How to Edit a Photo Online (for Free)

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Best Software for PC & Mac

7 min readFeb 24, 2021

Do you need to quickly retouch some imperfections in a photo but the computer you are using does not have suitable software installed? Would you like to apply special effects to your images but you are not very familiar with “traditional” photo editing programs? I have the one for you.

I am referring to some online photo editing services that combine very high ease of use with the convenience of not having to download and install additional software on your PC. A few examples? I’ll settle you immediately! In this guide on how to edit photos online, in fact, you can find some services that will certainly be useful to retouch your shots by acting directly from the browser: some integrate basic photo editing functions and advanced effects, while others are focused on the application of “pre-packaged” filters to be applied with a simple click.

Since I can already hear you “pawing”, I would say not to waste any more time in chatter and immediately take action. Courage: make yourself comfortable, take all the time you need to concentrate on reading the next paragraphs and, more importantly, try to make the best use of the services listed below. I wish you good reading and have fun!

Related guide: how to create a photo collage for free

Photopea

One of the first solutions I recommend you try to edit photos online is Photopea. In case you haven’t heard of it, this is an advanced photo editing editor that is free, does not require registration to use, does not require the use of additional plugins, and supports importing and exporting images in PSD and XCF format, so that they can eventually be imported and modified in other software. Photopea is characterized by the presence of advertising banners, which can be removed by subscribing to the Premium subscription, which starts at $9/month.

To use it, connected to its main page, presses on (x) to remove the welcome window and, if necessary, translate its interface into Italian by clicking on the More item at the top and selecting the Language> Italian options from the menu that you opens. Then import the photo you want to modify by selecting the Open item from the File menu (top left) and use the tools located in the box on the left to modify the image. After selecting one of the Photopea tools, adjust its intensity and degree of application via the menus at the top and then use it directly on the uploaded photo, which is located in the work area in the center of the page.

If you want, you can also manage the image levels, through the Levels box located on the right side of the page, and possibly manage the history of the various changes made, through the History pane, so as to cancel and / or restore a change “ on the fly”.

At the end of the work, save the changes made by selecting the Exposed as item from the File menu located in the upper left corner of the page and choose the output format in which you want to export the image (eg. PNG, JPG, SVG, GIF , PDF, etc.). Finally, press the Save button to complete the download of the edited image.

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Polarr

Polarr is an online photo editing service dedicated to applying filters and adjusting parameters such as color, brightness, etc., with the aim of obtaining artistic results. It is based on the most advanced web technologies that allow it to work perfectly on all the latest browsers without the need for third-party plugins, such as Flash Player.

To use it, connected to its home page and click first on the Online item and then on the Launch button. You will then be offered a quick tutorial that will show you all the main features of the service: to skip it, click on the Skip button that appears at the top. Then select the type of interface to use by clicking on Express or Professionals and confirm the operation by pressing the Start with Express or Start with Pro button.

After selecting the photo to edit (by clicking on the arrow icon located at the top left), use the icons located on the left and right of the screen to carry out the desired editing activities. If you want to apply Instagram-style filters, click on the icon with the three concentric circles located in the left sidebar; if you want to change the colors, the perspective or the dimensions of the image use the icons located in the right sidebar, while to save the final result press the arrow icon located at the top right.

Note: some advanced features are reserved for those who purchase an activation key for Polarr Pro, which starts at €1.99/month.

Pho.to

If you want to apply some changes to your photos online by making funny photomontages, take a look at the Pho.to website which allows you to easily insert your images in dozens of different scenarios, returning excellent results.

The photomontages that can be made on the site are divided into various categories: Realistic photomontages, Face photomontages, Drawing vs Photography, etc. Once you have chosen the scenario in which to insert your image, click on the From computer, URL or Facebook button and select a photo that portrays you or your friends from your computer, from an external site or from your Facebook account.

Wait a few moments for the photograph to be uploaded online, click on the Process button and when the final result appears on the screen, click on the Save and share button on the right. You can then save your montage on your PC (by clicking on the Download button) or share it on social networks such as Facebook or Twitter. If, on the other hand, you want to get a direct link to the image to share with your friends, click on the Get link button.

Remove.bg

A site to edit photos online that certainly cannot be missing in your bookmarks is Remove.bg which, as its name suggests, allows you to remove the background from photos. To be more precise, thanks to the “intelligent” algorithm of this online tool, it is possible to completely automatically remove the background from photos that portray human faces in a very precise way.

Please note that the service is free, but must be used for non-commercial purposes and can only process low resolution images: otherwise, if you want to use it for professional purposes and to process HD images, you must subscribe to the Premium subscription, starting from 9 euro/month.

To cut out subjects with Remove.bg, you need to connect to its main page, click on the Select a photo button and select the image to import into the site. If you want, you can also decide to edit a photo taken from the Internet: just paste its URL in the text field or enter URL. If you are asked to proceed with a security check, you agree to do so and follow the instructions given on the screen.

Now all you have to do is wait for the Remove.bg algorithm to process the image (it will take a few seconds) and download it to your computer by pressing the Download button. Simple, right?

Webcam Toy

Another site dedicated entirely to “1-click” effects to be applied to photos is Webcam Toy, which allows you to take photos from your PC webcam and customize them with a wide range of filters, very similar to those found in the Photo application. Booth for Mac.

To use it, go to its main page and click on the Ready? button Smile!, then authorize the site to access the webcam (by clicking first on Use my webcam and then on Allow), choose the effect you like best and press the camera icon located at the bottom right to take your picture.

When the operation is complete, click on the Save item to save the image on your computer or use the social buttons of Facebook and Twitter to share the shot online.