Google and Picnik recently released an official announcement that they would be closing the online photo editing tool as of April 19, 2012. Picnik happens to be one of the SITS girls favorite online editing resources, we’ve been utilizing Picnik and singing it’s praises for years now. It was a platform that provided bloggers like us a quick and easy fix for photos we wanted to improve and share online.
So why is Google shutting down Picnik?
Because Google wants to use all those amazing Picnik photo editing tools on Google+. Now when you upload a photo to Google+ you will see an option to edit your photo…looks familiar doesn’t it?
It contains a LOT of the editing tools we’ve grown to love Picnik for.
Adding these elements to Google+ may be a way to gain more users as well as to give Google+ a leg up on Facebook. It really is a great addition to the platform, but already I see some drawbacks. I don’t want to store every photo I edit on Google+. I’ve already experienced the repercussions that arise with so many Google owned accounts…could they block me out of access to my own pictures as well? I want the option of editing and then saving my photos to other sites (like Flickr and Facebook), and lastly I really enjoyed the Picnik collages. It made displaying a lot of pictures in one spot super easy.
So what are some other photo editing sites like Picnik?
I’m glad you asked. I spent hours playing with tons of free options, including the and these two were the closest to Picnik I could find:
1. Pixlr Express is the faster “no brains” version of Pixlr and my favorite alternative when it comes down to ease of use and filters. It claims to be the “best online photo editor in the world” and I have to admit the site is pretty darn intuitive. It appears they’re already prepared for Picnik’s lost users:
Pros
-Easy to use!
-A list of 50 really great filters
-Awesome textures and borders
-Pixlr phone app available
-A more advanced “Photoshop” type editor available for more complex photo editing.
Cons
-Pixlr Express does not have some of our “beautifying” Picnik favorites including airbrush, blemish fixer, etc…
-Saves only to your computer without the option of saving to social media platforms.
-Because it’s so simple and easy to use there are no Collages or functions to add doodles, text, speech bubbles etc to photos…unless that’s what Pixlr Editor version of the site is for?
2. FotoFlexer calls itself the “world’s most advanced online editor”…I’m seeing a trend here. Hokey taglines aside, FotoFlexer makes it clear on it’s front page exactly what it’s capable of doing for your photos and I appreciate that. Right away I see that adding text, shapes, and effects are all things that can be done here. Between the two it operates more like Picnik, but in my opinion falls way short when it comes to nice filter options.
Pros
-Easy Collages. They don’t have the diverse choices Picnik had, but better than nothing.
-Doodles, text, speech bubbles etc
-”beautify” tools for airbrushing or smoothing
-Allows you to share/save your photos to other platforms (Flickr, Facebook, Photobucket, Twitter, etc…)
-Advanced tools and layers
Cons
-The 32 Filters leave much to be desired
If you’re in the mood to research even more alternatives Phixr, BeFunky, LunaPic, FlauntR, Aviary, and Dr.Pic were all popular sites that cropped up in my searches, but in my opinion fell short due to poor functionality and/or other limitations.
And since none of the options listed above offer the same array of collages that Picnik allowed us to choose from, I may end up using a site specifically designed for collages only. Big Huge Labs Mosaic Maker has great options for easy collage making and Diptic is an easy phone app option for collage making.
If you have a smart phone than you may be aware of some pretty amazing photo editing apps you can use right from your phone and then save or upload to your favorite site or email account. Phone alternatives I love: Instagram, Snapseed (desktop option available), Hipstamatic, Poladroid CameraBag, PhotoStudio, and for collages Diptic.
Unfortunately there is no one stop shop alternative to Picnik unless you want to download and learn a software program similar to Photoshop…and even that is not as fast as popping a photo onto Picnik for editing. For now, this might mean utilizing two different sites to produce a photo just the way you’d like. A site like Pixlr or a phone app might be great for adding filters/borders, but Foto Flexer or Big Huge Labs Mosiac Maker might be the place to go for adding extra elements to your photo or for creating a very simple collage.
It’s just a matter of time before any one of these photo editing sites steps up their game to provide all of the same functions Picnik offered. For now, we make do…and mourn the loss of our favorite photo editing service. At least we know there ARE other options.
Rest in Peace Picnik.
For more on photo editing check out another post we published on Free Photo Editing and Collage Sites.
About Kat
I’ve been exploring Pixlr, but I want to check out some of these other alternatives as [...]
I hate that we’re losing Picnik!! The refund will be nice but honestly I have Paint.net and Photoshop both and Picnik is the easiest and quickest to use by far! I’m one of it’s many followers that, like you, will miss it dearly!
Thanks for the heads-up on the a few of the mobile apps I wasn’t familiar with….now, where’s my phone?
Auurrg, tab doesn’t take me where I think it should from the name and email fields of this comment form. On a side note, this is the best blog I have read about what is happening to Picnik, why and what decent alternatives are.
THANK YOU so much for this post! I am bookmarking and pinning! So nice to have a place to come with links to check out. I really, REALLY appreciate you doing this!
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I’m soooooo very sad about Picnik. I hope Google knows what it’s doing. I don’t need, or want another social network to keep up on, nor do I want a watered down version of Picnik to edit photos for that social network. I think they will find, unless you can give us the use of our photos on computers and the full use of Picnik. Google+ is “Beta” cameras from the 80′s all over. (Sorry Google, but you make me really sad)
AGREED!!! And yes – THANK YOU for this post!!! Does anyone know if Picasa/Google/Picnik will take suggestions to features we loved that they didn’t incorporate into either? Or if Pixlr will take suggestions to some of the features we loved for there???
Twitter: MillenialMonstr
says:
Thank you so much for this awesome research, I was so bummed when I heard Picnik was going away (or at least to a place I’m not all that interested in) I didn’t know what to do. I was asking everyone I knew what editing tools they used. This post was exactly what I needed and right on time! Thanks
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I too am sorry to see Picnik closing and I am also looking for a new editing program that works as easy as Picnik. I bought Photo shop Elements months ago and can not figure it out its to complicated and very hard to use. If anybody finds another site like Picnik please let us know
befunky.com is another similar to picnik… not as good thought but worth checking out!
I’m so bummed about Picnik closing! The more Google tries to shove G+ down my throat, the more I’m set on resisting it!
I’m devastated that picnik is closing shop.
I love the convenience of quick edits i can save to computer or directly on my cell or media sites.
I too have looked at various sites some which have already been noted. But in large the problem is I have not been able to find the tweaking ability in editing photo’s that I got from picnik and the effects. One i loved and used often was the use of floral stickers was impressive and looked very professional once you go the hang of it. Also the framing options were the bomb on picnik. NOTHING compares to picnik. and you can bet I’m am NOT going to use google+ like they want me to, no way, no how, ain’t gonna happen.
Losing something that makes such a difference with my photo’s will be dearly missed.
I am so disappointed.
Thank you! I’m so sad that picnik is closing!! I tried photoshop express and was sorely disappointed. I’m excited to try the two sites you mentioned. Thanks again
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Twitter: greetingsfromtx
says:
Probably the most helpful blog post I’ve ever read. Thank you!
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Thanks for the post, I tried pixlr.com and I like it a lot, picnik will be missed but I am sure we all will get used to something else.
n_n
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Twitter: adriennesfts
says:
I’ve been wondering about alternatives. Thanks!
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Thank you, I’m so bummed about Picnik closing….I relied on it for all my photo editing!! I really appreciate the insight here and look forward to checking out the alternatives mentioned.
It is really a huge disappointment that picnik is closing. I really need picnik. I was happy to pay for he service to use all the functions that made my photos look professional. Top of my list of worse things to happen in my virtual world.
Can someone post the website for the new google editing … i keep hearing that picnik is closing and to use google + but i need a website i keep looking for it and i can’t find the site.
OK got it … it’s not that bad the only thing i don’t like it’s that there are more steps to this then with picnik…it would be nice if they just leave it open and make some money off of that site.
haaa! Thank God… Ever since I’ve heard Picnik was closing, I spent all my time on it, I was like ‘Where else would I edit my pics?’ haha, tried the Photoshop thingy, but its really confusing… Thank you so very much, your a big help <3
google makes me depressed
do they realize what a stupid idea this is????????? who cares if we get the premium features for free? i’d rather have just the free ones forever than all of them only until april 19th. i do not want a google+ account. yes, i was thinking about getting one just to use picnik, but i refuse to make myself a part of the thing that took it away. utter. crap.
as depressign as it us, at least we have you to let us know what our other options are:) so thank you!
Thank you so much for this information. I wish they would reconsider and keep picnik. I love picnik.
http://www.memoirsofmeandmine.com/
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