Editing Photos on Mac: Step-by-Step with PaintShop Pro
Written by  Daisie Team
Published on 9 min read

Contents

  1. Install PaintShop Pro on your Mac
  2. Open photo in PaintShop Pro
  3. Crop and resize the photo
  4. Adjust brightness and contrast
  5. Enhance colors
  6. Remove unwanted items
  7. Apply special effects
  8. Add text or logo
  9. Save and export the edited photo

Let's simplify the art of photo editing. If you've got a Mac and are thinking about how to edit photos on it, PaintShop Pro might be just the tool you need. This powerful software can help you polish your pictures, and it's easier to use than you might think. This step-by-step guide will walk you through how to edit photos on Mac with PaintShop Pro, from installation to exporting your final masterpiece.

Install PaintShop Pro on your Mac

Before we can start editing, we need to set up PaintShop Pro on your Mac. Don't worry—it's a straightforward process. Here's how:

  1. Check your system requirements: PaintShop Pro is a robust program, so you'll need to make sure your Mac can handle it. You'll need at least a 64-bit version of macOS, along with enough RAM and hard disk space.
  2. Purchase and download: If you're all set with the requirements, the next step is to purchase PaintShop Pro. Head to the official PaintShop Pro website, choose the right version for you, and download it.
  3. Install the program: Once you've downloaded the program, locate the installer file in your downloads folder. Double-click on it, and follow the prompts. It's as simple as saying "cheese".
  4. Launch PaintShop Pro: After installation, find PaintShop Pro in your applications folder, and open it up. Congrats, you're now ready to dive into the world of photo editing!

Now that you've installed PaintShop Pro on your Mac, you're all set to start making your photos look their best. Remember, learning to edit photos on Mac with PaintShop Pro is a bit like learning to ride a bike—once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature. So let's get started!

Open photo in PaintShop Pro

Alright, let's get down to business. You've got PaintShop Pro up and running on your Mac, and you're ready to edit. But first, we need a photo. Here's how you can open your photo in PaintShop Pro:

  1. Locate your photo: It might seem obvious, but the first step is to find the photo you want to edit. Maybe it's a candid shot from your last vacation, or perhaps it's a professional photo you took for work. Whatever it is, find it on your Mac.
  2. Open PaintShop Pro: Next up, you'll need to fire up PaintShop Pro. You can find it in your applications folder.
  3. Go to File: Once you've got PaintShop Pro open, look for the "File" menu at the top of the screen. Click on it, and a drop-down menu will appear.
  4. Click on Open: From the drop-down menu, select "Open". This will open a new window where you can navigate to your photo.
  5. Select your photo: Navigate to where you saved your photo, click on it, and then click "Open". And voila! Your photo is now ready to be edited with PaintShop Pro.

Opening a photo to edit on your Mac with PaintShop Pro is quick and easy, right? And remember, the more you use it, the faster you'll get. Now, let's move on to the fun part—editing your photo!

Crop and resize the photo

Now that you've successfully opened your photo in PaintShop Pro, let's get to the meat of the matter—editing. One of the first steps you might want to take is cropping and resizing your photo. This can help you focus on the subject matter, get rid of any unnecessary background distractions, and ensure your photo fits perfectly where you want it to be displayed. So, let's dive in:

  1. Select the Crop Tool: On the toolbar, you'll find an icon that looks like two overlapping corners—this is the Crop Tool. Click on it to select it.
  2. Adjust the Crop Area: Once you've selected the Crop Tool, your cursor will change into a crosshair when you hover over your photo. Click and drag to create a rectangle around the area you want to keep. Remember, everything outside this rectangle will be removed.
  3. Finalize the Crop: Happy with your selection? Click the green check mark to finalize your crop. You can always undo this action if you change your mind later.
  4. Select the Resize Tool: Now, let's resize your photo. Click on the "Image" menu at the top of the screen and select "Resize".
  5. Enter your Desired Dimensions: A dialog box will appear. Here, you can input the desired dimensions for your photo. Make sure to keep the "Lock Aspect Ratio" box checked to maintain the proportions of your photo.
  6. Apply the Changes: Click the "OK" button to apply your changes. Your photo is now resized and ready for the next step!

And there you have it! You've just cropped and resized a photo on a Mac using PaintShop Pro. It's a simple process, but it can make a world of difference in the overall appeal of your photo. Now, let's move on to the next step of our photo editing journey.

Adjust brightness and contrast

Alright, your photo is the right size and only contains what you want it to. But does it pop? Let's add some depth and dimension by adjusting the brightness and contrast. It's a piece of cake with PaintShop Pro on your Mac—here's how:

  1. Find the Adjust Menu: At the top of your screen, you'll see a menu labeled "Adjust". Give that a click.
  2. Select Brightness and Contrast: A dropdown menu will appear. Look for "Brightness and Contrast" and select it. You're in the right place!
  3. Slide to Your Liking: Now, you'll see two sliders—one for brightness, the other for contrast. Slide them until your photo looks just right. Brightness controls how light or dark your image is, while contrast deals with the difference between light and dark areas. It's all about balance—too much of either can wash out your photo or make it too dark to see.
  4. Apply the Changes: Once you're satisfied with the look of your photo, click "OK" to apply the changes. You can always undo or adjust further if need be.

And just like that, your photo has a new lease on life. It's brighter, the contrast is sharper, and your subject really stands out. But we're not done yet—there's more to explore in our quest to edit photos on Mac with PaintShop Pro. Stay tuned!

Enhance colors

Now that we've nailed the brightness and contrast, let's add some color to your masterpiece. With PaintShop Pro on your Mac, you can make your photos as vibrant or as muted as you please. So, let's dive right in and edit photos on mac with PaintShop Pro:

  1. Navigate to Adjust Menu: Once again, go to the "Adjust" menu at the top of your screen.
  2. Select Hue and Saturation: From the dropdown list, choose "Hue and Saturation".
  3. Experiment with Sliders: Now, you'll see sliders for hue, saturation, and lightness. Hue changes the color itself, saturation changes the intensity of that color, and lightness controls how dark or light the color is. Play around until you find the perfect balance.
  4. Apply Your Changes: Once you're happy with the colors in your photo, click "OK" to apply the changes. Remember, you can always come back and tweak them if you're not completely satisfied.

And there you have it! Your photo should be bursting with color, bringing your image to life in a whole new way. But we're not stopping here—next up, we're going to tackle removing unwanted items from your photo. Get ready to see how easy it is to edit photos on mac with PaintShop Pro.

Remove unwanted items

Let's face it: sometimes, those random photobombers or unsightly objects can take away from the beauty of your shot. But, no worries! With PaintShop Pro on your Mac, you can wave goodbye to them. Let's see how we can edit photos on mac with PaintShop Pro to remove those unwanted items.

  1. Choose Clone Brush: On the toolbar, select the "Clone Brush" tool, usually represented by an icon that looks like two overlapping circles.
  2. Set Source Point: Hold down the Option key and click on an area of the photo that you want to use as a source. This should be a clean area that matches the background of the unwanted item.
  3. Brush over the Unwanted Item: Release the Option key and carefully brush over the unwanted item. The tool will replace the unwanted item with the pixels from the source point.
  4. Repeat as Necessary: If the unwanted item is not entirely gone, repeat the steps until it's completely invisible.

And just like that, the photo is all cleaned up! But we won't stop here. We're moving on to the fun part: adding some special effects to really make your photo pop. So, let's continue to edit photos on mac with PaintShop Pro.

Apply special effects

Now that we've removed the unwanted items, let's add some spice to your photo. Applying special effects can transform an ordinary photo into a truly extraordinary one. PaintShop Pro on your Mac offers a variety of effects to choose from. Here's a simple guide to help you edit photos on Mac with PaintShop Pro by applying special effects:

  1. Select Photo Effects: Click on "Effects" in the main menu, then choose "Photo Effects". A dropdown menu will appear, showing you a wide array of effects to choose from.
  2. Choose an Effect: Each effect can drastically change the look and feel of your photo, so don't be shy—explore! Maybe you want to give your photo a vintage vibe with the "Time Machine" effect or turn it into a sketch with the "Pencil Drawing" effect. The choice is yours.
  3. Adjust Effect Settings: Once you've chosen an effect, a dialog box will appear where you can fine-tune the settings to get the perfect look. Adjusting the intensity or blend mode can make a big difference, so play around until you're happy with the outcome.
  4. Apply the Effect: When you're satisfied with how the effect looks, click "OK" to apply it to your photo. And voila! You've just added a special effect.

And there you have it! Adding special effects is not only fun, but it also brings your photos to life. So, why not experiment with a few more effects? After all, the more you practice, the better you'll get at editing photos on Mac with PaintShop Pro.

Your photo is looking pretty snazzy with those special effects, but we're not quite done yet. Let's add some text or maybe even a logo. This step can be particularly handy if you're using your photo for a blog post, a social media post, or a business presentation. So, here's how you can add text or a logo to your photo when you edit photos on Mac with PaintShop Pro:

  1. Access the Text Tool: On the left-hand side of the screen, you'll see a toolbar. Click on the "T" icon—this is the Text tool. A new context menu will appear at the top of the screen.
  2. Set Your Preferences: Before you start typing, decide on the font, size, and color of your text. You can make these selections in the context menu. Looking to add a logo instead? Simply click on "File" and then "Open" to select your logo file.
  3. Add Your Text or Logo: Click anywhere on your photo where you want the text or logo to appear. Start typing your text or drag and drop your logo into position. Remember, you can always adjust the size and position later, so don't worry too much about getting it perfect on the first try.
  4. Finalize Your Addition: Once you're happy with your text or logo, just click "Apply" in the context menu to finalize it. And there you go—you've added text or a logo to your photo!

Simple, wasn't it? Adding text or a logo not only adds a personal touch to your photos but also enhances their usability. So, the next time you edit photos on Mac with PaintShop Pro, don't forget to add some text or a logo!

Save and export the edited photo

Phew! We've made it to the final step! Now that you have this beautifully edited photo with your added text or logo, it's time to save and export it. This is the crucial step that ensures your hard work doesn't go to waste. Let's go through how to save and export your edited photos on Mac with PaintShop Pro:

  1. Save Your Work: First, click on the "File" menu at the top of the screen and select "Save". A save dialog box will pop up. Here, you can name your file and choose where you want to save it on your Mac. Click "Save" when you're done.
  2. Export Your Photo: If you want your photo in a format that's easy to share or post online, you'll want to export it. To do this, go back to the "File" menu and select "Export". You'll have a few different options here, but generally, JPEG is a good choice for photos. Choose your desired format, then click "Export".
  3. Choose Your Settings: A new dialog box will appear with some options for your exported file, like quality and size. Usually, the default settings are fine, but feel free to adjust these if you like. Once you're happy with your settings, click "OK".
  4. Check Your Saved Photo: Navigate to the location where you saved your file on your Mac to make sure it's there and looks just how you want it. If it does, congratulations! If not, no worries—just head back to PaintShop Pro and tweak your photo until it's perfect.

And there you have it! Now you know how to save and export your edited photos on Mac with PaintShop Pro. This last step might seem like a minor one, but it's actually quite important: after all, what good is all your photo editing work if you can't share your masterpiece with others?

If you enjoyed learning about editing photos on Mac and want to explore more creative possibilities, you might find the workshop 'Animating with Procreate and Photoshop' by Nyanza interesting. Although it focuses on animation, the techniques taught in this workshop can enhance your photo editing skills and inspire you to experiment with new ways of bringing your images to life.