How to Picnik a Photo for Facebook

Picnik is a free online photo editing application you can use whenever you have an Internet connection to make changes to your photos. Tools include basic editing features like cropping, resizing, fixing colors or removing red-eye. You can also use some of the more advanced features to write text on your photo, add stickers, or apply a theme like placing a flag over it. Additional effects are available for paid accounts.

Instructions

Basic Editing

1. Go to the Picnik Tools Page and locate the extension or plugin for your Web browser. Download the file and install it as described for your browser.

2. Go to the Picnik website. Click "Upload a Photo." Select a photo in the dialog box and click "OK." The photo opens in the browser.

3. Click "Auto-Fix" to make a fast fix to a photo. Picnik will automatically adjust the brightness, contrast and tones.

4. Rotate the photo if needed by clicking the "Rotate" button. Use the "Left" or "Right" buttons to rotate it, or use the "Straighten" slider to make finer adjustments to its orientation. You can also use the "Flip" buttons to flip the photo vertically or horizontally. Click "Reset," then "Cancel" or "OK."

5. Click the "Crop" button to crop the photo. A grid will be displayed over the photo. Drag a corner of the grid to specify where the cropping will be done. Only the portions of the photo within the grid will be kept. The size of the cropped photo is displayed in the "Actual Size" section above the photo as you crop. You can also type in the size you want the cropped photo to be in the "Actual Size" text boxes.

6. Select the "Resize" button to change the dimensions of the photo. Type in the new dimensions using pixels, or click the "Use Percentages" box to type percentages.

7. Press the "Red-Eye" button to remove red eye caused by a camera flash. There are two settings to choose from. Choose one and then click on the eyes to remove the red.

8. Click the "Exposure" button, and use the sliders to adjust the exposure and contrast. The "Colors" button allows you to change the color balance. The sharpen button can be used to sharpen details in the photo.

9. Select the "Save & Share" button when finished editing the photo. Picnik allows you to select a size and compression quality before saving. The higher the quality, the larger the file is. Smaller files upload quickly but offer lower quality. Click the "Save Photo" button. Open Facebook and upload the new photo.

Additional Effects

1. Click the "Create" button to see additional options for your photo.

2. Select a theme to overlay on the photo from the left menu. Themes change regularly, depending on the season or upcoming holidays.

3. Click the buttons above the photo to see additional options. Effects let you change the photo to black and white, sepia, neon, or change the photo in many other ways. You can also add your own text to the photo, add stickers, touch-up the photo, add a frame around the photo, or apply seasonal effects.

References

• Picnik: Tools