This is a digital world we live in. The ever-increasing plethora of information in the electronic format has certainly changed how we look at the world around us. Gone are the days of the traditional photograph that was painstakingly developed in that modest red room. On the other hand, there is no dearth of opportunities for the digital entrepreneur. That being said, one needs to stand out from amongst the crowd if their work of digital art is to be seen at all.
Needless to add, this article is a guide that will elucidate you on the ways in which you can do just that!
Be it models on the covers of magazines or the images that come from a friend flirting with SnapChat, everything digital these days seems to come with a touch of special effects.
Want the lowdown on how to get the best possible special effects? Let’s take a look at the best possible software that will enable us to do exactly that!
The Best Software for adding Special Effects to Photographs
1. GIMP
It offers a wonderful alternative to Adobe.
Everyone has heard of Adobe Photoshop, right? Well, the truth remains that it is not all that affordable to many, apart from being a proverbial functional nightmare to some.
That’s where GIMP steps in. It offers a wonderful alternative to Adobe. GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program and is an open-source application that is community driven.
All you have to do is launch the program, and you will find a dedicated window that will display the image, as well as separate windows that will help you organize the toolbox and layers.
The great thing about GIMP is that it has a large display as well as a neat workspace that will help you to play with your images.
Even though it might seem virtually the same as Photoshop, it does have its own look and feel, and what’s more, you don’t have to pay that monthly subscription fee.
2. Canva
This is really simple graphic design software that is laced with multiple photo editing tools and products.
It has a large number of users online and one of the great things about it is that you can download it onto your phone and edit those photos instantly.
Besides, you will find that the Canva Marketplace has a whole host of templates, photos and even icons, that you can use for that blog or website.
3. Pixlr For Windows
Another great app that you can get, where it comes to adding special effects for your digital photos.
There is an autofix feature that you can apply to all your photos, so that they will be taken care of in terms of certain features like exposure, white balance and contrast.
Furthermore, there are beautiful overlay special effects that you can apply, like the Butterfly overlay.
Also, there are wonderful filters like the Vintage one that you can use to create juts the right aesthetic look for your photo.
4. Fotor
If you are looking to take that photo of yours t the next level, you might wish to consider Fotor.
If you are looking to take that photo of yours t the next level, you might wish to consider Fotor. Using it, you will be pleased to find that you can convert a pretty ordinary photo to a really fantastic one.
When you launch the program, you instantly get three items to do, namely Edit, Collage and Batch. Where it comes to special effects, you can use that Edit workbench and juts sit back and watch it do all the work for you.
Then, using Scenes, you can apply those filters that are labeled according to the appropriate photo-capturing conditions, like Backlit, Fluorescent and Cloudy.
Needless to say, Fotor has all the best filters that you would wish to find in a software program, including Classic, Vignette and Texture.
One of the coolest features of Fotor is that it comes equipped with the Tilt-Shift that allows you to focus on selected areas of your photograph while at the very same time blurring others – just like in the case of those uber cool DLSR cameras.
5. FotoSkecher
If you are looking to convert that digital photograph into a work of digital art, this is really cool software you could use.
You can enhance your photos using simple tools like contrast, sharpen and increase luminosity.
You can also add text and simple or perhaps even realistic frames, if you like.
6. Picasa
Picasa has a wonderful Collage Maker.
Even though this one is technically classified as photo organizing software, it can be a wonderful tool to help you enhance your photo. That being said, it deserves its spot here.
You can add great special effects to your photograph, apart from the basic editing activities like cropping, editing and retouching blemishes.
There are whopping 36 special effects that you can choose to apply to your photo, and these include the likes of Sepia, Invert Colors and Tint.
Apart from that, Picasa has a wonderful Collage Maker.
7. Adobe
The most popular software there is out there for editing your photos.
Last but not the least, we come to Adobe. This is inarguably the most popular software there is out there for editing your photos but is certainly one hundred percent worth it to make the purchase.
You will find that it has over sixty basic customizations and tools that you can choose from, apart from its more advanced features like color, lighting and 3D tools.
There are even more advanced tools – ranging from things like saturation and contrast to lens correction and RAW processing, that are customizable. The one really good feature about Adobe is that the actions are performed most quickly.
No matter if you choose Adobe or any of the other wonderful software that have rightfully found their place on the list above, rest assured that you are going to be able to transform that photo of yours into something beautiful.