Some photo editing programs require a monthly subscription fee or an initial investment you may not be able to afford at the moment. However, there is a free Photoshop-style image editor that runs right in your web browser (i.e.: no downloads). Keep reading to learn more about Photopea!
The similarities with Photoshop go beyond aesthetics. If you’re used to using Photoshop, you’ll feel comfortable with Photopea since it has the same essential tools and workspace interface. If you’ve used any photo editing software that has a similar design, you’ll be able to dive right into Photopea. You can make edits like adjusting an image’s HSL (Hue/Saturation/Lightness) or brightness, and also make more specific edits like selecting an image from a background. Photopea also supports most of the file formats you’ll need including JPEG, GIF, raster images, vectors and PSD files. Photopea also supports layer masks, blend modes and brushes, so you’ll be able to do more complex editing in the if needed.
As mentioned above, Photopea is free and open source – with some ads that help support its development – but the ads aren’t intrusive. You can also upgrade to a premium account for $9 for 30 days (as well as $10 for 90 days and $40 for a year) to remove ads and support the developer. Also, Photopea doesn’t require a download. You can either use inside a browser interface or “install” it as an app through browsers such as Google Chrome or the version of Microsoft Edge powered by Chromium. Even when it’s “installed”, you still don’t have to download anything. The app is in your browser, but the editing is done on your machine so all of your work is stored locally (not on a server or in the cloud).
You can open Photopea instantly on almost any machine, including Chromebooks or PCs running Windows 10, so it’s a great photo editor for working across platforms. In fact, Photopea’s most significant selling point is that it’s easy to use anywhere. It works very well with PSD files, with support for layer editing and saving a file as a PSD. This means you can take a file you have in the cloud, on a USB drive, or on any device and make quick edits without having to download anything.
For a professional user, Photopea isn’t going to replace Photoshop. Instead, it is an excellent companion for photo editors who need to make edits on a machine that isn’t their normal setup. If you’re a prosumer or casual editor, Photopea will meet many of your demands. It’s convenient, can handle a wide range of edits, and is easy to learn thanks to Photopea’s online tools.
Ultimately, it is a unique, progressive web application that works on just about any platform. It’s a good companion for professional users who have to make an edit on a machine other than their usual setup and a good editor for users looking for something more than a basic editor. To check out Photopea for yourself, click here: https://www.photopea.com/
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