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How to edit photos on Chromebook (+ 5 Best apps to use)

How to edit photos on Chromebook

You just switched to Chrome OS, and now you want to know how to edit images on Chromebooks. This article will guide you on every method there is for editing your photos and snaps on Chrome OS, as there are several options.

A decade or so ago, the idea of running demanding programs like Adobe Photoshop on a Chromebook would have been laughed at. Thankfully, that is no longer the case. 

Chrome OS has undergone extensive development and now has a wide range of capabilities. A few high-end Chromebooks are currently running Steam, one of the most well-liked game launchers in the world, to give you an idea of what this operating system is capable of.

Regarding the potential for photo editing, Chromebooks now support a cloud version of Adobe Photoshop. For a thorough explanation of every method for editing photos on a Chromebook, continue reading.

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The best photo editing apps for Chromebooks

Here is our hand-picked list of the best ways to edit photos on Chrome OS.

1. The built-in photo editor for Chrome OS

The operating system Chrome OS has a good number of features and provides the bare minimum of functionality for the majority of tasks. You can make some basic photo edits there, like cropping, rotating, scaling, and applying lighting filters. 

If you just need minimal editing and nothing too complex, it’s quite speedy and efficient. Start by following the instructions described above, and you’ll soon be able to use the Chrome OS built-in editor.

Step 1. On your Chromebook, launch the “Files” app as the first step. All of your device’s contents, including pictures, movies, audio files, and other interesting things, are kept here.

Step 2. Find the picture you want to edit once you’re in the Files area. If you got it from the internet, find it in the “Downloads” section of the sidebar by clicking here, and then double-click it.

Step 3. Double-clicking on the image you wish to edit will cause it to open in the Chrome OS “Gallery,” where you can make as many changes as you want. You are free to trim, rotate, or reduce the image’s size to fit your desired aspect ratio. 

Also, you can add captivating effects to your photo to make it stand out. The option to annotate your images is shown by a crooked line-shaped symbol, and it is the last choice.

Step 4. Click “Save” after finishing editing your picture to complete the procedure. The built-in photo editor in Chrome OS makes editing photos quick, easy, and uncomplicated. Before going on to the more difficult end of this spectrum, we advise giving it a try.

2. Adobe Photoshop

The idea of Adobe Photoshop is available on Chrome may sound improbable, yet it is in no way untrue. Back in October 2021, Adobe announced that the company’s Creative Cloud, a collection of photographic tools, will include online versions of Photoshop and Illustrator.

As a result, Adobe Photoshop is a relatively rapid alternative for you to start using right away since its foundation is built up on the cloud.

In the browser-based version of the application, all the fundamental tools that Adobe Photoshop users are used to being carried over. However, to properly appreciate the sophisticated Photoshop capabilities, you must acquire one of the premium Creative Cloud memberships.

 As a brief side note, the most affordable level of Adobe CC is roughly $10, which is, in our view, a rather reasonable price.

The inability to edit brand-new photos in Photoshop’s cloud edition is one of its main drawbacks. You can only use the Photoshop user interface and carry out adjustments on a file that is already open in your library. If not, you’ll need to change your files’ format so that Photoshop can edit them.

After doing that, you can now examine a Photoshop file that is stored in your library. The “Open in Photoshop on the web beta” button is located at the top of the screen while that PS file is being viewed. 

The Adobe Photoshop online editor should then launch after that. From that point on, everything goes without a hitch.

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3. Gravit Designer

Although this program is marketed as premium, and the developers advise buying the professional version of the photo editor, the basic variant is free and highly effective to a reasonable extent. 

Gravit Designer is another worthwhile entry on this list that can get you quick and seamless access to photo editing on Chrome OS. Gravit’s user interface is bursting at the seams with functionality, to start.

We must forewarn you that only someone familiar with picture editors and other comparable applications will be able to comprehend Gravit Designer’s attractive user interface right away. 

Here, we’re talking about a sophisticated editor that isn’t afraid to cram in more features and provide power users with the impetus they need to start working on their projects. When the cursor is over an element in the app’s UI, it is highlighted and its meaning is clear.

Because this option is web-based, you won’t have to endure any lengthy installs or download processes. To begin editing your locally saved photographs, log in to the platform using your Google account.

 If Adobe Photoshop or the default Chrome OS picture editor are not up to par for you, we strongly advise Gravit Designer.

4. Canva

It’s difficult to ignore a brand as well-known as Canva whether you’re a graphic designer, a pro at picture editing, or someone who enjoys making logos, backgrounds, and art for fun. 

Users can create wallpapers, flyers, Instagram posts, certificates, posters, brochures, Facebook posts, letters, and more with this free web-based program. You don’t even need to worry about data loss since Canva is virtually tied to the cloud, saving all your work automatically.

Also, it offers a separate area for editing photographs in addition to producing new ones, giving potential customers a wealth of capabilities. You can experiment with hundreds of different elemental additions to your photographs or choose from a wide variety of typefaces and text kinds in Canva. 

When it comes to this top-tier picture editor, the sky is the limit, so use it whenever you want.

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5. Picsart

The last photo editor we’ll cover in this post is Picsart. Picsart, one of the top Google Play Store programs that support Chrome OS, is completely tuned to function on Chromebooks with full-screen support and no delayed inputs, much as how GIMP stands in its stride.

Furthermore, the program has been downloaded more than 500 million times from the Google Play Store, proving its widespread appeal. 

On your Chromebook, Picsart will get you up and running with video editing like a pro. It offers a variety of options to explore, both simple and complex, and functions exactly as intended on Chrome OS.

Conclusion

If the circumstance calls for it, Chrome OS can perform as a top-notch picture editor. You shouldn’t be surprised as to how to edit images on a Chromebook since we’ve provided many examples to support our earlier claim.

Canva and the basic Chromebook photo editor are among our top choices out of the whole list due to their simplicity and efficiency. We can’t wait for you to check out each of these options since they all operate flawlessly on Chrome OS.