Google Snapseed review: is free photo editing software worth the hype?
Google Snapseed review: is free photo editing software worth the hype?
Snapseed is a free photo editing application that comes with very easy to use image processing tools and presets. The application is backed by Google, which is an advantage in terms of quality and reputation. The application allows you to edit and fine-tune brightness, saturation, contrast, curves, shadows and more, giving you amazing control over the final look of your photos.
Pros and Cons of SnapSeed
Pros.
Free!
Loaded with professional-grade presets and tools
Used by both amateur and professional photographers
Easy to use
Can edit RAW files
Simple finger slide slider to edit images
No ads
Cons
Requires a little bit of learning process
Not for complete beginners
Save option is not very intuitive
Social network integration options are not that clear
Wondering if Snapseed is worth the hype? Read on for our full review of this popular free photo editing app.
Photo editing software and apps are becoming increasingly popular with amateur photographers and hobbyists. In the past, only professional photographers had access to photo editing software, which meant that amateur photographers didn’t have access to tools to fix their images. The final photo was whatever you could point your camera at.
Today, there are many photo editing options. Most image editing apps do a good job. However, there are significant differences between free applications and paid software. Generally, freeware versions are easy to understand and great for beginners. But as you progress in photo editing, you will come to realize that free apps do have their drawbacks compared to paid professional apps.
Most free apps provide you with beautiful photos in just a few clicks, but some of them are better than others.Snapseed is one of the photo editing tools that stands out. It is full of useful editing features and all of them are completely free.
Yes, you read that right. Free!
Who developed Snapseed?
Snapseed was originally an iPad app created by Nik Software, a company that is well known in the photography industry for its image editing tools, plugins, and presets. Professional photographers have been using these tools for years, often as plug-ins for professional image editing software.Google acquired Nik Software, which included Snapseed, at the end of 2012 and then began offering it as a free download.
What does Snapseed do?
Snapseed allows you to edit your photos to improve their aesthetic quality. You can then save, share, and export the final edited Snapseed photo.
What used to take hours to accomplish in photo editors like Photoshop and Lightroom is now a one-click operation to adjust white balance, add filters, fix red-eye, crop, add lens blur, and fix skew lines. It can even add HDR effects and adjust curves using specified control points on the photo.Snapseed also features a Mask Brush and Repair Adjustments, just like professional photo editing software. You can even easily create cool double exposure images with just a few clicks. Some of its features require more photography knowledge, but overall, Snapseed is very easy to use.
It comes with a set of “looks” similar to the filter presets on Instagram. With Snapseed, you can edit the look of your photos with just one click. You can choose to “pop” the photo, brighten it, smooth it, or turn it into a black and white image, among other creative preset options available.
You can also go to the Tools section of the app to access all the customizable editing features, many of which were previously only available in professional paid editing software. These tools give you precise control over photo adjustments, and Snapseed features a simple finger slider to change ranges during editing. Simply slide your finger left or right on the photo and you’ll see instant edits.
As you get used to the presets, you’ll begin to recognize their usefulness and can eventually develop a preferred set of looks and presets that fit your photography style.
It’s worthwhile to try out the looks to see what each one does and how it affects different types of images. Load a photo and click a look to see what the original photo looked like. As with other photo editing apps, you can view changes made to the original image by simply clicking on the photo.
Snapseed doesn’t automatically save changes, so you’ll need to click the Export button to save all your edits.