Written by: Kelly Turner
Primary Source: Writing Rhetoric and American Cultures
GIMP is an open-source, image-editing tool that allows users to customize additional features and abilities into their software. It’s a free, downloadable application (from their website) that focuses on photo enhancement and digital retouching. This program works on various operating systems and supports numerous file formats.
PicMonkey is a photo-editing tool that focuses on photo enhancement, adding text, providing touch ups on people, and offering layout design options to make sharing across media platforms smoother (think: PicStitch app, but online). Photo adjustments include a variety of frames, textures, and cute overlays ranging from comic bubbles to scrapbook effects, more filters than Instagram, and numerous other quirky photo garnishes.
Befunky is a photo-editor similar to PicMonkey; however, this application has very different photo filters, frames, font, collage layouts, and photo effects. While Befunky gives you options that PicMonkey doesn’t, the layout of Befunky doesn’t function quite as smoothly.
Fotor is another photo-editor that prides itself on being able to create collages and provide photo retouching. However, Fotor is unique in that it also allows you to create cards; it offers a variety of card layout options to choose from as well as cards for different occasions. This application also provides a High Dynamic Range (HDR) option that applies the right exposure to every part of the photo.


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