Photo Hacks You Can Do Without Photoshop

Not everyone can spend thousands of dollars on photo editing software, but sometimes you need to make your pictures brighter and cleaner. Maybe you want to add special effects to your images, like tilt-shift or HDR. Instead of dropping big bucks on Photoshop, check out these other options for photo editing. Learn what free websites you can use to create a GIF, cover your blemishes, add text, or create photo collages. Here's our list of Photo Hacks You Can Do Without Photoshop, using the best resources on the Internet.

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Pixelmator

Function: General photo editing

There are many programs available that can do simple photo editing—resizing, cropping, color correction, and the like—that don't require you to shell over two months' rent. Pixelmator is one of these useful platforms. For less than $15, this fully functional photo editing application will tweak your photos into whatever you desire.

Pixelmator's interface is very similar to that of a more sophisticated software, like Photoshop. It's easy to use, while still being extensive and advanced. The only downsides are that the program must be downloaded and currently is only available for Macs.

Pixenate

Function: General photo editing

If all you want to do is quickly edit your photos, you might not even need professional-grade software. This is where a site like Pixenate comes in. The platform is extremely simple and allows you to quickly upload your work, rotate, crop, enhance, and even draw on your photos. Unfortunately, the site's interface could use a web designer, and there are not as many features as on other platforms (like blemish fixing and photo collages, for example). Pixenate does allow you to print your edited photos on shirts, bags, mouse pads, and other paraphernalia.

Make A GIF

Function: Creating GIFs

Make A GIF is a simple web-based platform that does all the hard work of making a GIF for you. Its simple interface allows you to upload photos from multiple sources, including YouTube, a webcam, or your own computer. The most impressive part of Make A GIF is that you can control timing and delays on your GIFs. It's almost as sophisticated as using Photoshop. The only downside with using Make A GIF is you have to add your work to the site once it's finished.

Gickr

Function: Creating GIFs

With its easy-to-use interface, Gickr is your best bet if you want a fast, direct way to make a GIF. Although the site is not as flexible as Make A GIF, it offers a more straightforward approach to creating image animation. Upload up to 10 images, choose the desired size and speed, click next, and the GIF is instantly made. One downside to Gicker is that the site watermarks your GIF with its URL.

Watermark.ws

Function: Adding watermarks

Watermark.ws is a simple way to put text or logos onto your images quickly and without any fuss. The site has some nice features that allow you to adjust the opacity and color of your watermark, so that your work can be more customized. However, the site doesn't allow you to do other image editing, like resizing or color correction.

LunaPic

Function: Adding watermarks

In terms of adding a watermark, LunaPic is another great choice. The simplicity of the site's interface makes it easy to use, and its multiple editing options allow you to alter your photos in other ways as well, such as resizing, color correction, and brightness. With a one-stop-shop like LunaPic, you can edit and copyright your photos all in the same place.

Picfull

Function: Adding filters

Instagram isn't the only software out there that can add filters to your images. There are many web-based sites that do the same thing for your photos, no matter what size they are. Picfull is one of these helpful platforms. The site itself is not only easy to use, but it also allows you to apply multiple filters at the same time. One downside to Picfull is its limited choice in filters.

Rollip

Function: Adding filters

Rollip is another option for adding filters to your photography. Unlike some other sites, its real selling point is that it offers a wide array of filter choices. The site is easy to use although riddled with advertisements. Unfortunately, the application is very limited in terms of making adjustments to opacity or strength of filters and won't allow you to apply more than one filter at a time.

BeFunky

Function: Creating photo collages

Another trend made popular by Instagram and other photo apps is photo collages. With sites like BeFunky, you can easily create photo collages with almost an infinite number of images. BeFunky has a variety great attributes that some other applications are lacking, like the ability to add text, icons, or background colors. BeFunky also supplies users with pre-made templates, sized for sites like Facebook or Twitter.

Fotor

Functions: Creating photo collages, retouching images

Many of the sites on our list offer multiple editing functions, but Fotor does two really well: retouching and photo collages. The site's interface is sleek and minimal, and Fotor offers a variety of editing options to choose from. While it's not as sophisticated as other sites, it allows you to do a lot in one place, including editing out imperfections from your images.

PicMonkey

Function: Adding design elements

PicMonkey is another all-in-one photo editing site with an emphasis on design. PicMonkey allows you to alter photos or create designs for materials like flyers, cards, and invites. Unfortunately, many of the features on PicMonkey are premium, meaning you have to pay to access them.

Picadilo

Functions: Adding design elements, general photo editing, making photo collages

Picadilo is another good go-to for all-in-one photo editing. With a sleek and easy-to-navigate interface and a vast amount of editing features, the site may be the only one you need. Because Picadilo offers so many functions, some features are not as sophisticated as other sites that are devoted to a singular editing tool.

TiltShiftMaker

Function: Adding tilt-shift

Tilt-shift photography uses a selective focus to simulate a miniature scene, so cities look like toy towns. While many photographers create this effect through their cameras when taking a picture, TiltShiftMaker will let you add tilt-shift post-production. Because this site is so single-minded, it has really developed its tilt-shift options, allowing users to fine tune a lot of the effects to their desired look. However, the interface is a bit dated, and there are no other photo editing options.

Art & Mobile

Function: Adding tilt-shift

Art & Mobile lets you add tilt-shift effects to your photography in a few easy steps. Although it doesn't offer extreme flexibility or fine-tuning options, Art & Mobile is very straightforward and easy to use.

CreateHDR

Function: Adding HDR

HDR, or high-dynamic-range imaging, is one of the most commonly used photo tricks, allowing photographers to take images in direct sunlight or in dark areas. By simultaneously enhancing the highlights and deepening the shadows, HDR creates surreal images that pop off the screen. One site that can help you achieve this look is CreateHDR. While the site is still buggy at the moment, it is constantly being updated and has great promise. It is also the only site that specifically caters to adding this kind of effect to photos.

Inkscape

Function: Sketching

One great thing about Photoshop is that you can use it to simulate drawing. Cartoonists and illustrators find it extremely helpful to be able to digitally sketch their ideas. If you want to do this without investing a lot of money in software, Inkscape is the next best thing. While you have to download the app, it's free to use. And the fact that it's an application, and not just a flash site, means it's much more sophisticated than other choices.

Mudcu.be

Function: Sketching

If you want to sketch or draw online without having to download an application, Mudcu.be is a great choice. The interface is sleek, simplified, and includes a black background, so you don't have to worry about distractions. The site's straightforward approach to sketching, without any frills, is perfect for anyone who needs a quick digital sketch.

Sketch.io

Function: Sketching

Sketch.io isn't the most glamorous application on our list, but the site makes up for it in other ways. Not only does Sketch.io have a lot of sketching, writing, and editing options that are easy to use, but it is also accessible on your phone or iPad, making it much easier to sketch on the go.

Wigflip

Functions: Adding text, making memes

Wigflip creates memes in only a few minutes, allowing users to quickly get their work on the Internet. Let your memes go viral on Reddit with this easy option.

Makeup.Pho.to

Function: Retouching

In the digital age, there are easy and fast ways to achieve physical perfection (in photographs at least) that don't break the bank. Makeup.Pho.to allows you to upload your own images and adjust them as you see fit, including fixing red-eye, erasing blemishes, and diminishing shine.