Photostr guides
Your first photo edit in Photostr
Start with one change you want to make. Straighten a crop, brighten a face or add a line of text. You can learn the rest of the workspace as the picture needs it.
1. Open a photo
Go to the free photo editor and choose Open from computer, or drop a file onto the workspace. PNG, JPEG and WebP are useful starting formats. If someone sent you a layered file, see the PSD guide.
2. Get the crop right
Choose the Crop tool, drag the edges and press Enter to apply. For a specific output size, use Image → Image Size. Resizing changes the image pixels; changing the canvas size changes the space around them.
3. Make an adjustment you can revisit
Add an adjustment layer for brightness, levels, curves or colour. It sits above the picture and keeps its settings editable. Use a mask if the adjustment should affect only part of the image.
4. Add text on its own layer
Choose the Type tool and click for a short line, or drag a box for text that wraps. Keep the words readable at the size someone will actually see. For a poster or social post, a template can help you start with a considered layout.
5. Keep a project and export a picture
File → Save downloads a .pxed project for later editing. File → Export As makes the finished image. JPEG is a sensible choice for many photos; PNG keeps transparency and crisp graphic edges. Check the export preview and file size before downloading.
Do I need Photoshop to do this?
No. Photostr is a free Photoshop alternative that handles these edits in your browser. More specialised jobs, including some print colour workflows and complex PSD features, may still need another editor.
What if I make a mistake?
Use Undo with Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac. The History panel lets you revisit earlier steps. Autosave can help recover an interrupted session, but keep downloaded project copies of work you want to retain.