5 Great Free Online Photo Editors

We know that breaking up blocks of text with vibrant pictures increases readers’ interest in and emotional connection with the information on a website. Eye-catching photographs also increase the amount of time viewers spend on a site. But with the standard photo editing tool, Photoshop, going for nearly $700, the thought of getting digital photographs web-ready can be daunting. High-quality photo editing tools don’t have to cost you an arm and a leg, though. These five free online photo editors will have you adding spice, and increasing traffic, to your website in no time.

1. Splashup

   For fans of Photoshop who aren’t fans of its high price, Splashup (formerly Fauxto) is a free, Flash-based online alternative that runs in any browser. Suitable for both beginners and advanced digital photographers, Splashup is easy to use and features powerful editing tools, as well as a photo manager and dedicated file format. With Splashup you can edit multiple images at the same time and easily upload your favorites to many of the most popular photo sharing sites.

2. Picnik

   Picnik offers a wide selection of powerful editing tools that work in any browser and are compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux. It’s fast to use and includes lots of frames, stickers, fonts and artistic effects. You can upload images from your computer and share your creations on Myspace, Photobucket, Flickr and other sites. Picnik features extensions and widgets that allow users to grab images from Web sites and capture screen shots. Picnik also offers a paid, premium service with even more features.

3. FotoFlexer

   Built using Adobe Flex, FotoFlexer touts itself as being the world’s most advanced online digital photo editor. Created by top industry professionals, FotoFlexer makes sophisticated photo editing tools and techniques available to the casual user, free of charge. FotoFlexer’s simple interface lets you get started quickly, and you’ll be delighted to discover features such as layering and animations, normally found only in expensive software. Using this robust suite will take your photo editing capabilities to an entirely new level.

4. Picasa

   Google’s Picasa provides one-click photo editing and publishing tools. Easily create collages, photo albums and slideshows that you can publish online or use as desktop wallpaper and screensavers. Picasa quickly locates and organizes all the photos on your computer, while Picasa Web Albums offers one gigabyte of free storage.  You and your friends can download print-quality photos from your albums and print them on your personal printer or order professional prints from major online photo printing sites.

5. piZap

   For those who want to jump right in and create fun and flashy pics to share on their favorite social media sites, piZap is an obvious choice. Let your imagination run wild and impress your friends with creations featuring piZap’s many goodies: Speech bubbles, stickers, frames, backgrounds and more. You can even send your designs as e-cards or have them printed on dozens of customizable gifts.