I think bloggers around the world collectively died a little inside the day Picnik announced they were closing up shop. I’ll admit it, I was pretty upset as well; I even tried all the other programs out there to edit pictures for free, but it just wasn’t the same.
What we need are websites like Picnik. Stat.
Picture Editing Online For Free with PicMonkey
Luckily, I found PicMonkey via my beloved Twitter (@PicMonkeyApp). I was hesitant to give it a whirl, but their snarky Twitter bio convinced me:
A new, free online photo editing program made by the same people who developed the cool photo effects for Picnik? I am ecstatic that I tried it out and you will be too!
Getting Started With Free Picture Editing Online
PicMonkey is extremely easy to navigate. Get started by simply clicking edit photo and selecting the photo you want to edit from the files on your computer.
Your photo will immediately open to the right with all of your editing tools on the left of your screen. There are six basic editing options each symbolized by its own emblem. Basic Edits is where you will find the go-to tools that you may need including crop, rotate, sharpen and re size. Effects is where the fun happens. If you have ever used Instagram you will love the different filters that can be added to each photo. There are over 25 different choices including the Warhol effect in honor of infamous Andy Warhol and his paintings.
PicMonkey makes it even easier by allowing you to preview all edits and either save or discard them. There is even an undo option. Each effect is applied by scrolling Touch Up, cleverly symbolized by a tube of lipstick, is the mecca of photo corrections expanding way beyond the typical red-eye reduction. The Text option will allow every blogger to ability to quickly watermark their photos. I suggest using the fade option to make your water mark blend into the photograph for a more professional look.
Borders and Overlays are also options available on PicMonkey.
The Pros
The program does not slow down your computer and every time I have used it I have never had to wait for it to load. The edits are easy to apply, the choices are broad enough to give you options but narrow enough not to overwhelm budding photographers and there are several different ways you can save your photo when you are done.
The Cons
PicMonkey just launched so we will have to wait a little longer for the collage feature; however, they promise much more to come.
Overall, PicMonkey easily fills the Picnik void for bloggers.
About the Author
Samantha Kanatzar quit her job as a magazine editor to stay at home with her Little Man. That expensive piece of paper that took her four years to earn is being put to good use playing blocks, kissing boo-boos, cooking dinner and tweeting @samkanatzar. Captain of her crazy ship over at Life As Wife.
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Twitter: cmckane
says:
Yay! I’ll admit to being sad myself. Even though some of the Picnik features are being integrated into Google I don’t think they all will. Till it closes it’s doors I’m enjoying using all the premium features. Will check out PicMonkey thanks for heads up!
If you like Picnik you’ll love PicMonkey! Much faster and organized in my opinion!
Life As Wife recently posted..Not Better. Not Worse. Just Different
Twitter: brittanyciara
says:
I found out about PicMonkey a couple of days ago… instantly fell in love with the program because I seriously was dreading the shutdown of Picnik. Here’s to the collage feature being released super soon!
Simply Brittany recently posted..I’ll Never Understand
I have a feeling the collages are going to be awesome!
Life As Wife recently posted..Not Better. Not Worse. Just Different
Thanks for this – there are so many posts about all the different choices and I have yet to try any other (still enjoying picnik while i can). Do you know if you can upload fonts to any free photo editing sites?
Deb @ Home life simplified recently posted..50 Simple ideas to fill Easter baskets
PicMonkey does not have that feature; HOWEVER, they have amazing customer service via Twitter and I’ve even seen them Tweet that they would be happy to add any suggest fonts!
Life As Wife recently posted..Not Better. Not Worse. Just Different
I will need to explore this. The watermark feature looks great.
JDaniel4′s Mom recently posted..Quest to Find Answers to His Questions
Twitter: vinobaby1
says:
Yeah! I’ve been wondering what would fill Picnik’s void. I’ve been using Fotoflexer also, but it’s not nearly as exciting. Thanks so much — can’t wait to check it out.
Kerry Ann (Vinobaby) recently posted..Yet Another Reason Pinterest Makes Me Feel Inferior
Twitter: princesspruning
says:
Oh…this is the information I was looking for. Thank you so much.
Laura recently posted..Mom as Superhero
Twitter: bthm1
says:
I’ve been using IPiccy too- it has alot going for it too!
Twitter: Leslie_Limon
says:
I just tried it out and LOVED it!!! I’ve been using Pixlr, but I think I’ll be using PicMonkey from now on.
Thank you so much for telling us about this. 
Leslie @ La Cocina de Leslie recently posted..Breakfast Enchiladas
Twitter: TinpYssBxOyMqR
says:
Stesha – Thank you, thank you. I tend to keep a profile urctpie for a very long time, and it was time for a change. Now my children on the other hand, change their profile urctpies all the time!
I’d heard of PIcMonkey but hadn’t used it yet and I didn’t realize it was from the creators of Picnik! How cool!
Rach (DonutsMama) recently posted..PYHO: Use Your Words
You’ll love it Rach! It’s practically the same thing but much faster!
Life As Wife recently posted..Not Better. Not Worse. Just Different
Twitter: alenesnodgrass
says:
Thank you so much for sharing this info. Looks like a great site!!!
Positively Alene recently posted..it wasn’t a pretty step, but a step.
I am so excited about this. I used it to edit the photo that is on my blog today. So far I love it just as much as Picnik and I can’t wait until they have a collage feature.
Jennifer recently posted..The picture of health
Couldn’t agree more! I’ve already blogged about them too!
Mejia Mamma recently posted..My PICK – PicMonkey.com
Twitter: infreebieland
says:
Oh….cool! Thanks for sharing!
Andie recently posted..Thailand Experience Feb. 2010 Group 1 (Part 1)
It is nice to have this for when I travel. Thanks for the post!
Pam
Pamela list recently posted..What Gender Is Your Laundry Room?
Twitter: AngelaYBlood
says:
This is great news! Thanks for sharing.
Angela recently posted..One Word-Apache, And Other Stuff I Know For Sure
Oh hooray! Can’t wait to check it out!
Erin @ His & Hers recently posted..Mirror, mirror on the…floor.
Perfect timing for this post! My blog is new and I’ve been using Picnik for photo editing. I was dreading having to settle on something that wasn’t as easy to use and having to learn something else. My head is swimming already learning WordPress.
I’m headed to PicMonkey now to check it out. Thanks!
Twitter: BoonieSooze
says:
Yea! Good to know!!!
Susan in the Boonies recently posted..There is no catching air with my fingers.
Twitter: BoonieSooze
says:
I don’t get the snarky joke, if there is a snarky joke to be gotten.
Susan in the Boonies recently posted..There is no catching air with my fingers.
Haha Don’t feel bad Susan the joke is kind of hidden. Their profile reads “a little frog told us their was a void to fill…” picnik was advertised by a frog. I like corny jokes apparently.
Life As Wife recently posted..Not Better. Not Worse. Just Different
Twitter: onlyonetalya
says:
This is good news because I have been heart-broken at the thought of picnik being gone starting in April. Can’t wait to check this out and be back in business again with editing gorgeous photos easily- thanks for sharing!
Talya recently posted..Be careful, because you just might fall in love
Thanks for finding this ~ what good news!
Patricia recently posted..Celebrating Birthdays ~ It’s the Only Way to Go!
Twitter: Hugskissessnot
says:
Thank you thank you thank you! I’ve never edited photos online b/c I’ve always been too intimidated. I always just use the basic photo editing that comes w/ my iPhoto. I’m going to take the plunge into PicMonkey!
Stephanie @ Hugs, Kisses and Snot recently posted..OG&E Smart Hours
I am currently using Picnik because the premium version is now free until April 19th, but I will definitely check out PicMonkey when that ends. Nice to know that I have another decent free option to edit my photos.
The Texas Peach recently posted..Fifteen Random Facts About Me
Twitter: creativityloft
says:
So good to know! I’ll have to tell my clients about this one. They always struggle with picture editing and can’t always afford to buy photoshop.
Tivi @ CreativityLoft.com recently posted..Tweet Trends for Email Marketing Campaigns – Getting Social with Mailchimp
Twitter: lilahbility
says:
Hurray! Thanks so much for sharing this!
Amanda recently posted..Wordless Wednesday: Jiu Jitsu
Love PicMonkey! Thanks for the heads up on this one…just used it for my blog post for tomorrow
Sweet!
Kimberly at Rubber Chicken Madness recently posted..In the Beginning…
Twitter: classicnycgirl
says:
I just got into taking my own pictures with my husband’s camera phone (yeah, i know, but I don’t have one of my own yet) and this is totally going to be helpful… thanks!
Classic NYer recently posted..On an offering
Thanks for the post! I have been sadly counting down the days until Picnik closes and contemplating joining Google+ solely for the reason that Picnik features are apparently moving over there. It’s so good to know that the same people have created another tool – I’m looking forward to trying it out!
Gleeful recently posted..Spring is Here!
Twitter: greenearthbazar
says:
Thanks for sharing this! I was totally bummed when I found out Picnik was gone. Can’t wait to check PicMonkey out.
Peace.
Michelle @ Green Earth Bazaar recently posted..DIY: How to Re-Grow Celery
Twitter: shari_lynne
says:
Yay! I am so happy!! Happy Dancing
Blessings!
Shari Lynne @ faith filled food for moms and grandmothers recently posted..Attitude
Twitter: princesspruning
says:
Thanks to you, I tried and love Pict Monkey. Issue of Watermarking my photos..Solved. Thank you!
Laura recently posted..Boy crazy at a young age
Twitter: classicnycgirl
says:
This doesn’t work for me when I’m working on a public computer or my husband’s android phone, neither of which have flash available. I found this site though, that edits pictures without the need for any plugins: pixenate.com
Classic NYer recently posted..On intrinsic rewards
Thank you so much for the great info about Pic Monkey!
I checked it out and it looks good!!
Twitter: Hugskissessnot
says:
I added a quick watermark to one of my pics but…on some posts I have a lot of pictures. This seems very time consuming. Is there a quicker way? or do I need to upload each pic one by one, add the water mark then save them one by one. Before I just pulled the pic from iPhoto into the post. It is very quick and easy but the watermark thing adds a whole new level of work for me.
Stephanie @ Hugs, Kisses and Snot recently posted..Easter Tablescape
Twitter: classicnycgirl
says:
I’ve been using picmarkr.com for that… you can watermark several images all at once. You can’t do any other kind of editing though.
Classic NYer recently posted..On cheating
Twitter: simplyrealmoms
says:
Oh wow! Thank you SO much for this. I have not been looking forward to April since I know Picnik will be gone. So sad. Definitely looking into PicMonkey. Thank you!
Long time reader, first time poster.
But I really appreciate you leading me to this, it’s going to help me and my business so much. I sell vintage sewing patterns so visuals are very important. Now I can show off my patterns like they should be. Thanks!
What-I-Found recently posted..Wardrobe for a Summer Bride – 1960
Twitter: OneTwoFiveMe
says:
Wow, I feel a bit intimidated between all the ladies here
But thank you for sharing this information on How to do the Image Editing. I never used Picnic but had a look at PicMonkey and will be giving it a try. So by the way Ashley, your website is a PR5 and PicMonkey is a PR4, well done very high Page Rank, I am impressed.
Hilgard recently posted..Free Online Pictures