To edit images on the PC most of us think that it is sufficient to install Photoshop or one of the many alternatives and get our hands on the tools available within these photo-retouching programs to get the desired result immediately. Unfortunately, this is not always the case: you need to know how to use these programs otherwise we will not get (in a short time) what we want, except after having read in depth some tutorials or some official guide to the program.
But we must not despair: in this guide we will point out the best free programs for photo retouching and image manipulation by performing some specific operations, so as not to have to tinker with too difficult programs.
It will take just a few clicks to change the image or photograph chosen on Windows.
READ ALSO -> 18 web photo-retouching applications to make changes to photos
The programs that we will recommend in this guide can replace the most famous photo-retouching programs in many of their functions: each program performs a specific task, so we can install it only in case of need or if we have had difficulties with professional programs.
Being free we will not even have to pay a euro to use them, ideal if we often work with images from home PCs and we cannot afford Photoshop (whose license can even cost more than 1000 €).
1) Resize or crop photos
The best program we can use to resize and crop photos on Windows is definitely FastStone Photo Resizer, available for free download from here -> FastStone Photo Resizer .
With this program it will be possible to reduce the size of a photo and crop it without losing the original quality of the shot, so that it can be reused on social networks or on the site without problems.
The program offers various tools with which to modify images but it is specialized in resizing and cropping photos even in groups (several photos at a time).
2) Compress the images
If the images in our possession are too large to be sent by email or to be transferred by any other method, you can compress the image without losing too much quality using the free RIOT program, downloadable from here -> RIOT .
Simply upload the photo or photos to be compressed and apply the program's special algorithm, which allows you to reduce the size of the image files by up to 80% while maintaining a good quality for printing and the proportions of the photos.
3) Eliminate red-eye effect on photos
We took many photos with people in the center of the shot and the inevitable red eyes appeared "> S10 RedEyes.
By loading the red-eye photos into the program, we will obtain the tool necessary to quickly change the eyes present in the photo so as to appear black, thus masking the red-eye effect.
4) Enlarge the images
If we want to enlarge the images or a part of them by minimizing the inevitable pixel effect with large enlargements, we can use the free SmillaEnlarger program, available here -> SmillaEnlarger .
With this small program we will be able to enlarge a photo to the resolution or with the desired zoom, losing very little detail or to enlarge only a part of the photo, eliminating if possible the pixel effect due to enlargement.
5) Optimize the perspective
Our photos were taken from a somewhat uncomfortable position which ruined the perception of proportions and perspective "> ShiftN.
All we have to do is load the photo with the wrong perspective and let the program act, which thanks to a special algorithm will be able to "straighten" the lines of the photo and optimize the perspective, so as to obtain more realistic photos.
6) Join the images
If we intend to merge two images into one or bring a subject or object from one image to another we can rely on the MERGE program, available for download from here -> MERGE .
Once the program is installed, we load the photos that we intend to join or from where we want to take the elements and we use the buttons and menus offered by the program to effectively join the photos or elements, so as to create truly realistic photo-retouching.
7) Switch to black and white or highlight colors
If we have photos that we want to transform into black and white or photos in black and white in which we want to enhance some color details we can use the Tintii program, available for download from here -> Tintii .
The program will offer everything you need to check the color levels for the photo or for a specific area, so that you can apply the black and white effect to the whole image or only to a part of it, creating truly spectacular photos.
8) Remove background from a subject
We want to recover only one subject from the photo by immediately removing all the background that surrounds it "> InstantMask.
All we have to do is upload the photo from which we want to take the subject, use the selection tools offered by the program and delete the background, so that we can reuse it in another photo or compose a new one.
9) Refocus an image
If we took a shot in a hurried way and we were wrong to apply the fire, obtaining a blurred or blurred photo, we can try to solve with a free program like SmartDeblur, available for download from here -> SmartDeblur .
As soon as the program is installed on our PC, we load the blurred or blurred image inside the SmartDeblur and watch the filters act on the image to improve its contrast and brightness, so as to correct (where possible) any focusing errors .
Ovviamene the application does not work miracles, but still allows you to get a better result than the starting photo.
10) Create GIFs starting from two images
If we want to have fun creating an animated GIF containing the transition between two different images (for example two faces) we can use the free FotoMorph program, downloadable for free from here -> FotoMorph .
We load the two images to be transformed and use the integrated tools to take the face or subject from the two photos and combine them into one animation, so that we can create funny GIFs.
