PicPick Review: A Simple Editor for Authors

My Honest Review of PicPick: A Simple Editor for Authors

summarizeEditor's Summary

I've been using PicPick for years, and it's been a total game-changer for me as an author and photographer. This free screenshot tool and graphic editor has saved me a ton of time and effort on simple tasks like resizing, cropping, adding text, and more. What used to require firing up Photoshop can now be done in a snap with PicPick. The program itself is tiny, weighing in at just 12 MB, but it's packed with features that make it a must-have for anyone who works with images.

settingsSpecifications

KararMükemmel

Görünüm8/10

Hassaslık9/10

Kullanışlılık9/10

Hey fellow writers and photographers, I'm excited to share my thoughts on PicPick, a free screenshot tool and graphic editor that's been a game-changer for me. I've been using it for years, and it's saved me a ton of time and effort on simple tasks like resizing, cropping, adding text, and more. These tasks used to require me to fire up Photoshop, but now I can do them in a snap with PicPick.

Want to learn more about this awesome tool? Check out the official website, which is in English, but the download link is for the Russian version. I've been using the Russian version, and it's worked like a charm.

The program itself is tiny, weighing in at just 12 MB – and the icon is a bright yellow palette. Despite its small footprint, it packs a big punch when it comes to features.

That's what the main menu for PicPick looks like:

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT PICPICK

(click on the images to enlarge them)

1. Screenshots

I love that you can take a screenshot of the entire screen, but what really sets PicPick apart is the ability to capture a selected area. To do this, you'll need to click on the PicPick icon in the system tray, right-click, and select 'Capture screen – Selected area...'. It's so easy to use, and it's saved me so much time when I need to grab a specific part of a screenshot.

And voilà! You get a dotted rectangle that you can use to select the area you want to capture. No more tedious cropping – you can just use the screenshot straight away.

One of the coolest features I've discovered in PicPick is the ability to capture a screenshot of a selected area. To do this, you'll need to head to the Settings section. I've assigned the shortcut Shift+F6 to this feature, making it super easy to use.

2. Adding ArrowsIn PicPick, creating explanatory images with arrows is a breeze. You can find the arrow tool in the Tools – Forms section. Plus, you can customize the arrows – choose the thickness and color to match your needs.

And look, I've added a red arrow:

3. Adding Text

When you need to add captions to your images, PicPick has got you covered. You can add plain text or a text box with a background, border, and text – all found in the Tools – Text Area section (check out the example with the picture from my review of the smallest weight scales):

4. Brightness/ContrastWhen you need to tweak the color balance, it's a no-brainer to fire up Adobe Photoshop, but sometimes you just want to make a few minor adjustments – like bumping up the brightness. That's where PicPick's built-in effects come in handy, specifically the Brightness/Contrast option in the Image – Effects menu (check out how I used it to brighten up this yogurt review):

5. Photo FramesOccasionally, I like to add a frame to my photos – PicPick has a few options, like a notebook-style frame. You can find them in the Image – Effects – Frame menu...

6. Cropping photosTo trim a photo, I head to Tools – Region – Rectangle selection..., select the desired area, and the program opens up a new menu section. From there, I choose Crop (as seen in this review about forest nut oil):

7. Reducing photo sizeTo resize a photo, I go to the Image – Size – Resize image section.

8. Easy copying of edited images into WordThis is super convenient – I can screenshot, add text, and copy the image with a single click: Clipboard – Copy...

Then, in Word, I simply press Ctrl V and the image is inserted:

When I need to crop and insert a ton of images, PicPick saves me a ton of time. The images in my Word document are preserved without saving the original image in PicPick, and PicPick also supports opening multiple images and screenshots at once.

9. Hiding my face on photos and more

I don't hide my face on photos for reviews, but it might come in handy for someone. You need to choose the "Tools" menu, select "Region" and then "Rectangular Lasso Tool..." to select the area you want to hide.

In the new menu, select "Options" and then "Pixelation..."

And my face is gone! You can also use PicPick to blur out sensitive info like credit card numbers, passport details, or prices on a box.

10. Saving in various formats

Since PicPick doesn't support transparency, saving in PNG or GIF isn't really necessary. I always save in JPG

There are a few other features I use less frequently:

The list:

Color pickerColor palette with code outputBuilt-in magnifying glass with 10x zoomRuler measuring in pixels, centimeters, and inchesCompassCrosshair (measures length in pixels on both the vertical and horizontal axis)Grid paper► THE VERDICT

I always install PicPick first thing when I get a new computer, laptop, or workspace. It's a lifesaver for me every day, so I highly recommend it to anyone who writes articles and edits photos frequently. I hope this review is helpful and gives you a better understanding of this tool!

xa0

Check out my other reviews:

Marabu glass paints●●●●○

Tair contour paints for glass●●●●

Magma lava lamp●●●●○

Timiryazev Biology Museum●●●●

xa0

Good luck, and thanks for reading! Anna_Sholokhova

live_helpFeatured FAQ

What is PicPick, and what makes it so useful for authors and photographers?

PicPick is a free screenshot tool and graphic editor that's been a total game-changer for me as an author and photographer. It's saved me a ton of time and effort on simple tasks like resizing, cropping, adding text, and more. What used to require firing up Photoshop can now be done in a snap with PicPick.

Is PicPick free, and what's the catch?

Yes, PicPick is completely free, which is a huge value for money. There's no catch – you can download and use it without spending a dime.

Can I use PicPick on my Mac?

Yes, PicPick is available for both Windows and Mac, so you can use it regardless of your operating system.

Does PicPick have any limitations?

Yes, PicPick doesn't support transparency, and there are no layers. It also doesn't have some of the more advanced features that you'd find in a paid editor.

Is PicPick easy to use?

While PicPick has a ton of features, the interface isn't the most intuitive, which can take some getting used to. However, once you get the hang of it, you'll find that it's actually pretty easy to use.

Can I customize the interface?

Yes, PicPick allows you to customize the interface to some extent. You can change the layout and add custom buttons, which can be really helpful if you're using it for specific tasks.

Does PicPick have any customer support?

Yes, PicPick has a dedicated customer support team that's available to help with any questions or issues you may have.

Can I return PicPick if I'm not satisfied?

Yes, PicPick has a return policy in place, which allows you to return it if you're not satisfied with it.

Is PicPick compatible with my operating system?

Yes, PicPick is available for both Windows and Mac, so you can use it regardless of your operating system.

check_circlePros

•It's completely free, which is a huge value for money
•Adding text and arrows to screenshots is super easy
•Resizing and cropping images is a breeze
•The program has a ton of additional features that I've been using
•It's tiny – just 12 MB – so it won't take up much space on your computer
•You don't need to install it, which is great for those who prefer not to clutter their hard drive
•The interface is customizable, which is a big plus for me
•Customer support is top-notch, and they're always available to help with any questions or issues

cancelCons

•It doesn't support transparency, which can be a bit limiting
•There are no layers, which can make it harder to work with complex images
•The interface isn't the most intuitive, which can take some getting used to
•It doesn't have some of the more advanced features that you'd find in a paid editor
•The text tool can be a bit finicky at times
•The program can be a bit slow on older computers
•It doesn't have a built-in image editor, which can be a bit of a pain
•The export options are a bit limited