CapCut: it’s a versatile and flexible video editing app. But for this project, you need something simpler. All you want to do is edit a still image! And luckily, CapCut has robust photo editing features to do this, too.
Almost hidden inside CapCut’s app is a fully-featured image editor. That’s right. CapCut lets you edit videos and still photographs. In this tutorial, I’ll show you everything that you need to know about photo editing in CapCut. You’ll be up to speed in no time.
Why use CapCut to edit photos?
You know CapCut as a video editor. And since there are countless photo editing apps out there, why should you use CapCut? What benefits does it offer you? After all, it might seem a little strange to use a video app for photo editing. But remember, photos and videos are all images. They share a lot in common.
Among the many reasons to explore photo editing features in CapCut are these:
- Commonality streamlines the learning and editing process. CapCut’s image editor is built into the video app. And as you navigate, you’ll see many identical or similar menus, controls, and options. If you know how to edit video in CapCut, you already know your way around the photo editor.
- It’s convenient to use from anywhere. CapCut’s mobile app runs on the phone you have in your pocket. You can make compelling image edits from anywhere!
- Powerful effects and editing tools come built in. Sure, it’s a free app, but CapCut doesn’t leave you lacking options. Powerful visual edits are made possible at the touch of a button. We’ll explore advanced adjustments, and cool styles like stickers and text overlays.
- You can easily integrate still images with your CapCut videos. It’s often useful to use still images as part of your videos. With CapCut editing, it’s easy to edit photos and add them directly to a full video project.
As you can see, there are clear benefits to using CapCut’s photo editing platform. If you have CapCut installed on your device, you’re already ready to go! Let’s learn all about photo editing in CapCut, walking through the tools step by step.
How to edit photos in CapCut (step by step)
I already mentioned CapCut’s mobile app. You can download it for free for iOS or Android devices. For this tutorial guide, I’ll be demonstrating in CapCut running on an iPhone. Prefer to use your computer to edit videos and photos? CapCut has desktop versions for macOS and Windows PCs.
We’ll practice and learn the art of CapCut photo editing with a stock photo. I sourced it from the vast Envato Elements stock image library. You can click here to download the photo if you’d like to follow along in real time.
1. Open the photo editor and choose an image
CapCut’s photo editing suite is easy to access. But if you’ve not paid close attention, you might have missed seeing it in CapCut. To find these features, begin by opening the CapCut app on your device.
When CapCut opens, find the four menu tabs across the bottom of your screen. From left to right, these are labeled Edit, Templates, Inbox, and Me. The Photo editor panel can be found on the Edit tab, which should launch by default when you open a new CapCut session.
Tap Edit, and look to the upper part of your screen. You’ll see the blue New project menu box. Directly above it, in the center, you will notice CapCut’s Photo editor. Ready to get rolling? Tap Photo editor to launch the tools.
When you open the Photo editor, your Camera Roll will open. Here, you can browse through images that you’ve taken or saved to your device. Tap any image thumbnail to select that photo. Then, tap Edit in the lower right corner. CapCut will import the photo in a few seconds, and you’re ready to get to work!
2. Control and adjust the image size
When you’ve imported your image, look to the toolbar menu at the bottom. Here, you’ll see a long row of image editing options. For any edit, the tools you use (and combinations of those tools) will vary. Let’s walk through several, to give you an idea of the power of CapCut’s Photo editor panel.
First, you can adjust the size of your image. This is most useful if you’re exporting image files to use in other media. The size here means the aspect ratio - the shape and dimensions of the finished image. To change the size of a CapCut image, tap the Size button.
The Size panel opens. You’ll see that by default, Original is the option used. This simply represents the actual dimensions of your photo. Looking to the right, you can find and apply new sizes.
Do keep this in mind: changing the aspect ratio can result in cropping and lost details in an image. Tap one of the different size choices, and press the Checkmark to apply the choice to your image.
3. Make corrective adjustments and edits to enhance visual quality
I like to think of photo editing in two “buckets” or categories. There are corrective edits, which remove defects and make images look better. Then, there are creative edits. Those are the optional, fun styles that transform images into something unique and different. In CapCut, corrective edits are found on the Adjust panel.
On the Photo editor toolbar, find the Adjust button. Tap to open it up. It’s here that you’ll see many of the popular video editing features that you’d expect in any app. Look at some of these: Brightness, Exposure, Contrast, Saturation, and more. Scroll to the right on the toolbar, and more options appear: Sharpness, Highlights, Shadows, and so on.
These control specific visual elements of your image. Sharpness, for example, makes an image more crisp. Highlights brighten the lighter areas of an image, while Fade adds a washed-out effect.
Spend a few moments scrolling through these options. To apply any effect, tap its thumbnail. Whenever you do, a slider bar will appear. Move it to the right to strengthen an effect; pull to the left to dial it back.
Keep in mind: there’s no perfect combo of features here. They’ll vary by image, along with your sense of style. CapCut edits are always non-destructive, so you’re free to experiment with different tools.
Your original image will not be altered, so you can always roll back to a prior version or change a setting. Exit the Adjust panel when you’re finished by tapping the Checkmark icon.
4. Apply a cool look and feel with a custom filter
With adjustments made like those above, let’s look at fun ways to get creative with your photos. The first of these is to add a Filter.
If you’ve used Instagram, you know what filters are - overlays that change the visual look of an image. Find Filters in CapCut by returning to the main Photo editor toolbar. This time, find and select the Filters menu button.
CapCut’s Filters gallery will launch. You’ll see filters grouped into categories. By default, you’ll be on the Hot tab, which features trending filters. Scrolling across, you’ll see other groupies like Retro, Life, Cinema, and more. Each one opens a gallery pane with thumbnails previewing each filter.
Find a filter that you like? Tap its thumbnail, and watch as CapCut applies it to your image. With many of the filters, you can adjust the intensity of the filter effect with the included slider, much like the Adjust tools you learned earlier. Once again, lock in your filter choice by hitting the Checkmark icon on the right.
5. Add optional text for captions and more
Sometimes, it’s useful to add text overlays to your photos. This can be a good way to emphasize key details or add extra context. It’s also a great tool if you’re using an edited image for promotional or marketing purposes.
To add text to a photo in CapCut, choose Text from the Photo editor toolbar. When you do, a template gallery will appear. Here, you can choose from a library of included text styles. They style fonts in creative ways, and you’ll see a preview right on your image.
If you want to add text, choose one of these styles. Then, select the text box that appears on your image. A keyboard will appear. Delete the placeholder text, and type in your own words. You’ll see them fall into place on the image canvas in real time.
You can also drag the text box around your image, or resize it by pulling on the corners. This way, you can fit text onto a photo without obscuring the image itself.
6. Explore shapes and stickers for fun effects
Text isn’t the only fun style edit you can bring to a photo in CapCut! The Shapes and Stickers panels offer all the added creative flexibility you could want.
On the Shapes panel, you’ll find a collection of geometric objects that you can easily add to a photo. For example, there are designs for speech bubbles, arrows, and more. I like to use these shapes to help emphasize key details in an image.
Stickers, on the other hand, are dynamic drawing effects for an image. They’re grouped by category, with a vast gallery available for browsing. Tap a sticker thumbnail, then drag it around your image canvas to drop it into place.
Used separately or combined, CapCut shapes and stickers let you create and share one-of-a-kind photos with the world.
7. Save and share a finished image
Last but not least, it’s time to save and share your edited photo in CapCut! You’ve added effects, made adjustments, and more. Now, you want a saved copy of your altered photo.
To save your CapCut photo edit, look in the upper right corner of your screen. There, you’ll see the blue Export button. Tap Export. CapCut will export and save a copy of your image right to your Camera Roll. You’re now free to post, save, send, or share it with others. And you can share directly to TikTok, if social media posting is your goal.
Learn more CapCut skills to master mobile mditing
The Photo editor panel in CapCut is but one of many features the app makes possible. As you think about creative projects, why not plan to enhance your CapCut skills? After all, it’s growing ever more popular. And thanks to easy-to-read Tuts+ tutorials, you don’t have to spend lots of time and money getting up to speed.
Ready to learn more? Here are some of our trending CapCut tutorials from the Envato Tuts+ library:
How to quickly apply blur effects to videos in CapCut
CapCut: How to Quickly Use Green Screen (Chroma Key)
How to quickly add transitions in CapCut
How to Quickly Remove a CapCut Watermark
How safe is it to use CapCut? Is CapCut safe for kids?
How to create picture-in-picture videos in CapCut
Start editing photos in CapCut today
In this complete tutorial, I showed you how to edit photos using CapCut. This offers many advantages. You'll enjoy a shared app for photos and videos, an intuitive interface that you already know, and more.
With CapCut image editing, you can quickly adjust, enhance, and transform any still image. Then, you can instantly share to social media, add to a video project, or download to your device. It’s a flexible way to create stunning photo edits, in seconds, for free.
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