Do you find yourself with a camera roll flooding with photos crying out for some polish? I‘ve been there too!
As an avid smartphone photographer, I capture all kinds of images – family portraits, vacation scenery, product shots for my online store and beyond. But translating good snaps into great photographs requires some editing finesse.
Fortunately, advances in artificial intelligence have made the editing process easier than ever!
In this guide, we‘ll explore the features, capabilities and limitations across 11 of the best AI-enabled photo editing apps and software solutions.
Why AI-Powered Editing Tools Make Sense
Before diving into the product recommendations, it‘s helpful to understand why AI augmentation plays an invaluable role:
1. They Save You Time
By automating complex and repetitive tasks like selecting subjects, applying batch edits and correcting distortions, you spend less time on grunt work and more time getting creative.
2. They Democratize Professional Results
Sophisticated editing techniques get packaged into intuitive sliders so anyone can achieve stunning visuals.
3. They Continuously Improve
The more photos an AI processes, the smarter it gets. Tools literally transform before your eyes.
Clearly, infusing intelligence into photo editing brings tremendous value. But striking the right balance between automation and control is key. Let‘s now see how the top players stack up!
The 6 Critical Criteria for Evaluation
As photo editing needs can vary significantly, I‘ve identified 6 key yardsticks to judge software options objectively:
- Quality: Imaging accuracy and optimization ability
- Scope: Range of tools beyond just AI features
- Usability: Learning curve and workflow
- Platforms: Desktop, mobile and web support
- Pricing: Free, subscription, lifetime license?
- Integration: How extensible is it with other apps?
Keeping these parameters in mind, let‘s get straight into the top recommendations!
1. LuminarAI
Ideal For: Creative professionals seeking quick, high-quality AI photo enhancement
LuminarAI is all about leveraging artificial intelligence to help photographers enhance their images through template-based optimization. Powerful one-click tools exist to beautify portrait shots, replace skies, inject atmosphere into landscapes and much more.
Here‘s a feature glimpse:
While its toolbox goes far beyond AI into pro photo editing territory like advanced color grading and lighting adjustments, the intelligent templates form the core appeal.
As far as system requirements go, Luminar runs impressively well even on low-RAM laptops. It‘s available on Windows and Mac machines. So whether you shoot professionally or just hobby on weekends, Luminar helps expedite fantastic results!
Quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scope: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Usability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Pricing: $99 per year
Integration: Lightroom, Photoshop, Apple Photos
2. Snapseed
Ideal for: Mobile photographers seeking powerful yet accessible editing
Snapseed comes from Google, a company known to parcel AI magic into free mobile apps. And it hits familiar notes here as well with an interface focused on quick yet powerful enhancements through selective application of image filters and effects.
It makes otherwise advanced image manipulation like perspective fixes approachable through smart gestures. All critical tools get neatly organized into tabs like Tune Image, Details, Crop and so on.
As someone who likes editing photos on the go, Snapseed ticks all the boxes for me! Did I mention it‘s 100% free?
Quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scope: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Usability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Platforms: Android, iOS
Pricing: Free
Integration: Saves JPEGs to camera roll
3. Adobe Photoshop
Ideal for: Creative professionals seeking cutting-edge AI assistance
You simply can‘t talk about photo editing without mentioning Photoshop! While the entire Adobe Creative Cloud integrates AI called Adobe Sensei, Photoshop boasts some of the most advanced integration ranging from sophisticated selection tools to content-aware edits.
For instance, it can instantly create complex selections and masks – something that typically requires painstaking manual separation. Another example is Content-Aware fill, allowing users to seamlessly patch undesirable objects by synthesizing coherent backgrounds.
Simply put, if you want to stay on the bleeding edge of AI-assisted creative editing, Photoshop has you covered! It does use a subscription-based licensing model which might deter casual users.
Quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scope: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Usability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Pricing: $21 per month
Integration: Lightroom, Illustrator
4. Topaz Labs
Ideal for: Focused AI-based image enhancement
The aptly named Topaz Labs specializes in leveraging AI for improving images through noise reduction, upscaling, sharpening and more. It provides an easy-to-use frontend that removes all complex adjustments.
You simply import a photo and the app‘s multiple AI engines go to work instantly based on the type of optimization needed. This delivers fantastic one-click restoration for old, blurry images.
It‘s ideal for users focused exclusively on AI-based corrections vs manual editing. Integrates with Lightroom and Photoshop for further tweaking after Topaz does the heavy lifting!
Quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scope: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Usability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Pricing: Starts at $99 one-time
Integration: Lightroom, Photoshop
5. Pixelmator Pro
Ideal for: Affordable Photoshop alternative with ML smarts
Dubbed ‘Lightroom meets Photoshop‘, Pixelmator Pro brings a solid set of photo editing tools in a neat package that‘s easy on your wallet. The interface feels uncluttered with different adjustment panes as you‘d find on pro tools.
Under the hood, it packs in nifty machine learning powered features like automatic background removal, intelligent selection assistance for quick masks and automated photo enhancement.
Altogether, if you seek a budget-friendly photo editor for casual usage with some AI/ML smarts thrown in, Pixelmator Pro hits a sweet spot!
Quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scope: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Usability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Platforms: Mac
Pricing: $40 one-time
Integration: iCloud Photos
Bonus: Mobile Apps for On-the-Go Editing!
While desktop editors are ideal for holistic management and editing, dedicated mobile apps can be handy for quick jobs on the move. Here are my top 2 picks:
A) Adobe Lightroom
The mobile cousin to Photoshop and Lightroom desktop apps, Adobe Lightroom CC offers robust tools squeezed elegantly into your phone. Quick fixes with presets or detailed tuning – choose your own adventure!
Key Features: RAW Processing, Batch Edits, Selective Adjustments, Presets
B) Snapseed
I‘ve already touched upon Snapseed, but being a mobile-first app optimized for smaller screens, it deserves another mention! Very quick and accessible for fast tweaks.
Key Features: Selective Filter Brushes, Perspective Fixes, Double Exposure
Let Your Creativity Shine!
I hope this guide gives you a headstart on discovering the right AI-powered photo editing tools for your needs as a smartphone shooter or professional creator. While automated features can spruce up images, always retain a human touch with thoughtful edits and curation.
Now swiftly give your photos the glow up they deserve – all without burning a hole in your wallet or wasting precious time. Have fun and here‘s to many more great photographs!
