PicsArt Discovery: pArt 2

PicsArt Photo Studio is packed with features. Discover the Tool Belt, how to ‘brush’ on text and more in the previous article here. For those that already scoured PicsArt Discovery: pArt 1 and are waiting for more sauce (Warning: Reddit distraction imminent), read on.

Edit Effect(ively)

The Effects function is packed with preset goodies. And almost all of them are editable! You can even apply or remove the effect from certain parts of your photo. Here’s a quick rundown of the effects (only a few items highlighted in each category), then we’ll dish.

FX such as CrossProcess, Twilight, Cinerama and Vintage
Artistic including Poster, Gouache, Watercolor and Fattal
PopArt with Holga, Colors and 4/image PopArt
Paper has lines, wood grain and more
Distort offers Fish Eye, Cylinder and Bathroom
ColorSplash for a splash of color or color replacement
Corrections for red eye and teeth whitening (should be in the Tool Belt in my opinion)

Un-Masked

If editable effects aren’t enough to entice you, how about editable masks? Control opacity, orientation (flip it) and even blend modes (screen, multiply, overlay, etc.).

Borders – more than three dozen ranging from basic to the unusual
Lights – more than two dozen including light leaks and flares
Bokeh – over two dozen including large, medium, small and shapes
Artistic – over a dozen including burst, brick and fireworks

Helpful Tidbits

It took a while for me to realize there were more options than just a glance would suggest. So here are a few tidbits to maintain your zen. (Photo has numbered arrows for matching up with the comments.)

The ‘Options’ cogwheel (1) will allow you to hide some of the options while editing. It’s dark gray and resembles the tab on a folder. As your photo is covered by the options when trying to edit, this allows you to partially see what you’re doing.

Use the ‘Positioning Arrow’ (2) to move your photo around, including two-finger pinch to zoom in/out. I found I needed to zoom out (make the picture smaller) when doing most of my edits so I could actually see the results.

The ‘Brush’ (3) is for painting on effects or removing them and is controlled by the Effect/Original (4). Note: The brush is also used with the ‘Draw’ Tools where you can brush on text, shapes and more.

Use the Effect/Original toggle (4) for adding or removing effects. In the PopArt edit below, you can see that I used the ‘original’ to ‘brush’ Texas back into the middle of the edit.

The ‘White Dot’ (5) actually controls brush size, opacity and hardness. Who knew? I accidentally discovered this when trying to undo!

Undo (6) looks a little weird. I thought it meant return to previous screen and refrained from using it for a while. When I was agitated at the lack of an undo button, I finally grew a brain cell. Note: When working with the ‘Draw’ Tools, there’s also a redo.

In addition to those, you can X out of an edit if you don’t like the results. And once you √ a result, it applies your edit and allows you to add others without having to save.

The Foibles

There is no getting around having the app create a photo album for your pics (they are also saved in your camera roll). Beyond annoying (small tantrum). You can keep deleting it but if you save your pics, it pops up again. I didn’t create an account so maybe there are options to axe it once you do.

I didn’t even attempt to use this on my iPhone or I might have injured it (flying into a wall perhaps). Even on the iPad, interface interference ran rampant during testing. Be prepared for some inventive language and hand gestures. (Or just shoot yourself laughing…oh yeah, pun intended!)

Self Discovery

Despite the glitches and complaints, this app is more than worth your time. Drawing text on your photo, editable effects, shape cropping, basic tools – this app has them all and so much more (collages, call outs, clip art, frames, etc.)

Two articles (pArt 1 here) and I still didn’t cover it all! Spend some time with PicsArt Photo Studio (it’s Free!) and discover for yourself why it’s a must-have in your photo arsenal.

PicsArt Photo Studio, currently Free

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About Marsha Bezzina

Marsha Bezzina has always enjoyed writing. But photography was mostly relegated to annual trips until the acquisition of her first smartphone, the iPhone 4s. Now this self-declared ‘mental crafter’ is a data hog – capturing moments, hoarding photo apps and editing with abandon. She is @notDelilah on Instagram but had to settle for @notDelilah_ on Twitter. Or check out her site, www.notDelilah.com

PicsArt Discovery: pArt 2