GraphicsActivityExample

Feature Comparison - PicNic vs. Pixenate Original Image



PicNic

Pixenate Among these are advanced features that allow for detailed editing. For example, the Advanced option under the Sharpen tool allow for radius and strength. This is really helpful when you want to sharpen one part of a photo, not all. || Pixenate is a limited, but fun photo editor. Tool selection is easy, but again, limited. There are basic tools such as crop, rotate, flip, enhance, and straighten. Also, there is a doodle tool, and fun effects. There were no advanced features. However, there were a good range of colors to choose from. || For me, the stickers were the most fun. I enjoyed this most because of the variety of options. First, there were a vast variety of categories. Second, each sticker was drag-and-drop placement, which was super easy. Third, they were easily manipulated, including: resizing, coloring, rotating, flipping, and mirroring. || For my picture, the best feature was the Snowflake effect. It automatically covers the image in snowflakes. They are varying in size, and opacity to create depth. What I like most is that it automatically fills the image. Somehow the scale it uses always looks good. ||
 * || ** PicNic ** || **Pixenate** ||
 * Tool Selection || This program has a variety of tools. The basics include Auto-fix, Rotate, Crop, Resize, Exposure, Colors, Sharpen, and Red-Eye.
 * Interface || This website was great! It is well layed-out and easy to us. The navigation is also unchanging across the top of the editing box. So from tool to tool, step to step, you can always see the other navigation options. A unique feature was the humorous text used to describe tools, and JPG compression quality, such as “Downright ugly quality, small file size.” This added a positive mood to the working environment. || The appearance is disappointing, especially after using PicNik. Although it is easy to use. Everything is on the left hand side, and is visible. The fonts are boring, but easy to read. Their icons are also boring, but easy to understand. Like PicNik, there were good-humored descriptions for tools, like “…feeling festive?” ||
 * Speed || As to speed, PicNik was fast. Every alteration I used was immediately shown on the screen. I did use Safari on a Mac. || It is slower than PicNik, but not enough to bother me. Instead of instantaneous results, it may take 5 or 6 seconds. Not bad though. ||
 * Export || There were so many options! I saved my picture directly to my computer in one click, and had the option to print it too. Other sharing options included: Email, Flickr Slideshow, Email to Web Site, Picasa Web Albums, Twitter, Flickr, Facebook, MySpace, Photobucket, Webs, and Webshots! A pretty long list. || There are only two options for export. You can either save to computer disk (which automatically saves to my downloads), or upload directly to Flickr. I think this site simply has not been updated to include more sites. I did like the import option that allowed for images from Facebook. This could be very useful. ||
 * Cost || The cost is free, and you can upload 5 photos at a time. There were premium options available for an upgrade for $2.08 a month. Although, the free tools are excellent. || The cost is free, but printing onto a mug will cost you $13.95 before shipping. Overall, for a fun, and fast project, it is easy to use and especially user friendly because it has no fees or subscriptions. ||
 * Effects || Under the “Create” section there are a wide variety of Effects. These included many that I had not seen on an editing program before. Along with Sepia, and B&W options were Focal B&W, Focal Soften, Focal Zoom, Vignette, Matte, Infrared Film, 1960s, Duo-Tone, Panography-ish, Doodle, Gooify, and Puzzle. These are all very fun tools. Again, so easy to use! || There are few effects. The only interesting ones are under “Fun Effects.” These include Interlace, Frame, Text, Lomo, Snowflakes, Pop Art, and Heart-shaped cutout. They are limited, but basic, and easy to use. One particularly useful one was the Fill Light tool to help enhance underexposed images. ||
 * Additional Fun Features || This site was so fun that I added this section to talk about the additional editing options that I haven’t seen on most similar applications. For PicNik, I was impressed particularly with the variety of font styles. Many, I had never seen before. They were so creative and fun. || One special feature was the ability to print to gifts. Although PicNik had many more options, it did not have this one. Also, basic, but fun clip art can be added, such as mustaches, and Santa Claus hats. ||
 * Killer Feature || The most exciting feature of this program is in the “Create” section. Located here are fun tools that personalize your photograph. These include additional Effects, Text, Stickers, Touch-Up, Frames, Seasonal details, curves, clone, levels, and more.

This was an exciting comparison. The two programs I chose were free, and user-friendly for quick photo editing. What surprised me was the difference between the two editors. To me, it is important to have the most options in effects. This is what I use most for adjusting architectural renderings; making drawings and other images look realistic. The basics are important, such as contrast, brightness, and color. What makes a program valuable to me are the addition creative effects with artistic touches, and focus/pixilation options. From these two editors, Pixenate had the basic tools plus a few effects. These effects, however, were not as helpful because of their limited adjustment options. This is what impressed me about PicNik, it had great effects with much personalization adjustment. Although they may vary in quality, both programs were easy to use, offered good export options, and provided a fun working environment that encouraged creativity.