Tuesday’s Tool: Grab and Edit Images Online with Free Editor Picnik
I adore this tool! If I had to make a list of my top five cannot do without tools I might have to put this one in there . I discovered it about 3 months ago and use it daily. I don’t know how I went without out it.
Picnik is a flash based online image editor. It lets you grab a photo or image you like on a website (copyright withstanding!) or upload from your computer and in mere minutes you can add fancy borders, add text, capture a screenshot , resize and more. This is another example of how the idea of a “desktop” PC is disappearing and the shift is to a Web-based computer, where all our program and apps are online, but that’s a post for another day.
Importance of Images in A Blog Post
One factor that is often overlooked when writing blog is making it visually interesting. A blog with out images and pictures is blah and dry. An image can highlight an idea as well as explain an idea with a simple screenshot. Using clip art a photo or cartoon can drive home a point. Darren aka Problogger has written extensively on value of adding images to your blog.
Using a button in your sidebar will increase traffic to the linking page. I replaced the link text in my side bar “Add Your Site To DoFollow Directory” with a image that took me five minutes to create and the dofollow directory page hits went up by over 1000%.
One of the things that stops me from adding images is the HASSLE of it. I find the process of adding an image to a Wordpress post a lengthy nightmare, Find the image or clip art, save it , open it in an image editor like Photoshop or my 10 year old Micrografx.. remember how to round corners, add border and text, etc resize, save and then upload , etc. It ruins the flow of my ideas and I hate doing it so I resist and only do it under duress.
I have tried different Wordpress plugins available for Flickr and Picasa and still hate it. I am open to trying anything so if you have one you love- please suggest- would love to give it a whirl.
The feature I like best? It will let you round corners of an image with click of a button! I know longer have to go into Photoshop, select, modify fill, etc…. I just about leaped for joy when I discovered Picnik.
You can save or email you image in a variety of formats. You do not need to know ANYTHING about image editing. It is idiot proof. The interface is pretty intuitive and easy to pick up.
The utility is not perfect. It doesn’t do everything you want it to do. ( Like add a border and round corners without cutting off border)
If you are using Firefox you can install Picnik extension and right ciick an image and it will open up inti Piknik editor. This is very useful for taking a screen shot ( although you are limited to screen shots on a browser and not your desktop). For more extensive screeenshot capture and editing I use both Faststone Capture and Snag It.
Where to Find Free Images to Use in Blog Posts
http://www.masternewmedia.org/where_to_find_free_images_and_visuals/
This looks like a great tool Lisa. I’m going to try it out. Currently, I use ‘The Gimp”, which is a free open source image editor. It works great, but it’s a little more than I really need. This web based tool might be just what the doctor ordered, so to speak
- Dave
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[…] Tuesday’s Tool: Grab and Edit Images Online with Free Editor … - Adding images and screenshots to your blog posts create visual interest for your readers and can drive home a point . Taking the time to edit and add them can be a hassle. Grab, edit and add images to your blog posts easily with the … […]