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Image showing a photo split in two: one half has a photo filter on it and the other half does not and shows the need for adjusting exposure in a photo editor.

Level Up Your Images with our Free Photo Editor

Photos need to slap, dazzle, and POP to make an impact. You can get striking looks super easily, with Shutterstock Create.

three photos appear, each with a different photo effect; a posterized filter, a black and white filter, and no filter
Photo filters are just the beginning
Get professional-looking images without design skills, fast. It's insanely easy to level up your images with effects, shadows, outlines, and more. You can also paint effects exactly where you want them. Or fill your photos inside words or shapes. We've got the tools that get you the look.

How to edit photos in Create

Pick an image to edit

Upload your own photo to Shutterstock's Create app. Or choose one from our library— access over 3 million free photos in Create, or subscribe for more.

Nail the basic edits

Choose your photo size and take care of photo cropping first. Tweak the brightness and contrast. Or just click Auto Adjust and let 'er rip.

Add photo filters and more

It's as easy as ordering takeout, just click through Effects and see how they look in your image. Try textures and graphics — add text to photos too.

3 social posts, each with a different photo size, are shown next to each other. Instagram size, Facebook size, and Twitter size are shown.
Play your A-game in social media
We've got sizes for social — YouTube thumbnails, banner ads, Facebook covers, Instagram posts, and more. Smart Resizer makes it even easier. Just click all the sizes you need, and the elements in your design re-arrange perfectly to fit every dimension.
Glow up your images with easy-to-use tools
Photo of a man jumping with a background partially removed behind him. To the right is the same image with a design background behind it, using outline feature and text.
Remove backgrounds like a pro
Our premium background remover tool detects fine details like frizzy hair and tree leaves so you get a perfect cutout. What’s more amazing is what you can do with it: • Add it to a photo to make a collage. • Add text and graphics to make a design. • Replace the background to make a new scene.

Frequently asked questions about free photo editors


What's the difference between photo editing apps on mobile and an online photo editing site?

Although many online photo editors have companion apps on mobile, the honest truth is that you can only do so much with finger gestures. Online photo editors like Shutterstock Create offer features like layering multiple effects on a photo, painting effects in specfiic areas, erasing text behind a photo subject, choosing assets like illustrations and photos from a library of 400 million — you don't want to do this on a mobile device.


How do you make a photo transparent?

There are a couple ways to make your image transparent, both of which are instant magic. To make the background of a photo disappear, use the wizardy that is Create's Background Remover tool for a one-click, poof-be-gone asset. Or if you have several design elements overlayed on a colored background, just select the background layer and click "Change color" in the top toolbar, then click "Transparent."


How do you blur a photo background?

To blur backgrounds in Shutterstock Create, you'll need to upload your image to the canvas, or choose from licensed stock photos to start. Select your photo layer, and click "Effects" in the top toolbar. Good choices for blurs are Soften, Focal Soften , and you can also try adding a Bokeh texture and fading way back. Create has a brush for every effect, so you can paint them on a specific part of your image.

Why Shutterstock for design and photo editing

Edit your images where you get your images

Shutterstock’s your go-to for quality images — now you can edit them in the same place, with the same log-in.

Start with a template or DIY it from scratch

Quickly swap out text and photos in a design template, or just add design elements to a blank canvas. Easy.

Lush looks you can’t get anywhere else

Fill text with photos; paint effects in specific spots; add outlines & watercolor swoops — dial up the drama.

Powerful tools that maximize your effort

Rotate and crop. Resize your designs fast. Text layouts. Time savers like these let you focus on strategy.

Data-backed creative insights

Find the best-performing visuals with our AI-powered creative recommendations. When you know, you go!

An end-to-end creative platform

Shutterstock’s got what you need to discover, plan, design, and organize your most successful creative work.

Make every image dazzle

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