Last Updated on 07.06.2023
In short, online services and applications are convenient because they can work on any device, do not require installation, are always ready to use, are not demanding on user qualification, are always up-to-date, and provide access to libraries of multimedia resources that are constantly updating.
What is the online system
The modern browser is a powerful and versatile program that can be extended with plugins and extensions. But, even without them, the browser is capable of solving a variety of tasks.
Another important feature of modern Internet technologies is the high speed of global data exchange.
That is why various cloud services and browser applications occupy more and more space in our activities. They have many advantages, but the most important thing is that they are instantly available and can be used on any type of device running any operating system.
Of course, browser applications of any kind cannot compete with installable programs in terms of efficient use of computing resources. But in most cases this is not necessary when working with images.
And if necessary, the server can take over some of the work. In this case, the online application is no longer browser-based and moves to the “cloud” category.
Cloud applications and most browser applications have one thing in common when working with images of any kind: it is the use of various types of resources that are located on the server and can be used in the process of creating and image edition.
These can be collections of virtual filters and brushes, photographic and artistic cliparts, icon and sticker sets, frames and templates. All these resources are updated directly on the server to which the application is associated, and are always available.
The ability to provide the user with various types of current resources without any additional action is the characteristic of online applications and services that is the reason for their recognition.
At the same time, the simplicity and limited capabilities of apps take a backseat.
It should be noted that there are online applications that are not inferior in their capabilities to installable programs, that is, the simplicity and limitations of this type of tool are not necessarily their distinctive feature.
On the other hand, developers of online services in many cases deliberately simplify the application itself, ie the customer side of their service, in order to attract users with a low level of experience. This increases the capabilities of the server side responsible for providing access to various types of resources.
In many cases, this approach not only works, but is also the most appropriate for various types of activities by users. This is true primarily for the work of marketers, SMM professionals, and those engaged in e-commerce.
Online photo services and photo editors
It is immediately worth noting that many online photo editors include multifunctional services. It is rare that there is an application or a service that only focuses on working with photos.
The reason for this is the difficulty of monetizing stand-alone applications. It is technically possible to develop a fairly complete online photo editor, but in this case you will have to compete with the usual installable programs, which will surely win simply because they do not need an Internet connection to work, and it will also work faster.
Therefore, online photo editors and services are forced to search and find what they can offer the user that is not available in installable programs.
Such findings and proposals include, first of all, collections of frames, stickers, templates for texts and collages. Although, of course, there are applications for editing photos, which in their capabilities are not much inferior to classic programs for desktop computers. But this is rather the exception than the rule.
Online vector graphics editors
Vector graphics do not require computational resources like raster graphics, and even with simple tools, a skilled designer can create aesthetically high-quality and expressive visual compositions.
Online systems and vector graphics applications take this into account.
There is something else.
Classic “desktop” programs focus on developing high-precision designs for print and have historically overlooked the use of vector graphics in Internet applications and on websites.
It is a specific vector image format that is mainly used in websites and Internet applications. This is the SVG format.
This is the format by which online services and applications are mainly guided in the creation and editing of vector graphics. This is the fundamental difference and the main purpose of these.
“Photoshop” online
The famous program Adobe Photoshop offers the user a variety of options. You can edit raster images, add vector objects to them, and combine all this using various effects and filters, allowing connoisseurs and professionals to achieve amazing results.
It would seem that competing with a clear leader is a useless business. But not. It is possible and you must compete!
There are quite a few applications and services for working with combined graphs online, and there are also those who took the capabilities of the leader as a challenge and were able to implement almost identical functionality online.
When the difference in affordability is also considered, it becomes clear where these online applications with a large number of users come from.
In general, we recommend trying this.
Online drawing applications
This is the most attractive segment of online applications for creative people and the most inconvenient for monetization.
In it you can find original solutions and unique opportunities, and even, quite possibly, find something extremely necessary for your activity or hobby. Only an artist can really appreciate this.
By themselves, the possibilities of different applications for creating digital masterpieces are different both in terms of technical implementation and in terms of visual capabilities.
What is absolutely necessary to keep in mind is the focus on communication.
Most of the online drawing apps are integrated with platforms to display and discuss your work.
Online design applications and services
Design is unexpectedly the most appropriate and applicable activity in online applications for working with images.
This, of course, is mostly about design apps and services that are not intended for designers. they are for advertisers, marketers, entrepreneurs and SMM specialists.
Such applications and services work, as a rule, according to the same scheme. The browser application has a basic set of functions for editing multi-layered images consisting of various objects and tools to configure and edit the objects used. This application is provided with access to collections of templates, images and various decorative elements stored on the server.
The entire editing process of these applications is based on the use of templates. The templates are grouped by themes and formats. The user selects (or purchases) a template and redesigns it as they see fit.
With this approach, all the design work is done very quickly and the result is of acceptable quality.
The undoubted advantage of such design services is not even the high speed of work, but access to collections of templates and elements that are constantly being updated and updated.
The focus of online design applications and services on solving a wide range of tasks has led to the fact that the user has a huge variety of tools, templates and objects. And this variety is such that you can quickly and efficiently design any kind of object, from a logo to a magazine, from a greeting card to the interface of a mobile application or a website.
Conclusion
In the case of photography, the desktop is clearly the leading platform, but there are also notable apps and online services that could be attractive because of their affordability.
There is a similar situation with graphic editors, which are intended for work with complex composite images.
In these two segments, online applications already compete with classic desktop installable software, and the competition is likely to grow.
The work possibilities of online vector graphics editors with the SVG format so much in demand on the Internet stand out. At the same time, its editing capabilities with classic professional formats are certainly inferior to those of desktop systems. In a nutshell, there is no clear competition between the two groups, online and desktop publishers, in this segment, rather they complement each other.
Online applications and services are undisputed leaders in the area of template design and teamwork on complex projects. Online design services are mainly used by specialists whose professionalism is related to other areas, but these specialists are the majority.
Of course, there are desktop programs for such types of work, and these are high-class programs designed for professionals, of which there are relatively few.
Links to reviews
- 20 Best Online Photo Editing Services
- Online services for vector graphics editing
- Online image editing services
- Websites for drawing – the best services and apps
- Best programs to create free online graphic design
How to choose an online image editor