Image editing is a process in which the particular image is undergoing some changes in order to be better, more quality or is different in any way than it was before the editing. The image editing software is here to make all of that stuff possible. With an image editing software, you can do many things to your photos if you know how to use them. But wait, how should you use them? I’ve also taken care of that, by giving you some very simple image editing software, that you’ll get used to very quickly.
Best Windows Image Editing Software
I created this list based on my own experience with these programs. It necessarily may not your opinion. However, based on many other lists available on the internet, I think, this is a pretty matching list. As I have personally tested each one of these software programs for editing pictures, I can tell that each one of them can help you in your photo editing purposes. That being said, below are the 10 best image editing software for Windows.
1. Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is the best, and the most popular software to edit images in Windows. It’s a great way to turn your photos into much more beautiful and eye-pleasing pictures that you can save or share via social media. There are plenty of options here, ranging from various filters, shadows, highlights, curves and even special effects that you can create and apply here. Photoshop is a versatile app that allows for much more than just a simple image editing, and it’s widely used by pros in this business. If you don’t believe me, just ask them, and they’ll tell you the same. Regardless of which version are you using, Photoshop will always deliver top-notch performance.
2. GIMP
GIMP is another great software, that is close to Photoshop when it comes to image editing. It even packs a similar interface, placing the tools on the left side of the screen and some additional settings to the right. The selection here is breathtaking, and there are some great advanced options and filters that you can use. However, GIMP is an open-source app, which means that it’s free, but that also means that you’ll need a little more time to get into it, because of the number of options.
3. Photo Pos Pro
Photo Pos Pro has a great, easy and comprehensible interface, and that’s what I first noticed. This app can also be your software for advanced editing, but it can also be for beginners too if you switch to advanced or beginner mode. The app includes tons of options for cropping, filters, removing blemishes and support for batch editing and scripts. It’s a free app, so I suggest trying it if you don’t want to pay extra cash.
4. Fotor
Fotor will not offer you those advanced features like Photoshop, but if you need a serious set of high-end filters, then you’ve come to the right place. Aside from those amazing filters, there is a curve that you can manually edit, in order to place the correct lighting and accent on certain areas of the image. Fotor also supports batch image processing and editing, which makes it a great contender for the best image editing tool for Windows.
5. ON1 Photo RAW 2018
Before becoming a standalone photo editing software, ON1 Photo RAW 2018 developed amazing plugins for Photoshop. Now, this app boasts an insane amount of features ranging from corrections, enhancements, filters, and effects, so you can quickly and easily edit your photos. There is also that famous layer system, which really shines here and allows for some advanced editing and adds a bonus power to this app. However, the app isn’t free, but it’s a good value for the price.
6. Adobe Photoshop Elements 2018
What’s the difference between Photoshop and its Elements edition? Well, Photoshop Elements 2018 is for those that want a great image editing experience, but are amateurs, and can’t get used to Photoshop. Don’t worry, as this software contains all of the necessary tools for quality image editing and you’ll love it. Still, don’t expect this software to be your full-fledged Photoshop experience, and expect some cut-downs.
7. Cyberlink PhotoDirector 16 Ultra
Cyberlink Photo Director 16 Ultra is a great software, but it always somehow pales in comparison to Photoshop. To be honest, I don’t see a reason for that, as PhotoDirector 8 Ultra is a software that will let you do some basic and advanced stuff with your photos. There is a huge palette of feature that you can take advantage of; for example Raw image editing, which works great here.
8. PhotoScape
On the first look, PhotoScape didn’t impress me at all as it has such an unusual interface, that looks and feel simplistic. However, PhotoScape is by no means a simple image editor, as it boasts some advanced filters that you can easily apply to your photos. Browse for your photo on the left, select it and start your editing. It’s that simple. On top of that, Raw file conversion is supported here so you might want to take advantage of that. Also, PhotoScape is an image viewer as well.
9. DxO Optics Pro 10
When it first emerged, Optics Pro served as a tool just for correcting some stuff on your image, like distortion or chromatic aberration. Today, Optics Pro 10 provides the users with complex raw conversion tools, to get the most out of your editing, as well as tons of color and local adjustments. This all works great in both in theory and in real life, with the only downside being lack of advanced manipulation and organization of your photos. So, if you are just for editing, then go with Optics Pro 10, but for organizing your files, you’ll need some other app.
10. Phase One Capture One Pro 10
Capture One Pro 10 is designed both for amateurs and professional owners of the camera. With this software, you can easily edit your photos, and there are tons of options here, so you’ll be using a lot of drag and drop and slider mechanics to advance through the editing process. Capture One Pro 10 also supports raw image editing, so you can use any type of image that you like from JPEG to TIFF and PNG image formats. The conversion works really well here, producing fine details and an admirable quality to the picture.
Best Image Editing Software for Windows
So, that was a pretty good list. Now I will give you few suggestions from my side. If you are going for some advanced image editing, you can use some tools like Photoshop, GIMP. On the other hand, if you just want to crop the images, resize them, and add some catchy effects without any deep knowledge about editing images on your computer, it is better to go with some programs like Fotor. They provide a much easier way of tweaking your photos without putting much effort into it.