Wouldn’t it be cool if you could simply change a gloomy sky to a gorgeous day with a wave of your arm? We might not have that ability now, but we can certainly achieve this monumental task through the power of photo editing. Many software programs are available, including PhotoShop and Corel Paint Shop Pro. Your existing digital photos are the perfect canvases for creating new masterpieces to share with family and friends. Here are some fun photo-editing ideas to explore:

Fun in the Sun

Take a few of your old vacation photos and add or subtract a little action. In the first photo, the planes, boats and parachutes were added to a peaceful beach scene. In the second, all the extras, except for the two planes, were removed and removal of the waterfall restored the shoreline.

Playful Pets

These silly hybrid animals are amusing for the kids. The combinations are endless. The key is choosing animals with similar colors. The rest is a simple copy and paste.

Adventurous Kids

Many people have tried riding a horse or maybe even a camel. Why not alter the photos to spice things up a bit by adding a dolphin or a T-Rex? Now that would be exciting!

Story Time

Our local library offers a program enabling children to read to a live greyhound. I’m sure a tiger loves stories as much as everyone else, but I doubt kids will be reading to them any time soon. Photos like this will certainly grab the attention of their grandparents!

Creating Drama

Do you have a budding actor or actress in your family? With the appropriate pose and facial expression, he or she can be inserted into any harrowing scene you choose.

Portraiture

Portraits don’t have to be same old same old. This layered photo tells a story by combining colors, textures, and meaningful items surrounding this beautiful woman in a more intriguing pose. Perhaps she’s an architect or a stained-glass artist with an appreciation for antiques. Tell your story.

Storybook Romance

Prom or wedding photos are ideal resources. Add a fairy tale background and imagine the possibilities

View from Above

Everyone loves taking photos from airplane windows. Usually there’s not much to see except clouds or maybe a bit of land or water. The little lizard above is really funny, but it could be even better if you inserted a family member instead. You could say it was a “no frills airline!” lol

Come Sail Away

The tricky parts of this illusion are the ripples in the water’s surface and the reflection of the sailboat.

3D Tech

Can you remember a time when you didn’t have a cell phone? These photos not only capture the subjects, but they also bring them out into our world in three-dimensional splendor.

Room with a View

Who is watching whom? This is an amazing photo. At first glimpse you might think the artist simply replaced the outside image with an underwater scene but look how cleverly the reflections of the water create dappled patterns upon the walls.

Cat & Mouse Games

Typically, a game like this would not end well, but this is another astonishing illusion.

Who’s Afraid of the Wolf?

This fearless little girl looks calm and self-assured. the story, “Little Red Riding Hood,” has come to life!

Death-Defying Yoga?

Someone is always coming up with new exercise and meditation classes, but I don’t think underwater yoga is a thing! Maybe she’s a shark whisperer? In this exceptional photo, it’s the shared lighting and bubbles that really make it believable.

As your skills grow and you develop your own editing style, your creative photos will blossom with intriguing details and dazzling special effects. Who knows? You may find yourself working in the gaming and entertainment industry, graphic design, advertising, photography, or any of the many fields that entice consumers with compelling images.

Thanks for reading & Happy Crafting!

When it comes to photo editing, creativity truly has no limits.  You can make it rain, perform death-defying stunts, or build a civilization on the rings of Saturn.  That is a powerful tool!  With the right software, such as Corel Paint Shop Pro or Adobe Photoshop, you can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.  Here are some fun photo-editing ideas to explore: 

Playful Wildlife

If you can find two animals or insects with similar coloring, combining the two will be more successful.  Placing the new creatures against a natural background enhances the believability of the illusion. 

Child’s Play

Kids do the most adorable things.  Photo editing makes the impossible possible.  All you need to do is find a cool background image and insert your family members for some entertaining results.

Guess What I did on Vacation?

We all take vacation pictures, and of course sometimes they don’t quite come out the way we planned.  With software, you can straighten images and you might as well add a few embellishments just for fun. 

Sweet Dreams

Babies are probably the most popular subjects for photography.  Have some fun with your child’s photos on cards, invitations, and to share with family and friends. 

A Great Read

Surprise the book lover in your family with a one-of-a-kind portrait, celebrating their favorite pastime.  The key to this illusion is the light and shadow throughout the composition.

A Trick of the Light

Lighting makes all the difference for this Irish tree tunnel.  The photo on the left has a fanciful, playful atmosphere, where you might expect to spot unicorns or leprechauns.  The image on the right looks and feels dark, desolate, and ominous – a perfect haunt for banshees. 

Project Runway

Everyone is familiar with runway fashions, but this bride takes us above and beyond our wildest expectations.

By the Light of the Moon

Going to a prom or a formal event is a milestone event.  Commemorate that special evening with an equally memorable keepsake.

Sleeping Beauty?

This photo looks so real that it gives me shivers! 

He Said She Said

She says: “If I remain very still, he won’t see me!”  He says: “Hey!  This must be my lucky day!  Breakfast is served!”

What is so Funny?

Instead of fear, this image is amusing.  The tilt of their heads, the sunlight upon fur and hair, and the clever way the weeds frame the subjects makes you wonder if they know something we don’t. 

Fairytales with Attitude

The neutral color palette unifies this otherworldly image.  The tiniest details, from the individual strands of her hair to the sunlight streaming through the leaves of a tree, have been meticulously rendered.  The light in her eyes and the special effects surrounding the apple imply fierce confidence and power.  In this version of the fairy-tale, Snow-White kicks the evil Queen’s butt. 

T-Rex Attack

I realize high-definition technology is constantly evolving, but this is way over the top!  The woman looks terrified, and the T-Rex is equally menacing.  The stark walls keep your attention focused upon the action without distractions.  I think it would be interesting to shine light upon the T-Rex to cast a larger-than-life shadow upon the fireplace, which would tower over the woman. 

Motocross Racing

Tires grind the track surface in search of traction, sending dirt flying, as this motocross competitor races to the finish line in the palm of your hand!  Wow! Very realistic!

Motocross on Steroids

In an alternate reality, why race upon a fixed dirt track when you can blaze a new trail across the waves, with nothing but white foam and sea spray in your wake?   

The Desert Meets the Ocean

Bringing water to the desert is no easy task, especially if you have to carry this heavy burden upon your back.  The well-defined tortoise shell, the bubbles in the water, and the swimmer with dolphins combine to create this amazing three-dimensional image.  The light penetrates the water, as if the sun is shining upon the ocean’s surface.  The stark contrast of the blues and browns draws the viewer into this fascinating image. 

I hope you enjoyed this exploration of photo editing software and feel inspired to give it a try.  You probably have lots of photos on your phone, tablet, or laptop right now, just waiting to be transformed into a treasured memory, a humorous gift, or a unique work of art.  What will it be?  You decide! 

For more photo editing, please read the first part of this series: “Fun with Photo Editing.”

Thanks for Reading & Happy Crafting!