Welcome back to Food Photography (weekly) Challenge! You can read here why I did not hosted this challenge for the past  few weeks. You all know that I am an avid Adobe Photoshop user. That’s the software I have used for the last ten years and I guess I am too comfortable using it to try to learn something new.  However, I recently discovered software that is really easy to use and offers great diversity when it comes to artistic editing. It’s called Smart Photo Editor.

I used a trial version for a bit to explore its possibilities and I wrote about it in A Smart Way to Edit Photos: Smart Photo Editor.  After that post I got an opportunity to try the full version and I loved it! Of course, I still use Adobe Photoshop but what Smart Photo Editor offers is the creativity! Its artistic possibilities are impressive. As I said in A Smart Way to Edit Photos: Smart Photo Editor, if you love using Photoshop and Lightroom actions, you will love using Smart Photo Editor because it comes preloaded with many (free!) presets.

I played with Smart Photo Editor features using this small cake photo below.

The presets are definitely my favorite Smart Photo Editor feature but the software offers more than just great presets. Once you open your photo in the Effects Gallery, you can select one of the presets (97 pages of presets!) that will be applied to your image (thumbnails). As you can see on the right side, you can also browse the preset menu on the left. Smart Photo Editor offers you to browse Artistic or Realistic presents and then it groups effects by Light, Color, Detail, Artist, Style, Borders, and even Mood.

Smart Photo Editor

The software allows you a complete control over each effect.

Not only you have a complete control over all effects (presets), you can also use layering mask options in Smart Photo Editor just as you can in Adobe Photoshop – just in a more user-friendly way.

A great thing about Smart Photo Editor is that it keeps all your steps clearly visible at the top of the screen; that way you can track your progress and cut each step if you decide you don’t want to use a specific effect.

Cropping the photo or creating a border or photo collage is another easy task when using Smart Photo Editor. It’s just a great everyday tool not only for photographers but for bloggers too!

Tell me – isn’t this little photo editing software really smart? I think it is and I love using it! It’s so much fun!

It’s Giveaway Time!

Now really great news!!! I love using Smart Photo Editor and I was thrilled to hear that Anthropics Technology Ltd, the company behind Smart Photo Editor is so generous to sponsor a giveaway and gift one copy of this great photo editing software to one of my readers! How awesome is that? 

In order to be eligible to win this prize, you need to do three things:

1. Blog or Share info about this giveaway. 
If you are a blogger, blog about this giveaway and leave a link to your post in the comment under this post.

If  you are a Twitter/ Facebook user, share this post on Twitter or Facebook using social media icons below this post. Live a link to your status in the comment under this post.

(links are located below)

2. Go to Smart Photo Editor Facebook page and like it.
We want to tell Smart Photo Editor that we do love their products, right?

3. Come back here and leave two comments stating that you complied with number 1 and 2.
I will allow two comments: one for the link to your post/ share where you mentioned this giveaway and the second comment for letting me know you liked Smart Photo Editor’s Facebook page.
However, even if you wish to leave only one comment, you still need to follow both number 1 and 2 – meaning you need to blog/ Tweet/ or Facebook about the giveaway AND like Smart Photo Editor’s Facebook page to be eligible for this prize. 

I will select a random winner next Thursday (May 24th, 2012).

Good luck everyone!

It’s Time to Join Food Photography Challenge!

Please, feel welcome to link your food and beverages shots to Food Photography. The rules are simple:

1. Make your photograph about food or beverages.
2. Tell us about that photograph: share a photo tip, recipe, or a story behind it.
3. Submit the URL to your food photo post or a specific Flickr image, NOT your home page or album URL.
4. Please, include a link back to my blog in your post or Flickr image description. You can grab the button below or use a text link. Note: Linked photos without the backlink will be removed.
5. Visit bloggers on your left and your right and leave some comment love.

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Mira Crisp

Hello! My name is Mira and I am photographer and blogger behind crispphotoworks.com. I take pictures, blog, and drink espresso! I am a foodie and coffee aficionado, doggy lover, proud bookworm, and a tiny geek. Thanks for visiting!

Latest posts by Mira Crisp (see all)

• Creating HDR in Photoshop - June 5, 2013
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• Contemporary Portraits Meet Grainy Film - March 27, 2013