Picnik for Artists

The images of Picnik screens on this page will show, step-by-step, how an artist can easily use the on-line Picnik image editor to prepare digital images of his/her artwork for presentation.

The images of Picnik screens below are from the January 2010 version of Picnik. Future upgrades to the Picnik service may result in changes to the user interface.

When you click on the Picnik starting page link there will be a quick download of some temporary working files, and then the screen shown below will open. A photo file can then be uploaded by clicking on the "Upload a photo" button. Be sure to make a copy of the image that you wish to edit and upload the copy. (To make a copy right click on the image-->click "Copy" then Right Click where the copy is desired--->click "Paste".)

The view below shows the file uploading window. Select the photo you wish to edit and click on the "Open" button.

Image of Picnik upload file selection window

The view below shows the uploaded photo ready for editing. Note that Picnik has 5 Tabs at the top of the page to select different groups of functions. This tutorial only covers the use of some of the functions in the "Edit" and the "Save and Share" tabs. The first step is to straighten the image. Select the "Rotate" button on the "Edit" tab to get to the next screen.

This page allows both 90 degree rotation and straightening. If a rotation is required to turn the image upright use the"Left" or "Right" button. To straighten the image use the slider to straighten along an edge or the horizon line. Click on the "OK" button when finished. You will be returned to the main "Edit" page.

Next select the "Crop" function on the "Edit" tab to eliminate all the background material and square the edges. The view below shows the crop incompletely defined. Clicking, holding and dragging on the four-headed arrow allows the total crop area to be moved. To adjust each of the edges independently do a preliminary rough crop first, as shown below, then move the mouse over the crop-area's edge until the double-headed arrow appears. Then left click and drag the edge for a larger or smaller image as desired. Click on the "OK" button when finished.

Unless a photo is taken under excellent natural light it can probably benefit from Picnik's exposure correction feature. This can really brighten up otherwise dull images. Click on the "Exposure" button on the "Edit" tab to bring up the screen below and then let Picnik do the work by clicking the "Auto-Fix" button. Click on the "OK" button when finished.

Picnik generally does a good job of color correction. Click on the "Colors" button on the "Edit" tab to bring up the screen below and then let Picnik do the work by clicking the "Auto-Colors" button. However, images taken under artificial light might be better fixed by use of the "Temperature" slider. Click on the "OK" button when finished.

Most digital camera images can benefit from careful use of Picnik's sharpening function. Click on the "Sharpen" button on the Edit tab to bring up the screen below. This view shows the image zoomed (The Zoom function is in the lower right corner) so that the fine branches on the trees could be better seen. The "Sharpen" slider was adjusted to 15% sharpening for this image. If too much sharpening is used the smooth areas will begin to appear rough. Click on the "OK" button when finished.

That's it - almost done. All that remains is to resize the edited image (if that is desired) and then save it using the "Save and Share" tab.

If resizing is desired click on the "Resize" button on the Edit tab to bring up the next screen (or skip resizing it you are ready to save the edited image at its present size). Just enter the number of pixels desired for the largest dimension and check the "Keep Proportions" box. (Note that on this screen it's width first then height - opposite of what's normal for art.) Picnik will automatically select the other dimension. Click on the "OK" button when finished.

Shift away from the "Edit" tab by clicking on the "Save and Share" tab which will bring up the screen below. It would be wise to change the name of the photo slightly so as to not overwrite the image you started with, but don't change anything else, just click on the "Save Photo" button to bring up the next screen.

Make your export parameter changes (if any) in the box on the next screen. No changes should be required to save the edited and renamed photo in the same folder as the original, but look at the "Save in:" box at the top of the form to be sure. Click on the "Save" button when you're satisified with the information. Picnik will then save the image on your computer, and if the saving was successful you will get a "Your photo was saved to your computer!" message.

Picnik has many additional capabilities, and once you get more familiar with the service you may find yourself working on many of your digital photos.

The image used for this demonstration is courtesy of Joyce McKee.

If you didn't get to this page via the FALC Digital Imaging for Artists page you may wish to visit it.