How to Use Photopea: Step-by-Step Tutorial for Beginners

Get Started with Photopea

Open Photopea and Import an Image

Photopea is a browser-based photo editor, so you can start editing without installing software. Visit Photopea.com, then choose File > Open to upload an image from your computer. You can also select New Project to create a blank canvas with custom dimensions. Photopea supports common image formats such as JPG, PNG, WebP, and PSD.

Understand the Photopea Interface

The Photopea editor interface includes several main areas:

• Menu bar: Access commands for files, image adjustments, layers, filters, and exporting.
• Toolbar: Select tools for cropping, moving, selecting, painting, retouching, and adding text.
• Options bar: Adjust settings for the currently selected tool.
• Canvas: View and edit your image.
• Layers panel: Select layers, change their order, and control visibility.

Before editing, check that you have selected the correct layer in the Layers panel. The available tool options change depending on the tool you choose.

Understand Layers Before Editing

Layers let you edit different elements of an image independently. For example, text, background elements, and pasted images can each sit on separate layers. Use the eye icon to show or hide a layer, and drag layers to change their stacking order. To protect your original image, keep an untouched copy or duplicate the layer before making major edits.

Related Reading: Photopea vs Photoshop: Which One Fits Your Workflow

How to Make Basic Photo Edits in Photopea

Photopea includes tools for common editing tasks, from cropping and resizing to color correction and background removal.

1. Crop an image: To crop a photo in Photopea, select the Crop Tool from the toolbar or press C. Drag the handles around the image to define the area you want to keep, adjust the crop boundaries, and press Enter to apply the crop. Cropping removes unwanted areas from the composition, but it does not increase the image’s actual resolution.

2. Resize an image: Go to Image > Image Size and enter the desired dimensions. Keep the aspect ratio locked to avoid distortion, and remember that enlarging a small image may reduce its apparent sharpness.

3. Adjust Brightness, Contrast, and Colors: Open Image > Adjustments and choose tools such as Brightness/Contrast, Hue/Saturation, or Color Balance. Make gradual changes to preserve natural-looking colors and details.

4. Sharpen an image: To make slightly soft details appear clearer, open the Filter menu and look for a sharpening filter, such as Unsharp Mask, if available in your current interface. Adjust the settings gradually and preview the result at 100% zoom. Avoid excessive sharpening, which can create halos around edges and emphasize noise. Sharpening can improve the appearance of existing details, but it cannot fully restore details lost through severe blur or low resolution.

5. Remove a Background: Use a selection tool, such as the Magic Wand or Quick Selection Tool, to select the background, then remove it or apply a layer mask. Export as PNG to preserve transparency.

How to Use Layers and Masks in Photopea

Layers let you edit and combine different image elements independently. Understanding how to manage layers, use masks, and control selections makes more complex edits easier to handle.

How to Add, Select, and Reorder Layers

Use the Layers panel to manage image elements. Click the new layer icon to create a layer, select a layer to edit it, or drag layers up and down to change their stacking order. You can also duplicate a layer when you want to keep the original unchanged. The eye icon toggles layer visibility, helping you compare edits or isolate individual elements.

How to Rasterize a Layer in Photopea

Rasterizing converts text, shapes, or other supported layer types into pixel-based content, allowing direct pixel editing. To rasterize a layer, right-click it in the Layers panel and choose Rasterize, if available for that layer type.

Rasterizing can remove the original editability of text and shapes, so keep a duplicate if you may need to change them later.

How to Mask in Photopea

A layer mask lets you hide or reveal parts of a layer without permanently deleting the image content. Select a layer and click Add Raster Mask at the bottom of the Layers panel. Paint on the mask with black to hide areas, white to reveal them, and gray to partially reveal them. For example, you can hide part of a background to blend two images while keeping the original pixels available.

Learn More: How to Make a Clipping Mask in Photoshop

How to Deselect in Photopea

After making a selection, press Ctrl + D on Windows or Cmd + D on Mac, or choose Select > Deselect from the menu. This removes the active selection boundary so it no longer limits your edits. Deselecting does not delete pixels or remove a layer mask; it only clears the current selection.

How to Add and Curve Text in Photopea

Photopea lets you add text to photos, create curved headlines, and design text-based elements such as banners and badges. Keep text on editable text layers whenever possible so you can adjust the wording and appearance later.

How to Add and Edit Text in Photopea

Select the Type Tool (T) and click or drag on the canvas to create a text layer. Type your text, then use the options bar to change the font, size, color, and alignment. Select the Move Tool (V) to reposition the text, and use the Layers panel to adjust its position relative to other elements. >> More for how to edit texts

For a clean result, choose a font that fits the image, maintain sufficient contrast with the background, and position the text where it does not obscure important details. Keep the text layer editable until you are satisfied with the design.

How to Curve Text in Photopea

To create curved text, first draw a curved path with the Pen Tool or a shape tool. Select the Type Tool and move the cursor over the path until the text-on-path cursor appears, then click the path and type. The text will follow the curve, allowing you to create arched headlines, circular badges, and similar designs. Adjust the path or text placement to refine the result.

Text on a path is different from Warp Text, which bends or distorts the text itself into a shape. Use a path when you want text to follow a curve, and Warp Text when you want a more stylized deformation. Keep the text editable so you can revise it later.

A Travel Photo Editing Workflow for Social Media with Photopea and Aiarty

Suppose you want to turn a travel photo into a social media post with an eye-catching title. Photopea lets you crop the image, adjust its colors, work with layers, and add text in your preferred style. If the photo still looks noisy, slightly blurry, or lacks detail after editing, you can use an image enhancement tool as an optional step before publishing.

Step 1. Edit Your Social Media Photo in Photopea

Open your travel photo in Photopea and crop it to fit your target platform's preferred aspect ratio. Adjust brightness, contrast, and color balance to give the image a consistent look. If you want to add a title or decorative elements, keep them on separate layers so you can reposition or edit them without changing the original photo.

Choose a readable font and a text color that contrasts with the background. You can also use a layer mask to make room for the text or blend graphic elements into the photo. Before moving on, check the composition at the size people are likely to see it on their phones.

Step 2. Export a Copy from Photopea

When your design is ready, choose File > Export As and select a format based on how you plan to use the image:

• PSD: Keeps the project layers editable, making it easier to revise the text or layout later.
• PNG: Useful for graphics that need lossless output or transparent areas.
• JPG: A practical choice for photo-based social media posts and website images.

Set the image dimensions to suit your intended platform and check the JPG quality setting if you choose that format. Exporting at a larger size will not recover detail missing from the original photo, so keep a copy of the exported image in case it needs further enhancement.

Step 3. Check the Image Quality Before Publishing

Open the exported image and inspect it at full size. Check whether the background still looks clean, fine details remain visible, and the text edges look sharp. A photo that appears slightly soft or noisy on the editing canvas may look more noticeable when viewed at full size.

If the image already looks clear and detailed enough for social media, you can publish it as it is. If you notice visible noise, mild blur, JPEG compression artifacts, or insufficient resolution, consider enhancing the photo before using it in your final design.

Step 4. Enhance the Photo with Aiarty Image Enhancer

If the original photo needs a quality boost, Aiarty Image Enhancer can help reduce noise, improve the appearance of fine details, clean up compression artifacts, and upscale the image. Choose a suitable enhancement model, adjust the output size if needed, and preview the result before exporting.

Compare the enhanced image with the original at the same zoom level. Pay attention to details such as foliage, buildings, fabric, and other textures. The goal is to make the photo look cleaner and clearer without introducing artificial-looking edges or overly smooth textures.

If your photo still needs better clarity or resolution, try Aiarty Image Enhancer.

Step 5. Publish Your Design on Social Media

Once your design is ready, export the final image in the format and dimensions recommended for your target platform. Preview it on a phone or at a smaller display size to make sure the text is readable and the photo looks clear. Then upload it to Instagram, Facebook, or your preferred social media platform, and add a caption that complements the image.

Before publishing, check the final image for unwanted artifacts, blurry details, or text that blends into the background. A well-balanced combination of photo quality and typography helps your post look polished and engaging.

Conclusion

Photopea provides a convenient way to edit photos in your browser, from basic adjustments and background removal to layer masking and curved text. Once your edits are complete, export the image in a format suited to your needs. If the result still has noticeable noise, blur, or limited resolution, you can use a tool like Aiarty Image Enhancer as an optional step to improve image quality before final delivery.