Picmonkey Mastery: How to Create Awesome Pics!

I love using the free PicMonkey interface whenever I need to design something snazzy. Actually, many of the images that incorporate fancy text or borders on this website were likely crafted with PicMonkey. However, knowing HOW to use it, can be daunting at first. I’ve summarized in this post, several tips I’ve gleaned and used successfully overtime.

Creating a straight line using the Draw tool:

Hold down the shift key while you drag the pointer.

Aligning a horizon on a landscape shot:

For a fun alternative to the “Straighten” slider in Rotate, drag the pointer across your image along the axis you want to straighten. PicMonkey magically straightens the whole shebang. This trick just might help you parallel park better, too, although we’re not sure how.

Changing the dimensions of an overlay or text:

If you want to, say, stretch a speech bubble to make it wider, hold down the shift key while dragging the corner handle of the overlay. This will let you both resize it and change its shape. If you don’t like your changes, right-click and select “Original aspect ratio.”

Straightening an overlay or text:

If you’ve added an overlay or text object and rotated it, you can straighten it by right-clicking on the object and choosing “straighten.”

Duplicating an overlay or text:

Right-click and choose “duplicate.” This is useful if you’ve already customized your object (size, color, etc.) and want to make a copy of it.

Letting the Editor deduce all your editing choices:

The Monkey wants you to be able to do this by pressing your forehead against the screen but this one’s not ready for prime time yet. (And, ah … don’t hold your breath!)

Working with multiple overlays or text objects:

You can control the layer order of an overlay or text object by right-clicking it and choosing “send to back,” “send backward,” “bring forward,” or “bring to front.” Sending to the back puts that layer in the bottommost position, whereas sending backward just shoves it back one more layer. Bringing to front puts the layer in the topmost position, whereas bringing it forward will pop it just one layer forward.

Making shadow text:

Right-click on your text, and select “duplicate text.” Position the second layer behind to the first, close but offset a bit, and fade it back to about 70%.

Applying a texture or effect to all the layers of your photo:

The merge icon looks like a stack of papers with an arrow pointing down. Click the merge button on the top toolbar before clicking on the effect or texture.

Part of a photo or text against an invisible background:  

Open Design and select the “Transparent canvas” box. Your background will look like a gray checkerboard. It will be transparent when you save it as a .png file.