How to use Pixlr X - Easy Graphic Design
TLDRIn this informative video, Jamie Keith from Teachers Tech provides an overview of Pixlr X, an online graphic design tool. He demonstrates how to use Pixlr X's features, including opening and manipulating images, using templates, and creating collages. The tutorial covers basic functionalities like resizing and rotating images, adding text and shapes, and saving work in various formats. Jamie also highlights the benefits of the 30-day trial and the free version for educators and students. He touches on more advanced features like the cutout tool, retouching options, and the liquify tool for image adjustments. The video is a practical guide for beginners and a refresher for those familiar with graphic design tools.
Takeaways
- 🌐 **Online Accessibility**: Pixlr X is an online graphic design tool that can be used without installation, making it ideal for Chromebooks or situations where software installation is not possible.
- 🆓 **Free and Premium Options**: Pixlr X offers a free version, with the option to upgrade to a paid subscription that provides additional features and removes ads.
- 🎨 **Design Templates**: The platform provides templates to start designing quickly, which can save time and offer a good base for further customization.
- 📂 **Project Management**: Pixlr X keeps track of the latest projects and offers a local temporary cache, but it's important to save work as a Pixlr document for long-term projects.
- 🔄 **Layered Editing**: Users can work with layers, allowing for non-destructive editing where elements can be moved, resized, and edited independently.
- 🖼️ **Image Manipulation**: Pixlr X enables users to open, resize, rotate, and perform cutouts on images, with options to save in formats that preserve layers or flatten the image.
- 📝 **Text Addition**: The tool allows for easy addition and customization of text elements, with various preset designs and the ability to adjust font, size, and spacing.
- 🖌️ **Drawing and Shapes**: Users can draw on a blank canvas and add shapes with the option to customize color, size, and outline.
- ✂️ **Cutout Feature**: Pixlr X's AI cutout feature quickly removes backgrounds from images, with manual tools available for fine-tuning.
- 🔧 **Retouch Tools**: The retouch section includes tools for healing, cloning, blurring, sharpening, dodging, and burning to edit and enhance images.
- 🎭 **Creative Effects**: Effects like liquify allow for creative transformations, such as resizing or warping parts of an image for a more personalized result.
Q & A
What is Pixlr X and how does it differ from Pixlr?
-Pixlr X is an easy-to-use online graphic design tool. It differs from Pixlr in that it is entirely web-based, allowing users to work on their designs without the need for installation. It also includes features like background removal and offers a 30-day trial for more advanced features, while the free version still provides most of the basic functionalities.
How can educators or students benefit from using Pixlr X?
-Educators and students can benefit from using Pixlr X as it can be accessed for free. It's a great tool for teaching graphic design, especially in environments where only Chromebooks are available, as no installation is required and students can work directly from their browsers.
What are the advantages of using templates in Pixlr X?
-Templates in Pixlr X are advantageous because they save time by providing a pre-designed layout. Users can manipulate these templates to fit their needs, which is particularly helpful when starting a new project or when a design is already set up with a good structure.
How does one open an image in Pixlr X?
-To open an image in Pixlr X, one can use several methods: clicking 'Open Image' and selecting a file from the computer, loading an image from a URL by copying and pasting the image address, or simply dragging and dropping an image file into the Pixlr X workspace.
What is the significance of saving a project as a Pixlr document?
-Saving a project as a Pixlr document is important because it preserves the layers and editable elements of the project. This allows users to continue working on the project later with all the original layers intact, which is not possible if the project is saved as a flattened image format like JPEG.
How can users adjust the size of an image in Pixlr X?
-Users can adjust the size of an image in Pixlr X by clicking on the image and entering new dimensions in the size box while maintaining the proportion constraint. Alternatively, users can click and drag the corners of the image to resize it interactively.
What is the purpose of the 'Layers' panel in Pixlr X?
-The 'Layers' panel in Pixlr X is used to manage different elements of a project. It allows users to control which elements are visible, adjust the order of elements to achieve the desired overlay effect, and make individual adjustments to each layer without affecting the others.
How can users add text to their designs in Pixlr X?
-Users can add text to their designs in Pixlr X by clicking on the 'Text' button in the toolbar, which allows them to input text and provides options to change the font, size, color, and other text properties. There are also preset text styles available for quick and easy design enhancements.
What is the 'History' panel used for in Pixlr X?
-The 'History' panel in Pixlr X tracks all the actions performed during a session. It allows users to navigate back through their actions, reverting to previous states of the project, which is useful for undoing mistakes or revisiting earlier design choices.
How does the 'Cutout' feature in Pixlr X work?
-The 'Cutout' feature in Pixlr X uses AI to automatically detect and remove the background from an image, keeping the subject intact. Users can fine-tune the cutout by adjusting the size of the brush tool and manually selecting areas to keep or remove. It also allows for shape cutouts and provides a lasso tool for more precise selection.
What are the benefits of using the 'Draw' tool in Pixlr X?
-The 'Draw' tool in Pixlr X allows users to create custom drawings directly on the canvas. It offers various brush styles, sizes, and options like softness and transparency. Users can also choose from different tools like the pen, crayon, and shape tools to add creativity to their designs.
Outlines
🎨 Introduction to Pixlr X and its Features
Jamie Keith introduces Pixlr X, an online graphic design tool, and discusses its ease of use. He mentions a previous tutorial on background removal with Pixlr and highlights the drag-and-drop functionality. The video covers the 30-day trial version and the free version, noting the absence of ads in the paid version. Jamie also points out the availability of Pixlr for free to educators and students. The paragraph concludes with a teaser for the upcoming tutorial content and a note on saving work in Pixlr.
📚 Working with Images and Layers in Pixlr X
The paragraph explains how to open and manipulate images in Pixlr X, including adding images, resizing, and changing the order of layers. It details how to work with different layering options, such as bringing images to the front or sending them to the back. Jamie also discusses saving work in different formats and the implications for layer preservation and transparency.
🖼️ Adding Text, Shapes, and Frames to Your Design
Jamie demonstrates how to add and customize text, shapes, and frames in Pixlr X. He shows how to adjust text properties like size, color, and spacing, and how to apply various design presets. The paragraph also covers adding frames to images, changing outline colors, and applying shadows. It concludes with a reminder to save work and explore the history feature for undoing mistakes.
🌟 Exploring Premium Features and Adjusting Images
This section focuses on the differences between the free and premium versions of Pixlr X, emphasizing the premium stickers and elements. Jamie also guides viewers on how to adjust images using tools like resize, crop, and rotate. He touches on the history panel's utility and the ability to save work in a format that maintains layers for future editing.
🔍 Advanced Image Editing with Cutout and Retouch Tools
Jamie showcases advanced image editing features in Pixlr X, including the AI cutout tool for background removal, manual brush tools for fine-tuning selections, and the liquify tool for creative transformations. He also covers retouch tools like heal, repair, clone stamp, blur, sharpen, dodge, and burn, which allow for detailed image enhancements and corrections.
✏️ Drawing and Sketching with Pixlr X
The final paragraph introduces the drawing and sketching capabilities of Pixlr X. Jamie demonstrates how to use various brushes, pen tools, and shapes to create artwork directly on the canvas. He discusses the option to adjust brush properties and the ability to use different drawing modes. The paragraph ends with an invitation to use the free version of Pixlr X or start a 30-day account to explore the tool's capabilities further.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Pixlr X
💡Graphic Design
💡Background Removal
💡Layers
💡Templates
💡Collages
💡Cutout Feature
💡Adjustments
💡Retouch
💡Liquify Tool
💡Drawing Tools
Highlights
Pixlr X is an easy-to-use online graphic designer with a feature to quickly remove the background of an image.
The 30-day trial of Pixlr X offers an ad-free experience and access to more features compared to the free version.
Educators and students can obtain Pixlr for free, making it an ideal tool for teaching graphic design on Chromebooks.
Pixlr X allows users to work with templates, collages, and open images from various sources including local storage, URLs, and drag-and-drop.
The platform provides options to resize, rotate, and manipulate images, as well as add multiple layers for complex designs.
Users can add frames, change outline colors, and apply shadows to enhance their images.
Text can be easily added and customized with various options for size, color, and style.
Shapes can be added and customized with different colors and styles to create unique design elements.
The history feature allows users to revisit and undo previous actions, providing flexibility and control over the editing process.
Saving work as a Pixlr document preserves layers and allows for continued editing, unlike saving as a flattened image format.
The platform offers tools for adjusting image properties such as color, light, and details, with the option to use AI for automatic adjustments.
Retouch tools like heal, repair, and clone stamp enable users to fix imperfections in images.
The cutout feature uses AI to quickly remove backgrounds, with manual tools available for fine-tuning.
Liquify tool allows for creative image manipulation, such as resizing and distorting parts of the image.
Drawing tools offer a variety of brushes, erasers, and shapes to create custom artwork directly on the canvas.
The ability to create blank documents with customizable backgrounds and sizes provides a flexible workspace for starting new projects.
Premium features include access to additional stickers, borders, and other elements for more advanced and varied designs.
Jamie Keith provides a comprehensive tutorial on using Pixlr X, showcasing its capabilities for both beginners and advanced users.