Every content creator now has a very well curated feed on Instagram. Their pictures are so crystal clear and professional-looking that any of us commons would think they splash thousands upon thousands of dollars trying to keep up their image online. Not really.
What they know (that most of us don’t) is that you don’t need expensive software or years of experience to create captivating images. There are tools online that can turn a picture taken from your mid-range Xiaomi to a lookalike from a Samsung Ultra. One of them is Adobe Express.
Adobe Express is a free online image editor tool that has completely changed photo editing by making professional-grade features accessible to everyone.
The only thing left is a guide on how to use this tool. And that’s exactly what this article will help you with- steps to editing your pictures like a pro.
What Can Adobe Express Do For You?
Simplified Professional Editing
Unlike Photoshop that’s complex with its hard-to-follow interface, Adobe Express was designed with simplicity in mind. It’s got AI-driven features that really enhance your photos to a professional level. You won’t need a series of YouTube videos or a course specially to help you understand this tool because there are no complicated menus or tools.
Easy-To-Use Advanced Features
- Background removal with a single click
- Professional-grade filters and presets
- Smart AI-powered enhancements
- Automatic color correction and balancing
Cost and Accessibility
Adobe Express is completely free. You get access to advanced editing tools, vast template library, custom filter creation, and cloud storage for your projects for absolutely no money.
No Installation Required
It works right in your browser, so there’s no need to download heavy software, install updates, worry about system compatibility, or use up valuable hard drive space.
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Your Step-by-Step Guide to Pro-Level Editing With Adobe
Let’s transform your photos into masterpieces.
1. Getting Started
After launching Adobe Express in your browser, you upload your photo. And you can do that by either dragging and dropping it onto the page, or by clicking through your browser files.
You’ll notice immediately that the interface is clean, intuitive, and very straightforward so you can see where everything is.
2. Quick Enhancement
Here, you’ll want to start with the basics. Remember you’re not a pro yet, even though you’ll be producing pro-like pictures.
There are multiple options such as:
- Erase
- Insert object
- Remove object
- Add animation
You can do these tasks by just clicking a button. There’s also an “Effects” option to add certain tones to your image and have it look like a professional did it manually. You can always fine-tune the adjustments later if you’re not satisfied with the results.
3. Perfect Your Colors
Next thing you’ll have to do is head over to the color adjustment panel. Here, you can:
- Adjust brightness and contrast first
- Fine-tune the white balance to make colors look natural
- Play with vibrance to make colors pop
- Use the temperature slider to either warm up or cool down your image
4. Use the Crop Tool
Most people consider the crop tool as a resizing tool, when it’s much more than that. You can use it to:
- Remove distracting elements from the edges
- Apply the rule of thirds (Express shows you the grid automatically)
- Create different aspect ratios for various social media platforms
5. Background Magic
Adobe Express has an incredible (also free) background removal tool in its suite. And with just one click, you can:
- Remove complex backgrounds
- Replace them with solid colors or other images
- Create transparent backgrounds for logos or product photos
Pro Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips to level up your editing game after mastering the basics:
- Use layers to make non-destructive edits. This means you can always go back and adjust elements one after another without starting over.
- Whenever you find a combination of settings that you love, save it as a custom preset. So next time, you’ll achieve the same look with just a click.
- The tool’s got a batch processing feature so you can edit multiple photos from the same shoot by applying the same adjustments to them simultaneously. That way, your results will be consistent.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment with adding text or graphics. There’s a wide range of fonts and design elements on Express that can help your photos tell a story.
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Final Considerations
Remember these key points as you develop your editing style:
- Less is often more. It’s super easy to get carried away with effects and filters, but even the professionals know that subtle adjustments produce better looking results.
- Save your original files separately. Even though Express is non-destructive, it won’t hurt to keep the unedited versions of your photos.
- Take advantage of Express’s learning resources. There are built-in tutorials that can help you discover new techniques and features. Don’t let them go to waste.
- Consider your platform. Different social media sites have different image requirements, and Express helps you optimize for each one.