Pixelitor

Photo editing tools are always in demand, so having something you can use anytime for a quick edit is indeed convenient. Most established solutions often happen to be complex pieces of software where countless options are at your fingertips, even if it means turning away some potential users due to the perceived difficulty.

There’s no doubt that Pixelitor is most likely a complex piece of software behind the scenes, yet it’s striking how it manages to make editing your photos really quite simple in the end. Besides being both free to use and open source, the program should satisfy most users when it comes to whipping up a quick photo edit.

The software is home to a series of photo editing tools that can help you alter the looks of your photos. On a basic level, I find the program quite accessible thanks to the easy access to its various color and image filtering capabilities. Options include modifying a still’s color reproduction through several means, as well as tweaking its luminance levels, among other things.

There’s also quite a generous selection of filters to choose from. While admittedly not for everyone, filters can prove useful in a number of situations, so feel free to experiment. Perhaps you’re looking to add a bit of artistic flair, add some distortion, or blur certain areas of your photo — all of these can be added and parametrized via the Filters menu.

For those who know how to work with them, layers can prove to be especially beneficial to attaining certain results. More specifically, they open the door to a host of possibilities, allowing the end user to more handily reach their desired result.

Edit your photos as normal, then try to experiment with these layers. Manage their visibility, create layer masks to more accurately show what you want to portray, and use blending modes to dictate how your layers cooperate with one another.

Pixelitor is a tool to try if you’re on the lookout for a free photo editor that doesn’t skimp on features. I would say that it is easy enough for new users, while also being sufficiently complex for more paricular workflows.