Some editing apps are so complex that it’s hard to know where to start. Photoshop Express is Adobe’s free mobile app for shooting and editing photos on your iPhone. It’s a simple editing tool that’s perfect for quick edits and social sharing. In this article you’ll discover a range of tools for creating quick, high-quality images using Adobe Photoshop Express.
Adobe offers free Photoshop Express features to those who sign up for an Adobe ID. If you don’t mind sharing your email, you will get access to features like Noise Reduction to minimize grain in low light photos, a Defog option to reduce haze from your photos, new filters, and a self-timer.
You also get a new feature called My Looks that allows you to save your favorite edits as custom looks. You can create as many as you want which makes editing even quicker.
Once you’re all set with your ID, follow these steps to use the app.
1. Get Familiar With The Photoshop Express Icons
Like all apps, Photoshop Express has a unique set of icons to identify each editing function. You can learn about these in the popup menu in the app, but here are the basics for quick reference:
Overlapping circles – Filters
Overlapping 90 degree angles – Crop, straighten, rotate, flip
Three horizontal lines (sliders) – Correction tools
Eye – Red eye Fix
Rectangle – Borders
Band-Aid – Remove blemishes
2. Shoot Or Select An Image
When you first open Photoshop Express, you have the option to use the camera or select a photo from your device’s photo library, Adobe Creative Cloud, Facebook or Dropbox account for editing.
The camera is very similar to the iPhone’s native camera. You can easily zoom in and have flash “off “or on “auto.” You also have the option of using either the forward facing or backward facing camera.
Once you have taken your photo, tap the X button. This will take you to the Select Image screen.
Choose the On My Phone option and tap Camera Roll to find your latest photos. Select the photo you want to edit, and it will pop up in the app’s main editing window with your editing icons below.
3. Crop & Straighten
The first step in photo editing is to crop and straighten your image. In this photo the uneven horizon distracts the eye away from the focal points, which are the sunburst in the trees and the raised leaf in the foreground.
To crop (change the portion of the image you will see in your photo), use your fingers to pull or push the lines at the sides, top, or bottom of the screen. Stop when you see exactly the image you want to capture.
To straighten, place your finger on the blue button on the slider at the bottom of the screen and move the button back and forth. Most of the time, you will be aiming for a perfectly straight horizon.
4. Choose A Filter
You now have the option to use a filter. Filters,in Photoshop Express, are called Looks. There are over 20 basic Looks, and you can access another 20 by signing up with Adobe.
All of the filters have a sliding toggle that you can use to make the effect more or less intense. It can be useful to play around with different filters to see which works best with your image.
Below you can see how the mood of the image changes with a filter called Misty.
The Summer filter gives the image a softer, warmer feel.
5. Correct Your Image
Most photos could use a little editing to bring out their best features. Correcting your image may involve adjusting contrast, sharpening, light, or color.
Photoshop Express includes all of the editing tools you’re most likely to need. To access any of the tools, tap on the icon which looks like three horizontal lines. A sliding toggle will appear below your photo. Adjust the toggle to fine-tune the intensity of the effect.
From left to right, you’ll find:
Clarity – Try swiping the slider left and right to see your image become softer or more structured. If you like a softer look, move the slider further to the left. If you prefer a very clearly structured image, move the slider to the right.
Sharpen – This tool enhances the detail in individual objects. While it’s great for many purposes (for example, showing detail in fabrics or leaves), it’s easy to overdo sharpness.
Reduce Noise (only with Adobe sign-up) – If your photo is grainy, use this tool to smooth it out. The noise reduction filter drastically reduces the noise from underexposed images. It can also brighten images and make exposure more consistent.
Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, Shadows – How much light and contrast do you want in your image? These tools allow you to adjust the type and intensity of light and contrast for a wide range of effects.
Temperature, Tint, Vibrance – All of these features allow you to quickly adjust the amount and type of color in your photo. Slide the temperature to the right to create a warmer feel for your photo, or slide to the left to make the image cooler. Slide the tint to left or right to experiment with adding color to the entire photo. Vibrance changes the intensity of muted colors.
6. Remove Blemishes
When you look closely at your photo you may notice unwanted spots or objects. To remove these, tap on the Band Aid icon. Use two fingers to zoom in on the area you want to fix. Tap on the spot with your finger, and the blemish will instantly blend with the surrounding color and texture.
7. Add A Frame
The rectangle icon near the bottom right allows you to select a frame or border. You have three sets of options: basic, edges, and frames. While frames and borders are not essential, they can be a lot of fun!
8. Save And Share Your Photo
Once your photo is edited, click on the rectangle with the arrow pointed upward (at the top right of the screen).
You will be able to save the edited photo to your camera roll.
Use the same icon to share your photo to friends via email or social media. Photoshop Express allows you share directly to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, Flickr or send to your Creative Cloud library.
Want to do more editing? Just tap the three dots at the bottom of the screen to open other tools on your iPhone.
Conclusion
You’ve gone through the process of quickly cropping, filtering, and correcting your photo in Photoshop Express. As you can see, it’s a quick easy process. If you’re looking for a free app with a wide selection of tools for simple editing, Photoshop Express is a good choice!
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