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Thanks to Microsoft Designer’s integration with the Photos app, I’ve finally found a photo editing experience that’s powerful and effortless.
1
Selective edit
One of my most used features of Microsoft Designer is Selective Edit. Unlike traditional photo editing tools that apply changes to the entire image, this feature allows me to target specific areas for detailed, custom enhancements.
For example, if there is an unwanted object or person in the background, I can use Selective Editing to move it or remove it with a few clicks. Another useful option in the Selective Editing menu is Focus, which automatically adjusts the subject while subtly blurring the rest of the scene. It’s amazing how this simple adjustment can make the subject pop.
And speaking of popping, the color pop effect is one of my favorites. I like how I can use it to highlight a single element in a photo, and the Designer automatically turns the rest of the image into black and white. To do all this, you just need to open the image in the Photos app, click on it Icon of the designer in the upper right corner, and select Edit > Selective edit.
2
Restyling with AI
With Microsoft Designer, I don’t need to write a detailed prompt create an image with AI. Instead, I can take an existing image and transform it using one of Designer’s curated, pre-built styling options. I can choose from many unique options such as pop art, flat illustration, papercraft, stylized 3D and more.
Once you select a style, Microsoft Designer generates four variations of the image. I can choose the one I like best, then save it or refine it even more with the editing tools. I love how this tool allows me to turn an ordinary photo into an impressive piece of art.
3
Blur, remove and replace the background
Another feature I find myself using from time to time is the ability remove the background from an imageeither to isolate the subject or rework the background. To do this, I can go Edit > Backgrounds and click the Delete it option. I can then replace the background with a solid color, a custom texture, or even a completely different photo.
There is also this Blur option that I can use if I don’t want to delete the background. This feature adds a nice depth of field effect, similar to what you would get with a professional DSLR camera. Draw attention to the subject by gently removing distractions in the background.
Editing photos with Microsoft Designer is not only about AI-powered improvements, it also offers practical tools for manual retouching, such as cropping, auto-enlargement and adding text. Among these, the Markup tool is great for annotation of images and screenshots.
Whether you want to look for an important detail or indicate an object, this tool offers many brush styles, adjustable pen sizes and a wide range of colors. What really sets it apart, however, is the straight run option. This allows me to draw perfectly straight lines, which is ideal for making my annotations look professional.
5
Extensive Library of Graphics and Photographs
One of the reasons I prefer using Microsoft Designer over the Photos app is its vast library of graphics and photos. Whether I need basic shapes, elegant frames, or eye-catching illustrations, Microsoft Designer has everything neatly organized and easily accessible.
In addition, the rich collection of high quality stock photos it saves me countless hours of searching the internet for the perfect image to complement my designs. With a few clicks, I can browse through an impressive selection and find exactly what I need.
And if you do not find the perfect image, sticker, or icon in the Visuals tab, I can enter a prompt, and hit Generate to create one. This saves me the hassle of jumping between different apps and tools while editing photos on my PC.
With these Microsoft Designer features and its seamless integration with the Photos app, I rarely need to use third-party photo editing apps on my Windows PC. If you haven’t tried Microsoft Designer yet, I highly recommend giving it a try – you’ll be amazed at how powerful it is.
