{BLOGGERVILLE} no picnik? a review of options

wwhhhaaaaaatt?

picnik is closing?

yes. it hurts me too.

what to do now? 

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so...

i am here to present my plan from a blogger perspective

many bloggers use picnik as a simple way to make photo collages, watermark / title our images,

resize photos, add artsy flare, and in some cases EDIT photos lol

if you rely on picnik, here are some almost equal replacements.

NOTE:

obviously, you can invest in photoshop, photoshop elements, lightroom ect. 

BUT i am looking today for a DIRECT replacements for picnik.

the relevance of this post will obviously depend on your current and future needs/skill level

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OPTION 1

FOTOFLEXER

REVIEW SUMMARY:
a good direct picnik replacement {not great, but good}
Accredited online photography schools recommend this for easy photo editing.

THE GOOD:

- similar interface & look to picnik - makes you feel comfortable
- easy to navigate 

- gives you a Layers option! i like this.
{the layer feature was rated as one of the top features as far as online programs go}

- great basic editing tools

- most of the same "artsy" effects 

- i LOVE the irregular crop option!
- links up to social media for sharing or grabbing pictures

THE BAD:

- overall WAY less options

- loading time seemed much longer! 

- a little disapointed in the font and collage options in particular

- collage pics need to be loaded individually

- very few stickers

- VERY limited touch up options

notes:

i did not open an account here. it is possible that there are more options if you have an account or pay for a "premium" membership like picnik. need to investigate this a little more. 

also, i could only open then save one photo at a time. again, this could change will a membership. 

if you know, please leave a comment so we can learn from each other!

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OPTION TWO
PIXLR 
{EXPRESS}

REVIEW SUMMARY:
a fun photo editing replacement, not good for replacing other picnik tools

THE GOOD:
- photoediting / retouch options are okay - some of my fav tools are there
- easy to navigate and use
- uploads easy
- plenty of artsy effects
- quick and easy one photo at a time kind of editing
-pic upload from computer or website
- LOTs of color filter options, which is fun

THE BAD:
- DOES NOT HAVE TEXT!
- DOES NOT HAVE COLLAGES!
- its a new program. they are working out the bugs still.
- NO sharing options. must be downloaded to a computer.
- NOT connected to any social media sites

notes:
MOST of the things that i don't like about this program can be found in the
pixlr's REGULAR program.
the regular pixlr is a GREAT program if you are planning on using a photoshop program eventually.
it has the text and collage, and all of that. BUT there is a learning curve.
the interface is similar to photoshop
& would be a great program to find out if you plan to take that leap eventually
BUT the EXPRESS as a direct replacement of picnik - i do not recommend it. 

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OPTION THREE
GOOGLE + 
CREATIVE KIT

REVIEW SUMMARY:
the most like picnik, except it is only 1/2 of picnik!
but maybe its the 1/2 that you used?!

THE GOOD
- super easy interface once you FIND the creative kit
- is basicaly IS picnik {well half of picnik}
- very easy to navigate
- ALL the same basic edits
- MOST of the artsy effects are there
- ALL OF THE FONTS ARE THERE!!!
- it has some of the fun stickers which they renamed "decorate"

THE BAD
- you have to join google+ to use it. not a big deal, its similar to fb
- google + is a type of social media site - therfore anything you edit using this
program is viewed by others in your circle who you are "friends"with
- you can only edit pics that you upload to the website first,
or ones that are already in a blogger/picassa alblum
- it is about 1/2 or 1/4 of the tools that were originaly on picnik
- NO COLLAGE OPTION!

notes:
not sure how i feel about google+
it feels kinda like a wanna-be facebook.
google got rid of picnik to drive traffic to google+ & that bothers me
BUT i love thier text options. im sure i could find them somewhere else,
but i like what i am comfortable with!


OVERALL
my decision for a direct replacement of picnik,
for MY purposes will be FotoFlexer.
maybe you will pick something different, 
or use a combo of them,
but i hope this helped you!

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WANT MORE OPTIONS?
here are some

other comparision posts:
{photoscape}- recommend by a friend
{editing and collage sites}***good one
{similar sites to picnik}
{a great list of editing sites}

happy NONpicniking!
{well after april 19th i guess}
mindy starr