Do you need an online editor?

PicMonkey API based editor that requires Adobe Flash is ~~no longer an option~~ soon coming to it's end. We need to either give up on such additional service entirely, or find a replacement for it (some HTML5 based API/SDK service).

One hardly finds anything for free anymore. So, if we still do wish to have one, it very likely will cost us something. Feedback on this subject is welcome. Here are some online editors available that I have manage to find.

➽ photoeditorsdk.com
One option is Photo Editor SDK used at Flickr: photoeditorsdk.com/case-studies. SDK stands for software development kit. The photo above has been edited on Photo Editor SDK to get the text added. All who still have account at Flickr can test it there.

➽ fotor.com
Fotor as such does not save EXIF, at least not with the free version. There's no adjustable simple border width, and in my test I had to crop to make the standard black border thinner. Fotor provides SDK, and it may come with extras like print designer, collage maker, and GoArt.

➽ ribbet.com
Saves EXIF and provides simple frames easy to add. Currently Ribbet uses Adobe Flash, but has a HTML5 under development. There's similar application programming interface (API) provided as there used to be for PicMonkey. But will that be available once they get their HTML5 editor finished, is still open. May provide also collage maker.

➽ pixlr.com
Just rediscover this myself. I will update this part later. However, no API available at the moment.

➽ picmonkey.com
PicMonkey is also developing their HTML5 based version, but whether it will be available via API or SDK is still open. Moreover, it very likely is no longer free to use, as their Adobe Flash based API was. Also PicMonkey has their collage maker, but at least that does not seem to be integrated to their photo editor.

UPDATE May 13, 2020: We are now informed by PicMOnkey. Unfortunately they are no longer providing API service for their new HTML5 online editor. It means PicMonkey especially is no longer an option in the future.

---

Keep in mind that these online photo editors are out there to use anyway. So, I recommend visiting those web sites in case you for example need to make collages.

If it is decided to give up providing integrated online photo editor, then there are number of software available out there. PhotoShop and Lightroom are of course the most known, but they are not free. Instead of even trying to introduce all of them here, I recommend reading Stacy Fisher's 10 Best Free Photo Editors review at lifewire.com. And if it is photo editing on handhelds that you are interested on, then read Tom J Law's The 19 Best Photo Editing Apps for iPhone and Android in 2020 at Oberlo (beware the nasty pop-up ads).

And if you already miss the possibility to edit the existing image on your albums, do remember that you can always use 'ACTIONS > Replace' to "update" your existing image here at ipernity. That is useful for example when you wish to change the image but keep the discussions below. Like I have done here.

----

This issue has been discussed also previously, for example on comments under following images of mine:

The Limbo Connection, jeybee68, Leon_Vienna, Rrrolf and 25 other people have particularly liked this photo

71 comments - The latest ones

©UdoSm ^club

Very risky but succeeded...

5 years ago.

neira-Dan ^club

oui , sur Ipernity on peut faire bien des choses interessantes

5 years ago.

Annaig56 ^club

j'adore

5 years ago.

Marta Wojtkowska ^club

Excellent shot (in B&W), Sami!
Do we really need an on-line editor for Ipernity?
I am not sure we do...

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Marta Wojtkowska ^club

~~There's iga2020 meeting coming up soon. So, maybe we should ask what people think about it.~~ EDIT: ima news is better place for it.

I can live without it. Although, PicMonkey is handy when one has to make quick how-to illustrations:

www.ipernity.com/blog/serola/4729388

It is many times much more convenient than to do the same on client side software.

5 years ago. Edited 5 years ago.

Marta Wojtkowska ^club has replied to Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club

Perhaps it is the best to ask people, but not me ;)

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Marta Wojtkowska ^club

Changed the picture, title and caption, because this photo article turned out as the best place to discuss about the subject.

5 years ago.

Marko Novosel ^club has replied to Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club

Before a few years i often used Pic monkey for dyptich or tryptich,it was so simple,much simpler then PS,then after that big change came again and tried to do this..it was amazing how they turned something so simple into totally complicated thing,i was fucking furious..why..why?? This is why things fall apart,or societies,complex systems..every fool can make something complex but for simplicity you need a genius. (Einstein)

Also crop in new PS or Lightroom..its amazing,something that was so simple and primal for photographers all of a sudden now its working differently beacuse some indian fuck deicided this is how you will work from now,who even isnt a photographer.

This things just blows my mind,anyway to make long story short,this is what iam using now,so simple,like old picmonkey,cheerz.
www.befunky.com

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Marko Novosel ^club

I considered adding BeFunky on the list, but it does not seem to offer any sort of use integrated with web sites (API/SDK). Besides great deal of the tools and effects there requires some paid plus account.

5 years ago.

Bergfex ^club

The IGA2020 is not the best option for a referendum. The circle of participants is relatively small. (Until today there are only 2 registrations for it. One is from me.) Possibly the target group is hardly represented.

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Bergfex ^club

I have started to think so too. I would be ready to give up on the online editor entirely. But somehow we should try to find out what people think about this. I have tried, but only very few have expressed their opinions. Although, that may mean that also others does not care.

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Bergfex ^club

Maybe a better place to ask people is a group:
www.ipernity.com/group/picmonkeycreative/discuss/194332

EDIT: There are only 22 members at the Picmonkey Creative Users group. Although, that does not mean there would not be more PM users around.

5 years ago. Edited 5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Bergfex ^club

How about asking it on one of the ima news articles?

We could for example ask if people really need one. And if they do, then ask if for example Photo Editor SDK would be alright.

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club

BUMP UP!

5 years ago.

Jaap van 't Veen ^club

I use PicMonkey very occasionally. Then it's handy, but could also live without it. Especially if an alternative is going to cost (a lot of) money for Ipernity..

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Jaap van 't Veen ^club

The same with me. Only when making quick illustrative images for ipernity, I have discovered an online editor as useful. For example when one needs to make a banner or logo like this:

5 years ago.

Ulrich John ^club

I thought about it: never used PicMonkey because I do most of my photowork with my IPad where PM doesn’t work. So surely I can live without it !

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Ulrich John ^club

Yes, times have changed, and one can do great post processing even on a smartphone. And Rob Stamp also pointed me that one can use ipernity's replace feature if one finds the upload not looking good with first trial.

5 years ago.

Kalli ^club has replied to Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club

Die Ersetzungs-Funktion ist ein gutes Argument.
Diese Funktion habe ich schon ein paarmal benutzt - PM noch nie.

4 years ago.

Erika Akire

...once again my comment from the group discussion:

Since most members do not use PM but other image processing programs, it makes no sense for Ip to use another paid provider.
I speak only for myself, although I very much regret the end of PM here, but, times have changed!...

5 years ago. Edited 5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Erika Akire

Thanks for expressing your opinion also here, Erika =)

I agree, it is sad if and when PicMonkey is no longer available. But we need to be grateful for all the years we seem to have used it for free =D

I suppose somone (me and/or others) should put up a another topic/group where we share tips on various client side photo editors. We often speak about Photoshop and Lightroom only, but there are so many, even free options around. I have used to use GIMP, but I must say their latest version 2.10 turned out a little complicated when compared to version 2.8.

On a smartphone I think Snapseed is absolutely the best. Although there the problem is the lack of updates (more or less becoming an abandoned project).

5 years ago.

Sylvain Wiart

I use old versions of Picasa and GIMP (free), so I don't need PM or other editor on line, overall if paying .

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Sylvain Wiart

Yes, I am a big fan of GIMP as well. Or used to be. Lately I have become more interested on editing the photos on my smartphone.

5 years ago.

Ghislaine ^club

J'utilise Picasa 3 gratuit, Lightroom 6 que mon fils m'a offert et Paint attaché à Windows .
Et parfois avec mon smartphone, la version gratuite de base attaché à celui-ci.
J'ai très rarement utilisé PM.
(Mes EXIF sont accessibles...)

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Ghislaine ^club

Merci de partager votre opinion, Ghislaine =)

La conservation des EXIF est une caractéristique très importante des logiciels de retouche photo.

5 years ago.

©UdoSm ^club

I really appreciated PicMonkey for reworking or correcting previously uploaded images.
I would appreciate it if it would be available again soon...

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to ©UdoSm ^club

PicMonkey is of course still one option, IF they make it available via API/SDK, and IF they do not overprice it.

It also depends on the real need, which we try to find out here. We also try to find out if there is actual logs saved on server, giving us some evidence that how much and by how many PicMonkey has been used during last months. But I assume there is no such logs. One can of course try to find one.

I personally very much appreciated the possibility to make quick alternative edits and illustrations for how-to articles online. But I also do not really need one.

5 years ago. Edited 5 years ago.

Bergfex ^club has replied to Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club

A log file about the use of Pic-Monkey has not been found yet. However, we were able to determine that 1.8% of the content was subsequently replaced by updates. Conversely, this means that >98% of all content has already been brought into a final, publication-ready version before uploading.

5 years ago.

Erhard Bernstein ^club has replied to ©UdoSm ^club

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to ©UdoSm ^club

Good news is that PicMonkey manage to fix their API connection again. But it still is going to be temporary solution. During this year Adobe Flash support ends, and it is no longer reliable solution.

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Erhard Bernstein ^club

Good news is that PicMonkey manage to fix their API connection again. But it still is going to be temporary solution. During this year Adobe Flash support ends, and it is no longer reliable solution.

5 years ago.

Kalli ^club has replied to Bergfex ^club

4 years ago.

Bergfex ^club

Independent services providers that do not belong to large corporations are constantly confronted with the elementary question of how they pay for their office space, equipment, server rental and salaries. Advertising revenues are hardly an option for small companies because their coverage is too small. So they have to charge user fees. In this respect, it is understandable that PicMonkey compliments us on the pretext of technical reasons. Perhaps they hope that some ipernity users will now book the chargeable version because they are used to using PicMonkey.

I personally used the free Picture Publisher from Micrografx for many years, but it was only maintained up to Windows XP. When I switched to Windows 7, I was forced to make friends with Photoshop Elements. It costs 80 Euro. But one doesn't have to buy it every year. Thus, one can use the high-quality image processing software of the market leader in a cheap way, although with limited functions.

5 years ago. Edited 5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Bergfex ^club

Very good point on PhotoShop! Indeed buying a full featured software is still the best option. And it usually means that one then gets a long lasting support for it. I would seriously consider buying DxO because of the Nik Collection, if only it would be available for Linux.

5 years ago.

StoneRoad2013 ^club

I've used GIMP (the free version) for many years.

5 years ago.

╰☆☆June☆☆╮ ^club

I find picmonkey very convenient just for cropping, and adding my signature. I do have other programmes I could use, but this is so much quicker for me.

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to ╰☆☆June☆☆╮ ^club

Good news is that PicMonkey manage to fix their API connection again. But it still is going to be temporary solution. During this year Adobe Flash support ends, and it is no longer reliable solution.

5 years ago.

Erhard Bernstein ^club

Even though there is news that the API connection has been fixed, i stll get the error message when I try to edit an uploaded pic with pic monkey, even after deleting all cookies and restarting the browser - am I the only one?

Edit: I got the error message when using Chrome (which is my standard browser). But, it did work with Firefox ...

5 years ago. Edited 5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Erhard Bernstein ^club

I tested it on Chrome. So, it should work there as well. Maybe once again some strange proxy server delay. Try also Ctrl+F5 to reload.

EDIT: Moreover, it is usually cache that matters most. Did you try to clear that as well?

EDIT: You also may have to enable the Flash first via top URL/tool bar before trying to start PicMonkey. For me Chrome had changed the Flash block even stronger after not using for few days.
www.howtogeek.com/434334/how-to-enable-adobe-flash-in-google-chrome-76

5 years ago. Edited 5 years ago.

Erhard Bernstein ^club has replied to Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club

Yes, cache and cookies have been cleared as this is the usual procedure in my settings when closing the browser. Also, Flash is enabled as described in your llinked page.
Pic Monkey does start, but returns the error message "Ooops! Something went wrong". CTRL+F5 just repeats the described result. This happens consistently under Chrome whereas Firefox leads me to the editor.

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Erhard Bernstein ^club

Strange! =O

but obviously there's something wrong still. But because it works on Firefox, it therefore sounds like something wrong with Chrome and/or Adobe Flash player on your computer.

I have now tried on two Chrome versions. One at home, running Chrome on Ubuntu Linux (forgot to check the version before went to work). Here at work I have no problems on Chrome 80.0.3987.87 (Official Build) (64-bit) for Windows.

And the Adobe Flash version here at work is 32.0.0.321 (64 bit).

However, also please test the followings:

- Try different file formats, PNG, JPG, GIF.
- Try different file sizes like image that is below 500KB and then large over 2MB.
- Try opening incognito window, login to ipernity, and again test opening PM there.

5 years ago.

Erhard Bernstein ^club has replied to Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club

Thanks for the suggestions. I have the most recent versiokn of Flash installed. Tried it various times after a browser restart (note that that automatiocallyincludes a clearing fo cache, cookies and a logout), ckecked different pic sizes, however not different file types. In any case, I get the same response from PM: "Ooops! Something went wrong" ...
I also tried it on another machine, again the same response.
Whereas it works on Firefox. I

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Erhard Bernstein ^club

As soon as Rob (Stamp) comes online, I ask if he has any suggestions to get your case solved.

Could you please report here the followings:
- Chrome version number (32 or 64 bit?)
- Operating system (Windows?) and version number (32 or 64 bit?)
- Adobe Flash version number

~~I think I do not have the latest version of Flash on my current computer...~~ Checked, and I do have the latest Flash version.
And very strange that one person (you) have it even on two computers! ~~It starts to sound like some IP address issue.~~ Sorry, can't be IP because works on Firefox.

EDIT: Maybe a timeout issue. Rob said there is 50s time interval or something, during which the browser should open the content. If not, then an error appears. Looking forward to learn more on this...

5 years ago. Edited 5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has added

Looks bad... stackoverflow.com/questions/39751124/increase-timeout-limit-in-google-chrome

So, PM has became slower to respond, Chrome can't wait, and shit happens.

5 years ago. Edited 5 years ago.

Erhard Bernstein ^club has replied to Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club

OK, this is my system info:
- Windows 10 Home, 64 bit Version 1909
- Chrome Version 80.0.3987.87 (Offizieller Build) (64-Bit)
- Flash 32.0.0.321

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Erhard Bernstein ^club

I have pretty much just the same setting. So, none of that (e.g. browser version) can explain this.

Sorry to waste your time for chasing all the additional information. Rob and I have more or less concluded that PicMonkey has turned their service a little slower than it used to be. And because Chrome has too short timeout setting, and it can not be changed, then the request to open PicMonkey expires on the Chrome browser, causing the error.

So, as far as we manage to find out, there is nothing to do to fix this, except try to improve the internet connection speed and/or PicMonkey respond time.

I do not dare to claim that you have slow internet connection. But that is the next thing what you can try to check.

Conclusion once again. Sorry, but we can't help on this. And ultimately the question is the same as on my article (image caption) above. After 2020 we have to give up on this Adobe Flash based PicMonkey online editor anyway.

5 years ago. Edited 5 years ago.

Erhard Bernstein ^club has replied to Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club

Thanks for the effort to clarify this. My internet connection is 400 / 25 Mb/sec (down/up) with a ping of 18 ms (just tested on www.wieistmeineip.de/speedtest/ergebnis.php), so I am quite happy with it ;-)
And, as long as there is the alternative to go via firefox, I don't have a real problem. But I thought that you might want to know that PM ist not 100 % back.
Wishing you a great weekend, thank you once more!

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Erhard Bernstein ^club

So, even your connection speed should be more than enough. And the reason why PM does not work for you on Chrome remains as mystery...

Have a nice weekend, Erhard! =)

5 years ago.

Diane Putnam ^club

I lived for eight years without a built-in editor on Panoramio and I'm sure I could live without it on Ipernity. We would still have the "Replace" function, so we can just edit the old-fashioned way.

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Diane Putnam ^club

Yes, that is very likely the best thing to do, especially if the latest HTML5 based online editors will cost us something. Time of free lunches is over! =,D

5 years ago.

Annaig56 ^club

merci pour PICMONKEY un outil très utile pour moi

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Annaig56 ^club

+1 =)

5 years ago.

Ruesterstaude ^club

I'm not interested in PICMONKEY. In my opinion, there are no advantages over external editing and the image replacement function that is possible here, which also doesn't take longer.
I worked with PSE for a long time, which I was actually quite satisfied with, but then switched to Corel PaintShop pro, which is not more expensive but does more, in my opinion it is even equivalent to PS. Only the handling takes some getting used to, but the options e.g. for changing the perspective and for vignetting of any kind are larger.

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Ruesterstaude ^club

Thanks for sharing your choice of software, Volker =)
I recall once using some earlier version of Corel, and I rember using it because of vector graphics. Definitely a great choice if that's what one needs.

5 years ago.

Frank J Casella

I use Ribbet more than not, Sami. I have download it on my PC and pay a small fee to save my edits in their cloud service, there is no Flash with this version. I iOS I use Darkroom which is free and rivals the former Apple Aperture Software. Finally, the online version of Ribbet, and the Android version as well, does fabulous basic edits for free. Also, keep in mind that I shoot only JPEG because processing engines in cameras have become so fabulus in recent years that you only need RAW images for very little these days.

5 years ago. Edited 5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Frank J Casella

Yes, Ribbet is definitely one option to keep eye on, if people still wish to have an integrated editor at ipernity.

And the same with me. I shoot JPEG only. Good enough for me.

5 years ago.

Ghislaine ^club

Je viens de tester Pic Monkey avec internet explorer : pas de problème d'ouverture.

5 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Ghislaine ^club

Oui, mais au cours de cette année, nous devons décider si nous avons encore besoin d'un tel éditeur en ligne.

5 years ago.

Ghislaine ^club has replied to Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club

Je ne me sentirais pas privée : j'ai utilisé PC 13 fois depuis 2014 ...

5 years ago.

raingirl ^club

The only time I use picmonkey here is when I've uploaded an image directly from my phone (which I don't do often), only to later see that it has arrived upside down or sideways. It is useful to me to be able to simply turn the photo. But it is certainly something I could personally live without

It's very helpful to know about the Actions>Replace option - I never noticed it before. Ha! " If all else fails, read the screen!!" (originally, 'If all else fails, read the instructions")

4 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to raingirl ^club

There is rotation tool already on the actions menu ;-)

4 years ago.

Valfal

I am sorry that most people don't seem interested in using PicMonkey as it can do amazing things in a simple easy-to-understand way. I cannot and will not tolerate complicated programs that require a high learning curve. I want to enjoy editing my photos without frustration. Sami, I could not agree more that too many computer programs are ruined by programmers who cannot leave a perfectly good interface alone and must "improve" it by making it more complicated to use! It frustrates me to no end!!

I will investigate these free editing programs that are suggested, and I do have a free back up program, Photoscape (the 3.7 version), but it is rather rudimentary and not as fun to use compared to PicMonkey.

I appreciate that PicMonkey needs to make money to provide service, but in my opinion they charge quite a hefty sum for one year ($72 if you pay annually, $95.88 total if you pay $7.99/ month). I will check other free programs out there. However if I'm not happy enough with them I may be forced to rent PicMonkey. I miss those days when you could buy a program outright for a sum similar to what they charge you to rent a program by the year now. :-(

4 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Valfal

There aea lso easy to use photo editing software. Like Snapseed for mobile phones and tablets. But also some software for computers: www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-easy-use-photo-editing-programs-newbie-photographers

4 years ago.

Peter Castell ^club

For basic alterations I use the built in Apple one, previously using the built in Windows one, if you are thinking about buying an editing program have a look at Affinity Photo it's a one off reasonable price with free updates occasionally , and there are lots of free tutorials. It would be worth investigating if they or another provider would do a special price for ipernity members.
I have never used PicMonkey

4 years ago. Edited 4 years ago.

Blue rubber octopus ^club

I don't use the online editing in ipernity, I always edit on my computer or phone before uploading. So I would not mind if it was gone. I guess we could have some kind of vote to see if it is valuable to most of the community?

4 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club has replied to Blue rubber octopus ^club

See an earlier comment by Bernhard:
www.ipernity.com/doc/serola/49609420/comment/59604818#comment59604818

According to user statistics there is only very few of us who uses PicMonkey. So, asking people to vote is maybe not necessary.

4 years ago.

Isabelle Barruhet ^club

pour photoeditorsdk.com utilisé sur flickr, c'est très, très, très basique, il y très peu de possibilités.
Autrement, il y a aussi GIMP gratuit).
www.commentcamarche.net/download/telecharger-115-gimp

J'ai réussi à avoir nickcollection avant que google ne le vende.
En ce qui me concerne, j'ai LR6 (j'ai acheté la licence) il y a quelques années.

4 years ago. Edited 4 years ago.

Eunice Perkins ^club

Although I do use PicMonkey on occasions, I usually edit prior on my computer anyway. So I am not really worried if we have it on Ipernity or not.

4 years ago.

Adele ^club

I'm very sorry PicMonkey won't be available for free. I normally use it , but I seem to be the only one...i'll survive ,of course, but I 'm a bit disappointed.
I'd like to have an editor on line.

4 years ago. Edited 4 years ago.

Sami Serola (inactiv… ^club

UPDATE May 13, 2020: We are now informed by PicMOnkey. Unfortunately they are no longer providing API service for their new HTML5 online editor. It means PicMonkey especially is no longer an optiion in the future.

4 years ago.

FarbFormFreude ^club

no thanks, i don't Need an online Editor. I am doing everything (Import, exif, Managing, processing, Export) with ACDSEE www.acdsee.com/de/products/photo-studio-home .
That's less expensive than photoshop/Lightroom and i find it easy to use

4 years ago.

Sign-in to write a comment.

		Page color
		Comments Panel
		Screen Margins
▼▲
		Widescreen

← Among Sami Serola (inactive)'s photos

See also...

Illustrations Illustrations

Keywords

Authorizations, license

Do you need an online editor?

Ξ	Frame Options
3 - +