Pixir: Free Online Photo Editor

Details

Activity Description

PIXIR is a powerful image tool that students can use without logging on. For this activity, we are only going to use the filter menu to learn how to work with filters and effects. This works as well on the computer as on a mobile device.

Preparation

1. Be sure that Pixlr is not blocked at your school. The tool may be open, but you may not be able to see images created by others. (This was the situation here at OTAN.)
2. Preview using Pixlr yourself so you are familiar with how it functions and can help get students started.
3. Find a photo or two that students can use to practice with. Load the pictures on the lab computers or e-mail the photos to students so they can open them on class computers. Most Windows computers also come loaded with a few sample pictures in the Pictures folder, so this might be another option. Pixlr also provides five photos students could use if none of the other options work for you.
4. In order get students to the Web site to work on their own, you can make it a Favorite, or Bookmark the site on each computer browser, e-mail them the link, e-mail a word processing document with the link in it, or post the link on your class Web page.

How-To

1. Begin by demonstrating how to use Pixlr-o-matic. Provide one photo to all students to practice with. No login is required.
2. Have students go to the Example Web Site (above).
3. On the main Pixlr-o-matic page, choose the Computer circle and demonstrate how to find the picture you have provided for them.
4. Scroll through the filters below the picture (by clicking somewhere on the bar and dragging it right or left) and selecting one to try it. Experiment and select a filter. Note: You cannot go back and undo (our favorite function). You have to find the effects you like again if you passed them, and choose them again. The back button (<<) at the bottom of the screen will take you back to select a new picture.
5. There are three icons to the right of the back button. The first one, the film strip, gives you access to other effects, overlays, and borders. The second one is the crop symbol and choosing it will automatically crop the picture. (You cannot control where it crops.) The third one selects a random filter.
6. The Next button (>>) at the bottom right of the screen will take you to Effects. Choose an Effect the same way you chose a filter.
7. The Next button will now take you to Frames where you can choose a frame (border) for your picture. Remember that the first icon will take you to a screen where you can choose borders and then add more possibilities for borders.
8. You can Save on your computer at any time by using the Save button. You will be asked to name the picture, and choose the location to save it.
9. Select Save in the dialog box. That's it!
10. Your students can now do this process on any photo from any computer with Internet access.

Teacher Tips

• You may want your students to bring a flash drive with their own photos, and save their results onto their flash drive.
• Encourage naming conventions in order to easily find pictures in the future. For example, include the date in the name, or include the prefix px for pictures that have been edited with Pixlr.
• Do not use the AI generator untess you get an account. It is not free and it is only a 7 day free trial.

More Ways

• This is not an instructional site. It is a utility. It can be used at any level of ESL because there is almost no text, the navigation is all graphical. It's purpose is to edit graphics for text documents, blog posts, Facebook pages, or Web sites.

Program Areas

• ABE: Adult Basic Education
• ESL: English as a Second Language

Levels

• All Levels

Lesson Plan

Documents

• Photo Vocabulary Worksheet.docx - Photo Vocabulary Worksheet
• Step by Step PIXlR Guide.docx - Step by Step Pixlr Guide

Standards

• Reading
  • CCR Anchor 7 - Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
• Speaking and Listening
  • CCR Anchor 1 - Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
  • CCR Anchor 2 - Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
  • CCR Anchor 4 - Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
• Language
  • CCR Anchor 1 - Demonstrate command of the conventions of English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
  • CCR Anchor 6 - Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when encountering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.

Tags

Tools

Creative Commons License

Conditions

GRANT OF LICENSE We grant You a limited, non-exclusive, revocable licence to make use of Pixlr in accordance with the Agreements. TERM OF AGREEMENT The Agreements shall remain in effect until and unless terminated by You or Pixlr in accordance with Section 5 (“Term”). USER GENERATED CONTENT During the course of Your use of Pixlr, You may post and upload User Content (as defined below) subject that You agree not to submit User Content that: - may create a risk of harm, loss, physical or mental injury, emotional distress, death, disability, disfigurement, or physical or mental illness to You, to any other person or to any animal; may create a risk of any other loss or damage to any person or property; seeks to harm or exploit children by exposing them to inappropriate content, asking for personally identifiable details or otherwise; may constitute or contribute to a crime or tort; contains any information or content that We deem to be unlawful, harmful, abusive, racially or ethnically offensive, defamatory, infringing, invasive of personal privacy or publicity rights, harassing, humiliating to other people (publicly or otherwise), libellous, threatening, hostile, violent, or that which provokes violence or hostility, profane, or otherwise objectionable; contains any information which discriminates against others based on race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, ancestry or national origin; contains any information or content that is illegal (including, without limitation, the disclosure of insider information under securities law or another party’s trade secrets); contains any information or content that You do not have a right to make available under any law or contractual or fiduciary relationships; or contains any information or content that You know is not correct and current.

AI Reference

Used Gemini to help create the lesson plan