Free Photo Editing with PicMonkey: Before and After Pics

Have you tried PicMonkey?

It's a free online photo editing website that's just too much fun! It's easy to use, and most features are free (Royale membership ($33 a year) gets you additional cool effects, fonts, overlays, and textures, but I just use the free version).

With PicMonkey you can:

• make collages
• apply virtual cosmetics and teeth whitening
• add text to your photos
• use a variety of overlays to create a cool effect
• enhance your photos
• frame your photos
• create logos
• share your pics on Facebook
• create holiday cards etc.

So I decided to make a photo hub with examples of my (pic)monkeying around. I always loved before and after pictures, so this is my photo editing debut as a PicMonkey enthusiast.

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Friday Film Fest: Dolly Parton

Visiting Ventimiglia, Italy, Overlooked by Its Medieval Cathedral Tower: Reaching for the Sky & Subterranean Rumblings

Hallmark Actor: Stephen Huszar

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How to Make a Photo Collage with PicMonkey

I love making collages. A collage allows you to create a unique "bouquet" of images that compliment each other. It's like instant art. And with PicMonkey, it's so easy and fun!

• First, you go to PicMonkey’s homepage and hover over a button that says "Collage".
• Pick your photos (tip: you can select multiple photos at once if you press and hold the Control button on your keyboard).
• Choose your layout. This is really neat because you have a variety of cool layouts, from a traditional card layout to a Facebook cover or even Pinterest-friendly layout!
• Drag photos into your layout. You can also add new cells, background color, adjust spacing and corners, and resize your photos any way you want.
• When you're done arranging your images, click "Edit" to add text, overlays, and other personalized touches. There's no going back after you click "Edit," so make sure you're happy with your collage and ready to move on to the next stage.
• Pro tip: with PicMonkey you can also add a watermark to protect your image from unauthorized use. Read the tutorial here.

Collage

How to Create a Professional Profile Pic with PicMonkey

A picture is worth a thousand words. This notion is especially true for your self-representation in the freelance writing world. But even if you're not a freelance writer, the right picture can do wonders for your profiles on LinkedIn and other professional networks.

PicMonkey has the tools to turn your mediocre selfies into striking self-portraits any employer would be impressed with.

• First, select a flattering picture of yourself, preferably with a neutral background and wearing a professional outfit according to the career you want.
• It has to be an authentic representation of you, where your true personality shines through, so don't try to look too "academic" or mysterious if it's not who you are in real life. Photos with a relaxed, natural smile are best.
• Try not to use profile pictures from other social media sites. Your professional profiles have an entirely different purpose from your social media profiles. Your profile pic should reflect that.
• Crop your image to a square that displays only your head and shoulders.
• Now you're ready for some professional editing with PicMonkey. If you're a writer or any other intellectual professional, black and white portraits give you this great timeless look. With PicMonkey you can go to the "Effects" tab, and click Black and White (free feature), or click Daguerreotype and select “Brady” (premium feature) Whoah! You instantly look like Hemingway.
• For a softer look, go to the "Effects" tab, and click Orton, Tranquil or Soften.

Profile Pics Edited with PicMonkey

Thanks For Your Feedback!

Comments

Jasmeet Kaur from India on January 11, 2016:

enjoyed your hub..

Lana Adler (author) from California on August 25, 2015:

Thank you peachpurple!!

peachy from Home Sweet Home on August 25, 2015:

thanks for the instructions and I really like the way you change the pictures

Lana Adler (author) from California on August 24, 2015:

Thank you Ron! Using PicMonkey has been a really fun creative outlet for me, and I'm still just scratching the surface and learning new tricks every time I use it. Most of the time I just experiment with a bunch of different features until something I like comes out. The idea to add a water texture to that moon shot was a total accident btw, but it worked :)

Lana Adler (author) from California on August 24, 2015:

Thanks, Larry! At some point I'll probably buy the annual membership, but for now the free version will do :)

Lana Adler (author) from California on August 24, 2015:

You're welcome, PAINTDRIPS!

Thank you, Bill. I'm honored that a well-traveled photography aficionado like yourself found my hub useful. I like playing with photos too, and I'm sure there are lots of photo editing tools out there, but PicMonkey is the one I use all the time, especially for HP.

Lana Adler (author) from California on August 24, 2015:

Mel, PicMonkey could be your chance of emancipation! For me editing photos is probably more fun than taking them because that is where the magic happens. A completely ordinary image can turn into an eye-catcher. Thanks for sharing! You're the BEST.

Lana Adler (author) from California on August 24, 2015:

Bill, a certain familiarity with photo editing does help, but even if it's all new to you, I think PicMonkey is pretty easy to learn. Just take it slow and have fun playing with it :)

Lana Adler (author) from California on August 24, 2015:

My pleasure, integrater. I've discovered it fairly recently, and I've got to say, it's pretty addicting!

Lana Adler (author) from California on August 24, 2015:

You're welcome Edgemaster! I've never used PicMonkey on iPad so I'll trust your word on it. I think in general it's easier to edit on a PC, imo.

Ronald E Franklin from Mechanicsburg, PA on August 23, 2015:

I really like what you did with the August moon photo. I've been using PicMonkey, but only for basic effects. This encourages me to go further.

Larry Rankin from Oklahoma on August 23, 2015:

Thanks so much! I've really been needing access to some manner of photo editing software, preferably free.

I'll give it a try.

Bill De Giulio from Massachusetts on August 23, 2015:

Hi Svetlana. Thank you for sharing this. I had never heard of PicMonkey but I can myself using this. I love to "play" with my photos and this site looks like it has some great tools that can be used for free. Great job.

Denise McGill from Fresno CA on August 23, 2015:

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!

Mel Carriere from Snowbound and down in Northern Colorado on August 23, 2015:

I have never heard of this, but it could be extremely useful. I struggle with photos, and mostly have my son do them for me if he is available. Great hub!

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on August 23, 2015:

Thanks for the tips. Somehow I suspect this requires more skill than I have, but I'll give it a try anyway.

Certified Noob on August 23, 2015:

I am aware of Picmonkey but never used it before, maybe I will take it out for a test ride now .

Thank you for an excellent How-to hub.

Edgemaster from Dallas on August 23, 2015:

Cool thanks for the link. I wish it wasn't in flash so I could use it on my Ipad on the go. I'm always looking for new ways to edit images.