Are you a blogger or do you have an online business and only need to occasionally edit photos? Investing in fancy software like Photoshop isn’t for you but you still need options.
How about some options that are FREE? In this 3 part series I’m going to share with you different ways you can edit your photos for your website, blog or even just Facebook without spending a dime on fancy software. You don’t have to be a pro or have pro software to get the results that you need. Just what you were hoping to hear, right?
Here in Part I, we’ll start with an amazing FREE resource, Pixlr Express. Pixlr does require you have flash installed on your computer and it doesn’t even require that you register to use their site. Pixlr Express is a BASIC editing tool, you’ll be able to use it to crop an image, adjust color, add a frame/effect and text.
I’ll show you just how EASY it is for you to edit photos for your blog in this video:
Quick and painless right? I told ya! Don’t be intimidated because you don’t have fancy software.
If you’re looking for something more in-depth with photo editing and the ability to add multiple layers together, perhaps you want to take a shot at making a new header for your website or a banner for advertising? You wont want to miss next week.
P.S. Sorry for those of you who may have been watching for this to post on Monday — I had technical difficulties *cough, cough* my children wouldn’t let me record a video in peace *cough, cough* 
P.S.S. I’ve made multiple video tutorials for clients but, this is the FIRST I’ve ever uploaded for YouTube… Next time I need to adjust my window size for sure, any other constructive criticism?
Photo Credit: Meguel Ugalde / stock.xchng
Twitter: MichelleShaeffr
says:
Great tutorial! I had played with Pixlr a bit to create graphics but didn’t know you could do all that with the photo editing features. Nice.
Michelle Shaeffer recently posted..Inspiration You Can “Pin”
Thanks! I’m sure they’ll get better as I go, I hope anyway!
Pixlr Express makes it really cut and dry — The actual Pixlr tool I’m going to share next week and that one has more options for laying images and is more like Photoshop.
Melissa recently posted..Social Media Explained via Wordless Wednesday
Twitter: bloggingwgypsy
says:
This is an awesome little tool!! LOL I love it!! Thank you so much!!! I am definitely going to use it. and I am going to “borrow” your idea about the text on the image as well. I think that is perfect for Pinterest images
Especially if you are pinning blog articles 
Very helpful!!! I’m a Paint Shop Pro person — I dabble in Photoshop … getting better at it. I need to do more tutorials using Photoshop actually. But I do use both. But using Pixlr Express is going to AWESOME for on the fly!!! Woot! and YAY on your 1st official video! LOL I’m trying to integrate something silly on my blog with video and Baby William … He loves the webcam!
Kimberly ~ Gypsy recently posted..Blogging Tribes ~ What Are They and Should I Join One?
What version of photoshop do you use Kimberly? If you want a watermark image/stamp message me and I can make you one.
I’m using Photoshop Elements myself, CS4 just makes my head explode…. not to
mention my purse runs and hides when ever CS anything is mentioned! LOL
Ohh, you’ll have to let me know if you post him! My boys LOVE the webcam too. Sometimes we chat with Aunties and generally, well, it ends up everyone making silly faces at each other and pointing at the screen.
Melissa recently posted..Stop asking for permission!
Twitter: HelzDesign
says:
well done
although i am the photoshop “gal” ;D
can you make a tutorial how to make such a video?
helen recently posted..Wordless Wednesday – The Eagle has landed
Hi Helen, thanks for stopping in.
I uses Photoshop myself but I know there are a lot of people who have no desire to learn or purchase it. Pixlr has another tool that I’m going to go over next week that is very similar to PS though, it’s also free and web based.
Right now, I’m using Jing to record my screen casts and if you check out their website it’s really easy to get started. I use the Pro version which has a yearly fee but it’s nominal. I add my intro and credits to it in iMovie. I just started making videos in this fashion so, I’m not ready to make a tutorial yet but, I’m sure there are some good ones on YouTube!
Melissa recently posted..Wordless Wednesday: A Good Reminder
Twitter: HelzDesign
says:
i see where you are coming from melissa
i use to advice people to try “thegimp” .
your sources are great but some people over hear don.t want to deal with english sites … tzts
have to check out the jing site – thanks
guess if you understand photoshop you might be able to understand that too ??
great that you can track it over to imovie too . i am a huge fan of that and managed to do some small movies with that for youtube
thanks
helen recently posted..Font of the Week (9) – Dingbats