How to Edit, Add Effects to Pictures

This image has had the color enhanced and has been slightly blurred and softened.

Digital cameras are very common. Often people want to edit their images or add special effects to turn a normal photo into something more artistic. Special effects and edits can completely transform a bad picture into one that you can be proud of. It is not difficult to learn how to edit and add effects to pictures and it is possible with any digital image.

Things You'll Need

• Photo editing software

Instructions

1. Choose the image you would like to edit and add effects to. This photo does not have to be perfect, but it should be crisp and clear and have at least one interesting item in the photo, even if that item does not make up the majority of the picture.

2. Find photo editing software. Such software is easily found and can range from being very simple to use with few editing tools to software that allows for more complex edits. Many printing websites have basic editing tools, and you can download free photo editing software if you do not have access to, or do not need, software that is more advanced.

3. 

   Start with simple edits. Use the crop tool to focus in on the most important or alluring area of the image. The crop tool is usually a button in the shape of a box. Use the box to outline the area you would like to keep. Deletion of the area not within the boundaries of the box will occur.

4. 

   Change a color photograph to black and white. Finding the black and white edit tool is possible in even the simplest of photo editing software. This tool will discard the color information in your photograph. The displayed image will be in varying tones of white, gray and black.

5. 

   Use an advanced photo editing software program for more advanced edits. With an advanced photo editing software program, you can begin to use functions such as layers and filters to create works of art from your everyday images. Accentuate your photographs with filters that can help you create watercolor images, black and white images with touches of color, and images that look like stained glass. Use layers to take a section out of one image and place it in another photograph.

Tips & Warnings

• Save the original image file in case you do not like the new image you create.

• Scan a photo into your computer so that you may edit it in a program.