Photo-editing software reviews: Features explained
An underexposed picture can be given more definition
Image Editing software key features
Photo-editing software allows you to make changes to your digital photographs. It provides a range of tools to perform image manipulation tasks such as adding brightness or contrast to an overly dark photograph or returning eyes - turned red thanks to a camera’s flash – back to a more natural colour.
There are more complex and creative tools too - you can remove a person from a photo, merge images and remove blemishes from portrait shots, for example.
As well as paid-for programs such as Adobe Photoshop Elements, there's a ton of free software available. If your computer runs Windows 7 or a later version of Windows Vista, you can download Microsoft Live Photo Gallery 2011 for example. See our reviews for more.
Automatic corrections
Most of the programs come with an auto-correction function. While this is usually the easiest and quickest way to fix a photo, be prepared for mixed results. The program has to make assumptions about how much colour and light, for example, there should be in a photo - and it doesn't always get it right. In our reviews, we rated each program's auto-correction function.
If you try auto-correcting, you can always use the ‘undo’ function if you’re not satisfied with the results to return your photo to its original state.
Common manual tools, filters and corrections
The range of things you can do to an image with photo-editing software is vast. Here are some of the most commonly used ones.
Redeye affects many indoor shots of faces
Red-eye removal
We've all taken flash photos indoors only to find that all the people looking at the camera have eerily developed red-eye. This occurs when the flash illuminates the back of the eye and not the dark pupil we expect.
Red-eye removal tools work by replacing the red pupil with a more natural black one. Generally, you select the size of the area you want to correct and can even add a glint to the eye to make it look more realistic. On some more intelligent software, the program finds the eyes and fixes them without you having to select them individually.
Most digital cameras have a red-eye reduction flash mode, selectable via the flash menu options.
Adjusting brightness/contrast/colour balance/saturation
Julia before (inset) and after
Photos often suffer from being taken in dull, poorly lit conditions with the subjects and background being overly dark. You can use a photo-editing program’s brightness and contrast controls to change these levels, which will lift details out of the shadow and generally brighten up a photo.
You can also adjust colours. Some photos taken indoors under artificial light, especially older ones, have a yellow colour cast.
Sharpening and softening
The sharpening tool helps you sharpen an image that might otherwise look a little too soft or out of focus. The opposite effect is softening. Softening a portrait photo a little often makes the subject look more attractive.
An image of a person with the "poster" special effect applied
Filters and special effects
From turning a photo black and white to creating all sorts of weird and wonderful effects, have a look at your software's range of filters and special effects.
Straightening a horizon or vertical building
Nearly all Digital SLRs and many digital cameras have features to help you take a straight photo.
However if your picture is a little bit wonky, some software packages allow you to straighten it.
Cropping
One of the simplest tools to use - usually. Cropping allows you to cut out part of the picture. For example, a picture of a loved one with an uninteresting and potentially distracting background can be cropped to remove the background, putting more focus on the subject of the picture.
Some software allows you to alter backgrounds
Changing a background
Changing a background can take a bit of time, but is worth doing if you like your subject, but not your background. Not all free software comes with this feature.
Adding a caption
Adding some text to your photo can give it some context. You can choose from different fonts, font sizes and are free to place it anywhere in your picture.
Noise reduction
This tool reduces unwanted noise, the grainy effect that appears on some photos usually taken in dim light. Not all free software comes with this feature. It is sometimes found in the "filters" section of your program.
Get rid of figures (like your ex!) from precious photos
Removing a person or object
For those photos that would be perfect if it wasn't for the complete stranger who walked into shot at the last minute, the clone tool is an ideal solution.
RAW image editing
All digital cameras record images in JPEG format; these have a *.jpg file extension. JPEG is widely compatible on computers, both when editing and viewing images.
Some more expensive cameras, for example Digital SLRs and bridge cameras, can also be set to record in a RAW format - the preferred format of professional photographers on many of their photo shoots.
A RAW image is the equivalent of a digital negative. It is unprocessed, and usually lacks correct colours, contrast and sharpness, but is designed to be fully manipulated. If carefully done, the final image quality is better than the equivalent JPEG image. A good RAW image can be a real head-turner.
One reason is because RAW images contain more fine detail, both in bright areas and dark areas of an image. For example, with JPEG, the sun and clouds in a sunset photo can appear lost compared to how you saw the picture with the naked eye.
The downsides though are that RAW files are much bigger than JPEGs are and the format isn’t always supported.
Sharing photos
Many software packages allow you to save your edited images to photo-sharing websites such as Flickr, Facebook and others. Many also allow you to save them directly to an email for quick sending.
