Picnik 101: The Basics

[tips and tools]

Hello Curious Picnikers-

If you're a first timer looking for some direction or a Picnik veteran looking for some fresh tips this is the spot to share them!

Let me start by giving you beginners a few tips and tools to try out Picnik.
To get started, head over to the "Library" tab to upload a picture from your computer, your webcam, a Yahoo Search or any one of the photo storage sites we connect with. When you open the image you want to edit, you'll be transported to the to "Edit" tab to crop the edges, add more light, correct colors and red eye. Then you can switch over to the "Create" tab which gives you all the awesome shapes, texts, frames, effects, touch ups and professional tools.

You might be interested in watching a few short videos and checking out some guides to popular alterations. Even if the specific features don't interest you, they might help you get familiar with the product:

One of our most requested effects is turning a photo black and white while leaving a few choice objects in color. Check out the Effect Painting How-to video!

If you want to change the color of your hair or eyes, check out this hair color changing video or this eye color change step-by-step guide! For a general makeover, check out this makeover video! A big thanks to Brenda for putting these together.

Upgraded to Premium? You may not have tried out the layering tool yet! See it in action here!
Once you start layering you might want to look for some backgrounds you can use from the creative commons at sites like Grunge Textures.

Also, for Premium members, there is a world of possibility now available with the Clone Tool! It can be fun to make a two paneled collage first and then clone objects and people from one picture to the other. Then you can crop off one of the panels. Here's the blog announcement!

MacWorld published a guide on their site for a really fun project you can do with Picnik.  Just scroll down to the Custom Coloring Pages section to check it out.

Finally, jump over to the Blog to read about what's new. Or if you want to hear a little bit more about Picnik, here's a video of our CEO Jonathan Sposato sharing his thoughts on the application for the Washington Technology Industry Association. You can see all of our favorite Picnik videos created by users and friends on our YouTube channel, PicnikPhotoEditor.

Now it's your turn! Post here to tell us how you make your photos look awesome or ask someone how to get your photo just right.

Enjoy!
-Team Picnik

I have a set of tips & tricks on my Flickr account that might be of help too. 

Also, if you're a Flickr user, be sure to join the official Picnikers group for lots more tips on using Picnik.  We also sponsor contests and fun threads about having fun using Picnik.  Please join!

Brenda
Team Picnik

If you're looking for more locations to get some great textures from the creative commons for layering or cloning. Here are a few sites where you can get nice big JPEGs to upload:

I already mentioned Grunge Textures.

Also check out the free texture stock photography at Urban Dirty.

There are more free textures and backgrounds at Photoshop Roadmap.
A note from their intro: "These textures belong to different authors. All of them can be used in commercial projects, but it is safer to check the term of use of each texture before doing so."

Finally, check out CGTextures.com. You can find their copyright details in their About: License section.

If you have favorite sites for material let everyone know by posting here. Also, feel free to post your favorite effects, Picnik secrets, burning questions, or anything else creative.

Thanks! -Ali

Thank you for this thread! Very helpful for a beginner like me

Hey tiendunn732,

Glad you found help in the forums! We want the forums to be a great resource for all Picnikers, if you have any other questions about the Picnik Basics feel free to post them here

Thanks again!

Chelsea - Team Picnik

Are the highlighted parts supposed to link?  If so, they don't link for a Mac.

Hey paperdaystudio,

The words in blue are links. The bold words, are just emphasized, but not links

Chelsea - Team Picnik

I need some of these techniques for the scrap book that I'm doing. I compiled some of our photos and I wanted to add some interesting twist by changing the colors. Thanks you team picnik for the tips. I have photoshop installed but I need to explore others.

Thank you all for your input, as a 'Newbie' I'm finding it all very helpful.  Hope to make many new friends through the site. Since this is my first attempt at posting I hoping I'm doing it right - if not then I hope my efforts make somebody smile today. 

Hi Everyone I need some help.  I want to put a signature on my site and haven't a clue how to do it - I was told I need a BBC Code - haven't a clue what that is either - so as ou can see I seriously need some help.

Thanks a bunch

Hi chittykins,

What type of signature are you trying to put together, what will its purpose be on your site? You can create a blank page with text by first clicking on the collage feature. Choose background color and size options, but do not drag images in. Then press "done". Then go ahead and add stickers and text!

I hope this helps!

Cheers,

Chelsea, Team Picnik

Great sticky.

One of the best 'newbie' posts that I've ever read on a forum. Great stuff (love the service btw)

Is there anyway to see exactly what edits were done to the photos and then edit them?  The reason I'm asking is that I did some editing and at the very end I decided to put a frame.  I saved it but then when I looked at the frame again I decided I didn't like it.  I couldn't figure out how to get the frame off and just use the picture with all the edits instead of having to redo all the edits without a frame.  Thanks! 

Hey bdawgleroy,

Thanks for writing in! You can remove the frame by opening the edited photo back up in Picnik from the history. Then click "undo" until the frame is gone. If the frame was the last thing added, it should be the first to come off

Currently Picnik does not have an advanced history in which you can review all the edits that have been added to a particular image, and then from there remove a specific feature. This is a great suggestion for a feature that Picnik may have in the future!

Thanks,

Chelsea - Team Picnik

is there any way to layer photos without premium?

Hey 2011eap,

Sorry! The only layers feature we have currently is Premium. For a video tutorial click the link below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/curiouskiwi/2979206175/in/set-72157605043919396/

[I'm a newby and thanks so much for this thread and the many instructionsyou have given us. I've been around on several forums and Picnik has providedthe best. Looking forward to using Picnik.]

I'm a newby and thanks so much for this thread and the many instructions
you have given us. I've been around on several forums and Picnik has provided
the best. Looking forward to using Picnik.

Hi,
I need to Watermark a lot of photos and I've been reading the posts in the forums but have not found any that are very current so wanted to ask if there is any way to add watermarks in batch form so I can do fifty at a time, or 25 at a time? If it is in the premium version, that is fine I just am trying to find out if it's available at all. If there isn't, is there a way to save a text box so all I have to do is "paste" it after I open each photo?
Thanks in advance for your help!

I am trying to make my image transparent to put on my website black TShirts.  Please someone help me figure this one out please.  Thanks