How to Use Pixlr: A Complete Guideline in 2025?

Struggling to make your photos look good?

Perhaps you want to fix a bad picture or create a cool graphic for social media.

But fancy software seems too complicated or expensive. 

You don’t need to download anything big or spend hours learning complicated menus.

Ready to make your photos pop without the headache? Let’s dive into How to Use Pixlr.

Getting Started

Ready to jump into Pixlr? Great!

The first thing you need to know is how to access it and what versions are available.

Think of Pixlr like a set of tools – some are for quick jobs, and some are for bigger projects.

1. Finding Pixlr

You can use Pixlr in a few ways:

• On the Web: This is the easiest way to start. Open your web browser (such as Chrome or Firefox) and navigate to the Pixlr website. You’ll see two main choices:
  • Pixlr E (Editor): This is like the “pro” version. It offers more tools for refining every detail of your image. You’ll use this for tasks such as changing the background or making numerous small edits.
  • Pixlr X (Express): This option is ideal for quick edits and adding fun effects. If you want to add a filter or some cool text fast, Pixlr X is your friend. It’s super simple.
• Desktop App: Pixlr also offers an app that you can install on your computer. It works a lot like the web version,, but may run a bit smoother for some users.
• Mobile Apps: Yes, you can edit pictures right on your phone or tablet! Just search for “Pixlr” in your app store. These apps are perfect for making quick edits on the go.

2. Which Pixlr is Right for You?

It’s good to know the difference between Pixlr E and Pixlr X.

• Use Pixlr E when:
  • You need to do serious photo editing.
  • You want to work with layers (like stacking different pictures or elements on top of each other).
  • You’re doing detailed touch-ups or graphic design.
  • You’re following a detailed tutorial that shows you, step-by-step, how to make significant changes to an image.
• Use Pixlr X when:
  • You need to make quick edits.
  • You want to add cool filters or effects with one click.
  • You’re just putting together something simple for social media.
  • You want to change the background color or add a sticker quickly.

3. Looking Around: A Quick Tour of Pixlr

Once you select your Pixlr (let’s say Pixlr E), you’ll see a screen with numerous buttons and panels. Don’t get overwhelmed!

• Toolbar: On the left side, you’ll see a column of tools. These are your main helpers – tools like the “Move” tool, “Crop” tool, “Brush” tool, and “Text” tool. You’ll learn what these do as you go.
• Layers Panel: This is usually on the right. Think of layers as transparent sheets stacked on top of each other. You can place different parts of your image on separate layers, making editing much easier.
• Adjustment Panel: This is where you’ll find controls for adjusting things like brightness, color, or adding special effects.
• History Panel: Made a mistake? No problem! This panel allows you to go back in time and undo steps, much like a “Ctrl+Z” button for all your actions.

Finally, when you’re done with your amazing image, you’ll want to save it!

Pixlr allows you to save your work in various formats, such as JPG (suitable for photos) or PNG. 

We’ll cover saving in more detail later in this tutorial.

For now, know that your creative journey begins by selecting your Pixlr and opening an image.

Essential Pixlr Editing Techniques for Beginners

You’ve got your Pixlr workspace open; now it’s time to actually start making your pictures awesome! 

Don’t worry, even if you’ve never used a photo editor before.

These steps will get you going. Think of these as your first moves in becoming a Pixlr user.

1. Essential Pixlr Editing Techniques for Beginners

First things first, you need to get your image into Pixlr.

1. Getting Your Pictures In

• Open an Image: The simplest way is to click “Open Image” and pick a photo from your computer. You can also drag and drop your picture right into the Pixlr window.
• Start with a Blank Page: If you want to create something from scratch, such as a template for a social media post, you can choose “Create New” and begin with a blank canvas.

3. Basic Adjustments

Once your image is loaded, it’s time to enhance its appearance.

These are like quick fixes that can make a big difference.

You’ll usually find these options in the “Adjustments” panel or under a similar menu in your Pixlr Editor.

• Cropping and Resizing:
  • Cropping: This involves removing the unwanted parts of a photo. Perhaps there’s too much space, or you’d like to focus on just one thing. Look for the “Crop” tool (it often looks like two overlapping right angles). You can then drag the corners to choose what you want to keep.
  • Resizing: This changes the overall size of your picture. If you’re posting your photo online, you often need to resize it so it loads faster. You’ll find options for “Image Size” or “Resize.”
• Brightness and Contrast:
  • Brightness: Adjusts the overall lightness or darkness of your picture.
  • Contrast: Enhances the light parts and darkens the dark parts, giving your photo more “pop.”
• Saturation and Vibrance: These control the colors in your image.
  • Saturation: Makes colors more intense or dull. Be careful not to go too high, or your photo might look fake.
  • Vibrance: Smartly boosts the duller colors without overdoing the already bright ones.
• Temperature and Tint:
  • Temperature: Makes your photo look warmer (more yellow/orange) or cooler (more blue).
  • Tint: Helps fix green or magenta color problems.
• Auto Fix: Feeling lazy? Pixlr often has an “Auto Fix” or “Auto Adjust” button. One click can usually significantly improve your photo by automatically adjusting brightness, contrast, and color. It’s a great starting point for any user.

4. Filters and Effects

Want to give your picture a certain mood or look quickly? Filters and effects are your friends!

• Finding Filters: In Pixlr X, you’ll see a “Filters” or “Effects” section. Just click through them to see how they change your image.
• Adjusting Intensity: Most filters feature a slider that allows you to control the strength of the effect. You might want just a little bit of the impact, not the full blast.

Diving Deeper: Intermediate Pixlr Features

You’ve got the basics down, now let’s explore some more advanced features in Pixlr.

These tools enable you to perform more detailed work.

Almost like a professional would, providing you with greater control over your images.

Think of these as the tools that let you really get creative and fix things you thought couldn’t be fixed.

1. Working with Layers

Layers are probably the most important thing to learn after the basics. Imagine your photo isn’t just one flat picture, but a stack of clear sheets. You can draw on each sheet, move them around, or even make them see-through. That’s how layers work in Pixlr.

• What are Layers and Why are They Important?
  • Each layer holds a different part of your visual design – perhaps one layer features your main photo, another contains text, and a third incorporates a cool effect.
  • The best part? You can edit each layer without affecting the others. This is called “non-destructive editing,” and it gives you a great deal of freedom to try new things.
  • Imagine: You add text to a photo. If it’s on its layer, you can easily change its color, size, or even delete it later without touching the image underneath. If it were all on one layer, it would be much harder to change.
• Making and Managing Layers:
  • You’ll see a “Layers” panel, usually on the right side of the Pixlr Editor.
  • Click the plus sign to add a new layer.
  • You can drag layers up or down to change which one is on top.
  • You can also change a layer’s “opacity” – how see-through it is. This is great for blending things.
  • There are also “blending modes” which change how layers interact with each other, creating cool effects. You’ll find many YouTube tutorials on this!

2. Precise Selections

Sometimes you only want to change a specific part of your image, not the whole thing.

That’s where selection tools come in.

They let you draw around an area so that only what’s inside the lines gets changed.

• Magic Wand Tool: This is great for selecting areas of similar color. Click it on a blue sky, and it tries to select all the blue parts. It’s perfect for backgrounds that are mostly one color.
• Lasso Tools (Freehand, Polygonal, Magnetic):
  • Freehand Lasso: Draw a selection freely, just as you would with a pen.
  • Polygonal Lasso: Click to make straight lines and create a selection with sharp corners. Good for objects with straight edges.
  • Magnetic Lasso: This one tries to “snap” to the edges of an object as you move your mouse, making it easier to select complex shapes.
• Marquee Tools (Rectangular, Elliptical): For selecting perfect squares, rectangles, or circles.
• Refine Edge: After making a selection, especially around hair or furry objects, the “Refine Edge” option (often found after making a selection) helps you achieve super-smooth, natural-looking edges. This is a real advanced trick for a truly professional finish.

3. Retouching and Repairing Photos

Got a blemish, a wrinkle, or an unwanted object in your photo? Pixlr has tools to retouch and fix them.

• Spot Heal Tool: This is awesome for small imperfections. Simply click on a spot, and Pixlr cleverly replaces it with pixels from nearby areas, causing the spot to disappear.
• Clone Stamp Tool: This is a more advanced version of the healing tool. The clone stamp lets you copy pixels from one part of your image and “stamp” them onto another. It’s perfect for removing larger objects or filling in gaps. For example, if you want to erase a light pole, you can clone a clear sky area to paint over it.
• Red Eye Removal: Quick fix for those glowing red eyes in flash photos.
• Sharpen and Blur Tools:
  • Sharpen: Enhances the details in your photo.
  • Blur: Softens parts of your photo, which can be useful for making backgrounds less distracting or smoothing out skin imperfections.

4. Background Removal and Swapping

One of the most popular things people want to do is remove the background from a picture.

Pixlr makes this super easy.

• AI CutOut: This is one of Pixlr’s smartest tools. It uses Artificial Intelligence to automatically detect the main subject in your image and cut it out with amazing accuracy. It does a lot of the hard work for you, saving you time!
• Manual Background Removal: If the AI needs a little help, or you prefer more control, you can use the selection tools (like the lasso or magic wand) combined with the eraser tool to remove the background yourself carefully. This can take a bit more time, but it gives you precise control.
• Swapping Backgrounds: Once the old background is gone, you can drop in a new one! This is where layers come in handy – your cut-out subject is on one layer, and the new background is on another.

These intermediate features give you a wide range of power to transform your images.

Pixlr’s intuitive interface makes it easy to learn these tools.

You’ll also find tons of great information on the Pixlr blog and YouTube to help you on your journey!

Pixlr’s AI-Powered Tools

Alright, get ready for some truly amazing stuff!

Pixlr isn’t just a regular photo editor; it continually improves, especially with its AI tools.

Think of AI as a super-smart assistant that helps you do incredible things with your pictures, often with just a few clicks.

This is where Pixlr really shines as an innovative platform.

1. The Power of AI in Pixlr

Why is AI such a big deal in photo editing?

• Simplifies Complex Tasks: Tasks that used to take a long time and require a lot of skill, such as removing a background perfectly, can now be done in seconds by AI.
• Sparks Creativity: AI can help you generate entirely new images or expand existing ones in ways you might not have thought of. It changes the whole design process.
• Easy to Use: Despite being highly advanced, Pixlr’s AI tools are designed to be extremely user-friendly. You don’t need to be a tech wizard to use them.

2. AI Image Generator: From Text to Visuals

This is one of the coolest new features!

Imagine you have an idea for an image in your head, but you can’t find the right photo.

With Pixlr’s AI Image Generator, you type what you want to see, and the AI creates it for you!

• How it Works: You give the AI a description (this is called a “prompt”). For example, you could type: “a cat wearing sunglasses on a skateboard in space.”
• Getting Good Results: The more descriptive you are, the better the AI can understand your purpose. Try adding details about colors, styles (like “cartoon” or “realistic”), or even the lighting.
• Exploring Styles: The AI can generate images in a wide range of styles, from realistic photos to abstract art. You can experiment with various settings to achieve the desired look.
• Question for the reader: Have you ever dreamed of creating a unique visual just by typing words? Now you can!

3. AI Generative Fill and Expand

These tools are like magic for fixing or extending your photos.

• Generative Fill: Let’s say you have an object in your photo you want to remove, or you want to add something new. You simplyct the area, tell instructAI what  such asove person” or “add a flower”), and it smartintelligentlys the space, matching the rest of your image. It’s perfect for a quick retouch!
• AI Expand: What if your photo isn’t wide enough, or you need more sky at the top? AI Expand lets you make your canvas bigger, and the AI will intelligently fill in the new empty areas, making it look like the original photo was taken that way. This saves you from having to clone things manually.

4. AI Super Sharp

Sometimes, photos can come out a little blurry or of low quality.

Especially if they were taken with an older camera or from a distance.

• Enhancing Blurry Photos: AI Super Sharp utilizes AI to sharpen and clarify those blurry pictures. It adds detail back into the image, making it look more professional. It’s like giving your photo new glasses!

Creative Applications

Pixlr isn’t just for fixing up old photos; it’s a powerful tool for creating a wide range of cool content!

Once you become comfortable with the features.

You’ll discover a wide range of possibilities opening up.

You can use Pixlr for personal enjoyment, for your business, or to make your online presence truly stand out.

Let’s explore some popular ways people utilize this exceptional platform.

1. Social Media Graphics

If you’re on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or any other social media site.

You know how important good-looking pictures are.

Pixlr makes it easy to create eye-catching graphics that get noticed.

• Instagram Stories & Posts: You can quickly design engaging stories with cool filters, text overlays, and stickers. For regular posts, you can crop your photos perfectly, adjust colors, and add a catchy font to your captions.
• Facebook Banners & Cover Photos: Design custom banners for your Facebook page or personal profile that truly represent you or your brand.
• Pinterest Pins: Create tall, attractive pins that grab attention and drive people to your website or Pixlr blog.
• Using Templates: Pixlr offers numerous ready-made templates for various social media platforms. Select one that you like, modify the text and image, and you’re all set!

2. Marketing Materials

Even small businesses can create professional-looking marketing stuff with Pixlr.

You don’t need to hire a fancy designer for every little thing.

• Flyers and Posters: Design simple flyers for an event or posters for a sale. You can add your product photos, special offers, and contact info.
• Product Photos: If you sell things online, Pixlr is great for making your product photos look amazing. You can remove messy backgrounds, adjust lighting, and make your products shine. A clean product image can make a significant difference in sales.
• Website Banners: Create visually appealing banners for your website that align with your brand’s style.

3. Personal Projects

Pixlr is also perfect for personal creativity.

• Photo Collages: Combine several of your favorite photos into one beautiful collage. There are often grid templates that make this super simple.
• Personalized Invitations and Cards: Design unique birthday invitations, thank-you cards, or holiday greetings. You can pick fun fonts and add your photos.
• Digital Art: With all the different tools, filters, and AI features, you can even create original digital art from scratch or by transforming existing photos.
• Thinking for the user: Have you ever wanted to transform a cherished memory into a truly unique gift? Pixlr can help with that!

Conclusion

We’ve explored Pixlr, from its easy tools to its smart AI.

It’s clear this platform is more than just a basic editor; it’s a powerful one.

User-friendly tool for bringing your visual ideas to life.

Whether for a quick photo fix, social media graphics, or professional materials for your pixlr blog, Pixlr serves its purpose.

The best way to learn is just to start! Open the Pixlr Editor, pick an image, and play.

The more you use it, the more creative you’ll become.

Ready to transform your photos and designs with Pixlr? Start creating today!

Alternatives to Pixlr 

Here are some other options to Pixlr, each with its strengths:

• Picsart: A very popular all-in-one editor with a huge community, offering tons of stickers, effects, and drawing tools. Great for broader creative design and collages.
• Canva: More of a graphic design tool, excellent for creating social media graphics, presentations, and designs with its vast template library. It has strong AI features for visual content.
• Design Pickle: This is not a DIY app but a graphic design service. You pay a monthly fee, and professional designers handle your design requests, perfect for ongoing needs.
• Blaze: This refers to an AI writing and content generation tool. While it can generate basic images with AI, its primary focus is on creating written marketing content, such as blog posts and emails, rather than photo editing.
• Fotor: A user-friendly photo editor offering a wide range of online tools for cropping, resizing, adding text, creating collages, and basic graphic design.
• Remini: Specializes in enhancing old, blurry, or low-quality photos. It uses AI to unblur, denoise, and restore images, making them clearer and sharper.
• Photoleap: Known for advanced creative layering, blending modes, and artistic effects. It’s great for more complex photo manipulations and surreal creations.
• Pixelcut: Focuses heavily on AI-powered background removal and product photo creation, making it excellent for e-commerce sellers needing clean product images.
• VSCO: Popular for its unique, film-inspired filters and advanced photo editing controls. It caters to users seeking a specific artistic aesthetic and has a strong community.
• PhotoRoom: Excels at effortless background removal and creating professional product photos with AI. It’s designed to generate clean images, especially for online selling quickly.
• YouCam Perfect: A selfie and photo editor app that specializes in beauty enhancements, automatic embellishment, background removal, and fun effects.
• Photoshop: While the full desktop Photoshop is industry-standard for professional editing, Photoshop Express offers robust mobile tools for editing, collaging, and quick enhancements.
• Photopea: A free online editor that works very much like Photoshop, letting you open and edit PSD (Photoshop) files directly in your web browser with many advanced features.
• Phedra: An AI-powered image editing and creation tool that lets users modify images through text or voice commands, simplifying complex tasks with AI.

Frequently Asked Questions