Step-by-step tutorials for the Pluto Photos image editor, from your first crop to layer masks, tone curves and print export. Every step was run in the real app.
The image editor is built into your photo library, so editing starts with one click on a photo and nothing is uploaded. It has the tools photographers and designers expect: layers and masks, selections, 57 filters, tone curves, healing and cloning, and on-device AI for removing backgrounds and objects.
How to Open and Save a Photo in the Pluto Photos EditorSelect one photo in your library, click Edit Photo, make your changes, then choose Save as Copy (Ctrl+S). Your original file is never changed. The edit is saved next to it as a new file ending in _edited.
Beginner
2 min
How to Undo Edits and Compare Before and AfterPress Ctrl+Z to undo and Ctrl+Y to redo. The History panel lists every step, so click an earlier one to go back. Press B for a before/after split view, or hold the eye button to flash the original.
Beginner
2 min
How to Crop a Photo to Any Size or Aspect RatioPress C to pick the Crop tool, hover over it to choose a ratio (Free, 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 5:4, 2:3 or 9:16), drag the frame into place, then click Apply Crop.
Beginner
2 min
How to Straighten a Crooked Horizon (and Rotate or Flip a Photo)With the Move tool selected, drag the Straighten slider in the options bar (it runs from -45° to +45°) until the horizon is level. Use Rotate Left, Rotate Right, Flip Horizontal and Flip Vertical for 90° turns and mirror images.
Beginner
2 min
How to Resize an Image (and Change the Canvas Size)Choose Image > Image Size, type a new width or height with Constrain proportions ticked, and click Apply. To add space around a photo instead of scaling it, use Image > Canvas Size.
How to Export a Photo as JPEG, PNG, WebP or TIFFOpen the Export tab, choose PNG, JPEG, WebP or TIFF, set the Quality and Resize sliders, and click Save as Copy. Camera and location data are left out unless you tick Keep original metadata.
Beginner
3 min
Light and color
Tutorial
Level
Time
How to Brighten a Dark PhotoOpen the Light tab and raise Exposure, then add a little Contrast and lift Shadows. Watch the histogram so you don't lose detail. Or choose Image > Auto to let the editor make a first pass.
Beginner
3 min
How to Fix White Balance and Remove a Color CastChoose the Eyedropper tool, switch it to White balance, and click something in the photo that should be neutral grey or white. The Temperature and Tint sliders adjust to remove the cast. Fine-tune them in the Color tab.
Beginner
3 min
How to Apply a Photo Filter or Preset in One ClickOpen the Presets tab, click a look such as Golden, Cinematic or Vivid, and use the Preset Amount slider to set how strong it is. Twelve presets are included.
Beginner
2 min
How to Convert a Photo to Black and WhiteOpen the Presets tab and click B&W. Add Contrast in the Light tab for punch, or choose Noir for a darker, more dramatic look. Use Preset Amount to blend some color back in.
Beginner
2 min
How to Adjust Individual Colors with the HSL Color MixerIn the Color tab, open HSL / Color. Use H, S and L to switch between hue, saturation and luminance, and move the sliders for Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Aqua, Blue, Purple and Magenta.
Intermediate
4 min
How to Use Tone Curves to Add Contrast and Fix ColorIn the Color tab, find Tone Curve. Click the diagonal line to add a point, drag the shadows down and the highlights up for an S-curve, and switch to R, G or B to adjust one color channel.
How to Add a Vignette and Film Grain to a PhotoOpen the Effects tab and drag Vignette (0 to 100) to darken the corners and Grain (0 to 100) to add texture. Both stack with presets and other adjustments.
How to Sharpen a Soft or Slightly Blurry PhotoIn the Light tab raise Sharpen (0 to 10) and a little Clarity. For more control choose Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask and set Amount, Radius and Threshold. Sharpening helps slight softness, not heavy blur.
Intermediate
3 min
How to Remove Something with the Clone Stamp ToolPress S for the Clone Stamp, Alt-click a clean area to set the source, then paint over what you want to hide. The pixels from the source are copied where you paint.
Intermediate
4 min
How to Remove an Object from a PhotoPress W for the Remove Object tool, click the thing you want gone so it is highlighted, then click Remove. The area is filled in from its surroundings. It runs on your computer.
Intermediate
4 min
How to Whiten Yellow Teeth in a PhotoAdd an adjustment layer that lowers orange and yellow saturation, add a layer mask, click one tooth with the Magic Wand in Colour mode, then invert the selection and delete it from the mask. Only the teeth change.
Intermediate
8 min
How to Remove Scratches from an Old PhotoChoose Filter > Noise > Dust & Scratches, set Radius 6 and Threshold 25, and click Apply to clear the scratches and specks across the whole photo. Then paint over any faint marks that remain with the Spot Heal tool.
Intermediate
6 min
How to Make an Old Photo Look ClearerIn the Light tab raise Contrast, Shadows and Whites and lower Blacks, drop Saturation in the Color tab to calm the color cast, then apply a light Unsharp Mask. Compare the whole photo as you go.
Intermediate
6 min
Cutouts and AI tools
Tutorial
Level
Time
How to Remove the Background from a Photo (Offline, One Click)Open the photo, go to the Effects tab and click Remove Background. The subject is cut out on your own computer in a few seconds. Fix any misses with the Restore brush, then save as PNG to keep the transparency.
Intermediate
3 min
How to Blur the Background of a Photo (Portrait Mode Effect)Open the Effects tab, click Detect Subject, then choose a Portrait Blur preset (Soft, Natural, Studio or Dramatic) and fine-tune with Blur Amount, Edge Feather, Background Focus and Subject Protection.
Intermediate
3 min
How to Blur Faces in a Photo (and Remove Location Data)In the Effects tab, click Detect faces under Privacy (Safe Share), choose Blur or Pixelate, set the Strength and click Redact faces. Saved copies carry no EXIF or GPS data by default.
Intermediate
3 min
Text, filters and selections
Tutorial
Level
Time
How to Add Text to a PhotoPress T for the Text tool, click on the photo, and type. Use the options bar to change the font, size, color, bold, italic, alignment and tracking, then click Done.
Beginner
3 min
How to Select Part of a Photo and Apply an Effect to Just That AreaPick a Select shape (Rectangle, Ellipse, Lasso, Magnetic Lasso or Magic Wand), drag on the photo, choose Edit > Invert if you want the opposite area, then run a filter. The filter affects only the selection.
How to Use Layers: Combine Photos and Cutouts into One ImageCopy a photo or cutout, then choose Edit > Paste in another photo. It arrives as a movable layer. Drag its corner to resize, drag inside to move, and manage it in the Layers panel.
Intermediate
5 min
How to Use Layer Masks to Blend Two Photos SmoothlyAdd a mask with Layer > Add Layer Mask, then paint on the mask with the Eraser to hide parts of the layer and the Brush to reveal them. The original pixels are never deleted.
How to Add a Drop Shadow, Glow or Stroke to a LayerSelect the layer and choose Layer > Layer Effects…. Tick Drop Shadow and set Offset, Blur, Spread and Opacity. Other effects include Stroke, Bevel & Emboss, Outer Glow and Gradient Overlay.
Advanced
4 min
Print
Tutorial
Level
Time
How to Export a Photo for Print (CMYK, PDF/X-1a, Bleed and Soft Proof)In the Export tab, scroll to Print / CMYK. Choose a destination profile, tick Soft proof and the warnings, pick PDF/X-1a, CMYK TIFF, CMYK JPEG or Separations, set Resolution and Bleed, and click Export for Print….
