Let’s Have a Picnik GIVEAWAY
February 17, 2010
Several months ago, I was answering a question about what kind of camera and photo editing software I use. In that post, I shared that I use a Nikon D60 and also declared Picasa to be my friend. Several friends then suggested Picnik, another free online photo editing software tool. I was intrigued, and decided to try it.
The next day, one of the head Picnik guys contacted me about my article. Wow, news travels fast in cyberspace. Head Picnik guy offered me a complimentary three month premium membership. “Try it, try it, you will like it”, he said. His name might have been Sam I Am, but I’m not sure. So I replied, “Okay, Picnik dude, I accept your three month premium membership.” What can I say, when it comes to technology, I’m a fickle gal. So I started cheating on Picasa.
Now I know most of you take pictures, right? Most of you want to edit those pictures, right? Most of us like free stuff, right ? Whew, okay, I think I’m on solid ground.
So I’ve been playing around with Picnik and I’ve gotta say, it’s got some really amazing tools. You can do all the standard photo editing with ease, whether cropping, or removing red eye, adding contrast or removing saturation. All for free.
For example, I took this shot out in Bodega on Northern California’s coast last year.
Using the basic Picnik functions, I can easily crop in on the seagull, sharpen the picture, and play with the contrast to create a more interesting photo.
Then there’s the premium membership tools under the ‘Create’ tab which are really fun. You can see the list of them here. Everything from simple conversions to black and white to more artistic functions like “Orton-ish” or “Duo-tone”. I like this simple click of a button which turns a modern photo into a nostalgic photo with the “1960s” effect.
There are tons of premium fonts for you to write on your pictures, and even bubble quotes too. See, now I can get back at my older brother by putting a moustache on him.
There are holiday and seasonal stickers and scrapbook pages, plus advanced functions like “Curves” “Dodging” and “Burning” which allow you to brighten or darken different areas in your photo whether they are highlights, midtones, or shadows, mimicking some of the tools found in Photoshop.
One of my favorite features in Picnik includes the collage tool. In Picasa, I have to format the collages and resize each picture myself. In PIcnik, I just choose from several dozen grids and input my pics. Easy peasy.
With the advanced premium tools, you get dozens of extra special collage grids to create whatever photo grouping you want, whether it’s a landscape . . .
. . . or your crazy cute kids or grandkids.
Then there’s the really cool Touch up Suite premium Picnik tools, so I decided to try my hand at this. I snagged this photo off the internet, and I must say, I think Demi is gorgeous just as she is. But people, you won’t believe how the Touch Up Suite has the power to take a few years off. Tools like “Blemish Fix”, “Airbrush”, “Wrinkle Remover”, and “Sunless Tan” to name a few. It sounds like a late night miracle worker infomercial, until you see what it really does.
Here’s a picture of Demi, Before and After:
I covered her grays, whitened her teeth, smoothed her skin, brightened and colored her eyes, then added some blush and lip gloss, like a cyber dermatologist. All with the Touch Up Suite available to premium members, and all in less than ten minutes with just my mouse.
They even have a “Ten Pound” tool that takes ten pounds right off you ! No, I’m kidding. There is no such thing as a “Ten Pound” tool. I wish. They have an “Insta-Thin” tool but it doesn’t take any weight off. It just narrows the picture. The “Insta-Thin” tool played me for a fool.
You can connect with and upload photos from Flickr, Facebook, Photobucket, your computer, even your Picasa web albums.
Please note, this is NOT a paid endorsement !!! This evaluation is simply my own personal opinion based on my own personal use. If you like what you see and read, I’ve got three codes for three lucky winners so they too can enjoy the upgraded premium benefits of Picnik for six months. And don’t worry, they won’t ask you for your credit card or anything like that – you simply input the code and you’re all set for six months.
Bottom line, this is a super cool photo editing program that’s a lot of fun to use. If you have any questions, their user friendly FAQ page has the answers. Picnik has received a ton of accolades which you can read right here.
Are you already a Picnik user ? Then you already know how many tools Picnik offers its users. If you’d like to upgrade your membership to premium to take advantage of these photo editing tools, then you too will appreciate this giveaway.
Three Winners will receive a Six Month Premium Membership to Picnik.
Eligibility for Six Month Premium Membership to Picnik
1) Simply tell us in a comment the tool you’re most interested in for editing your photos. Is it a simple conversion to black and white ? Scrapbooking or collage tools ? Is it good riddance to pesky red eyes, or giving your friends amusing bubble quotes ? Or is it that Touch Up Suite wrinkle removing tool ? Do tell.
2) For a second entry, tweet this giveaway, and add that link to a second comment on this site.
3) For a third entry, tell your pals on Facebook and add that link an additional comment on this site.
Giveaway ends Sunday February 21st at 8 p.m. PST. Winners will be chosen by Random.org.
********************* THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED *********************
What a great giveaway! I have used the free version of Picnik and really like it. Thanks for all the fun demonstrations. :)
shared on fb too ;)
I would use picnik to bring out the best in my photos with the ease of contrast adjustments , collages & remove 10 lb button. lol I use Picasa now but have heard such good things about Picnik!
I love their vignette feature. And I love that it’s quick and easy…Picassa took a little longer learning curve.
I already use Picnik, but I would really enjoy the Premium package. Thanks for the giveaway. Laura
Black and white photo editing seems too be real popular right now.
I would just love to have an easy way to edit my photos. It might be an easy way to get rid of some of the clutter in the background that always ends up in my photos. lol
I would love the collage tool. I have so many pictures and sometimes it’s hard to decide which one to put on my blog. That tool will come in handy.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Too cool! I would just ADORE the nostalgic finish on a few photos of my hubs and brothers! Thanks, CG!
I really just want my pictures to “pop” a little more. I’m just using a point and shoot and I want to be able to crop and clean up the pictures to make them look their best. Thanks for at helpful hints and the photography tutorial!!
I’ve heard about picnik but haven’t actually use it yet. I will mostly use the cropping tool, collaging tool and the aged photo tool. Hopefully winning this will encourage me to write more blogs :)
I’d love something just to punch up the color in my pictures. Cropping is always useful too!
Fantastic giveaway!! I’ve been using Picnik for a while and wishing I had access to all the Premium options. I really should upgrade my membership, but I’ll wait and see if I win your giveaway first!! :-)
The options I use the most are to adjust brightness and contrast, and straightening my pictures. I have no idea what my problem is, but I tend to take crooked pictures.
Kelly
I really like the airbrushing tool you used for Demi!! Thanks for the giveaway!
Just Tweeted about it @JAXDD
Kelly
I’m all over the collage feature! What a cool giveaway-thanks!
Touch ups tools are great. I would love to try Picnik.
I love the collage tool. I think I will be using that the most!
I’d love the ability to add quotes. What fun that would add to my blogging!
Picnik sounds great. I’d love to try the touch up tool and some of the color correction/enhancements.
Definitely the tool to make people look younger. Fun stuff!
I would use the premium account to make collages for my blog!! I heart Picnik!!
I am really into taking pictures right now and just started on Picasa. I like the idea of the collage tool.
The touch up suite sounds really fun! I’d also be interested in the color corrections! So interested in this because I didn’t get to put my photoshop software on my new laptop.
I would love to try out the collage tool!
I would love to have the Premium version of Picnik….the collage feature looks like it would be a lot of fun! : )
I would love the collage tools! I also love the color corrections! mmmm…..so much I could do!
I love the idea of burning – just like the old days in the dark room. Man have we come a long way!
I need the scrapbooking and collage from picnic
I would love to use it to make my pictures sharp, unique and beautiful!
I love the collage and touch-up tools and that it ties in with flickr. I’m trying to help my dad learn how to edit his photos and Picnik might also be perfect for him.
I need the collage feature. But I also require the conversion of quite a few photos to black and white….
Thanks for the opportunity.
Oooo, this looks like fun and something I definitely would love to play with. I could use the collage and scrapbooking tools but really I’d love to play around with them all. What fun!
That collage tool is awesome.
I’ve used the free version, but never the premium version. This could be fun! I think that I would love it for changing the colors in my photos.
“Okay picnik dude.” Haha! That made me laugh.
I love picnik. I’m only using their freebies but that still gives me a lot of freedom to play around! I would love to try the touch-up suite though…get rid of flyaway hairs or whatnot. Give myself the best looking facebook photos around. ;)
This is a great giveaway! I would love to be able to use the Touch Up Suite to edit my pictures
The collage tool sounds great. I currently use Picasa and like it, but I might just have to give Picnik a try! Thanks for the great post.
The collage tool sounds awesome and I love how it seems to be fairly easy to use. I hope I win!!!
Just tweeted about the giveaway @erinwilson5 http://twitter.com/erinwilson5
Cool giveaway. I used the free version to make eerie Holloween photos of the hub and I…Loved it. Would like to use the touch up feature to play with photos!
I have been using PhotoShop, but it is so complicated. I would love a simple tool to do collages!
As a blogger, I’m interested in the collage tool! What a great giveaway! Thanks.
Tweeted about the giveaway @spickney: http://twitter.com/spickney
Posted on FB: http://www.facebook.com/stephanie.pickney
I would want the wrinkle remover! I just turned 50 in January, so it’s a no brainer. Also, if you stand at the end of a line, you can also do lipo cropping! Simply crop off half your butt!
Count me in! That’d be awesome
Holy cow a ten pound tool!! Please pick me! :)
I would love the blemish tool!
I would LOVE to try the premium version for the collage tool and color conversions. And someone REALLY needs to come up with a “lose 10 pounds” tool for real (Then could I use it 6 times to lose 60 pounds??!)