diverse editing tool out there, from compressing images to creating graphics and fixing the little things like exposure or shadows.
However, despite how good Photoshop is, it also has its issues. As mentioned earlier, it has plenty of tools which is an advantage as well as a disadvantage. Knowing what all these tools do can be difficult if you are just starting out. Nonetheless, the internet is not shy of video tutorials on how to use those tools. They can point you in the right direction.
Overall, Photoshop is a popular editing tool for a beginner as well as a professional design agency in Manchester. If you or your company can afford it then it is definitely worth paying for.
Summary
So, there are four different software programmes that you should consider for editing photos! Overall, Photoshop is one of the best platforms out there. Just remember to use the free trials before committing to any software that will cost you a lot!