X Tools for Creating Images for Ads & Social Media

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20 Tools To Create Images For Social Media & Ads

Graphics on ads and social media help businesses attract their target audience, because it’s
easier for the human brain to recognize images. Creating images for social media takes time, so
many business owners use visual creation tools to make the process easier. These tools help to
create attractive art that boosts sales and marketing campaigns.

Here are 20 tools to help you create images that boost your ad and social media game:

Image Creation & Photo Editing Tools

Visual content is said to be at least 40 times more likely to get shared on social media than
other content. This is why marketers and advertisers should pay careful attention when they
create images for social media. There are visual content creation tools that focus on turning
simple raw photos into beautiful still images with a little professional editing; these can easily be
used in digital and print campaigns.

1. Canva
Canva is one of the most popular image creation and editing tools for making custom images for
social media, blogs, and printed ads. It offers templates and stock photos like any other graphic
design tool, while also allowing you to create and save your brand logos, colors, and fonts in its
brand kit and photo albums. Canva also offers one touch resizing so you can immediately
optimize your image on any chosen platform.
 Canva offers design tutorials for its users including branding strategies and tips.

You can register with Canva using your Facebook account or email address and get access to
limited features as a free user. You can also sign up for a 30-day free trial of its premium
services that usually costs $9.95 a month.

2. Pixlr
There are a number of photo editing services you can try out with Pixlr. Pixlr Express offers
quick fixes and simple overlays and borders. Pixlr X and Pixlr Editor (Flash-based program)
have features that are similar to Photoshop and allow you to work with image layers, color
replacements, and object transformations. Users who have more advanced editing needs can
choose between Pixlr X and Pixlr Editor, depending on their photo editing skill level.
 Try styling elements like pixelation with Pixlr to create eye-catching edited photos like this
Facebook post from communication agency Vorealia.

Pixlr is web based and is completely free for Pixlr Express, Pixlr X, and Pixlr Editor. Pixlr Pro is
available for $5 a month and allows you to gain access to thousands of premium royalty-free
images, templates, and fonts.
3. PicMonkey
PicMonkey is a great image editing tool used for quick but professional looking enhancements .
What’s great about PicMonkey is that it allows you to edit existing images that you have on
Facebook, your computer and other sources. It also lets you add your own stickers and graphics
using overlays, which means you’re able to repurpose stock photos by adding your own logo or
call to actions (CTAs).

PicMonkey helps you create Facebook ads from scratch with its step by step tutorial and guides

You can register for PicMonkey’s seven-day free trial using your Facebook or email account,
and monthly fees start at $7.99 for basic and $12.99 for pro. Meanwhile, if you’re looking to print
your photos versus just managing them digitally, PicMonkey provides this service for as low as
$0.44 for basic prints.

4. VSCO
VSCO is a photography mobile application that’s designed to create high quality images with its
suite of preset filters. Professional Instagram accounts often use VSCO filters instead of
Instagram’s suite of features, because it provides more options for altering elements like depth
and lighting. It also includes additional custom presets used on professional camera brands like
Canon, Nikon, and Olympus.
 VSCO allows you to reimage your existing images with its suite of presets and fine-tuning
features, so you save on ad art and marketing cost

Downloading the VSCO app is free for both iOS and Android devices; the app gives you the
basic presets and standard editing tools. If you’d like to experience the full editing power of this
tool, you can register for a 7-day free trial and eventually sign up for membership that costs
$19.99 a year.

Short Video & Animation Tools

Animated images like GIFs are very popular on social media platforms, because they are short
and entertaining. For marketers, it has become a means to add more value to their message
similar to using videos with fewer expenses. Creating animations can take more time (and
money) compared to still photos, but there are a variety of tools available for use by anyone of
varying editing skill levels.
5. CloudApp
CloudApp is a popular screen capture tool that’s also great for screen recordings and creating
animated GIFs. It offers a GIF screen capture that can be added to marketing emails for a more
engaging email marketing strategy. Its GIF editing, creation, and live screen recording features
are supported by quick embedding features, so you can add your content to popular website
platforms or marketing tools.

CloudApp recommends the GIF screen capture as a means of quickly sharing information such
as product use and features to your social media followers.

CloudApp is free to use upon sign up with 100mb storage limit and a 15-minute video recording
limit. Signing up for its Pro version for $9 a month will give you unlimited recording and storage
plus enhanced editing and customized sharing options. It also offers free trial periods of the Pro
plan.

If you’re unsure about creating your first few marketing animations on your own, you can always
hire professionals through Fiverr to do the job and show you how it’s done without worrying
about a steep cost. For as low as $5, you can hire a freelance graphic designer and marketing
experts on Fiverr to make sure you have the perfect visual content to match your brand. Sign up
for access to Fiverr’s pool of professionals today.
6. Filmora
By now, you’ve probably come across at least one time lapse video clip and wondered how it
was created. Filmora is a well known animation creation tool for fast motion video enthusiasts. It
allows creators to turn long videos into shorter ones with a few clicks. Use your product launch
and demo promo videos and turn them into a dramatic time lapse that your followers on social
media will watch to the end and enjoy.

Convert a long video into an 18-second time lapse animation using Filmora

Filmora offers versions of its editing tool both for beginners and intermediates (Filmora 9), and
for professionals (Filmora Pro). The professional version is available for a one month free trial
and $44.99 per year after the trial ends.

7. Vigo Video (Flipagram)

Flipagram, now renamed as Vigo Video, is a popular mobile app that converts a series of
photos or graphics into short video stories and allows you to add your favorite background
music. You can then upload them to social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. You
can make a montage (series of short clips), change the speed, and choose music from
Flipagram’s library of more than 65 million 30-second song clips.
 Choose from Vigo Video’s library of popular song clips to match your marketing campaign
theme

Because it’s a mobile app, you’ll be able to create your images even while on the go. Download
the Vigo Video app for free and directly link your Instagram account for seamless uploading of
your videos.

8. Photoscape X
Photoscape X is perfect for beginners looking to create impressive slideshows and animated
images like GIFs to boost their social media content. Its interactive tools makes the process
easy. You can add angles, transition styles, and change durations on your image set.
 Photoscape X editing tools has a user-friendly interface that helps beginners create
professional quality GIFs in no time.

Photoscape X is available for download on Windows and Mac. It has a free version and a paid
version (Photoscape X Pro) for $39.99 that unlocks premium features. It also has a free trial
duration so you can test and find out if the full capabilities of this program is what you need.

9. Giphy
Use Giphy if you’re looking for premade GIFs. It offers a collection of animated GIFS for all
topics and occasions, uploaded by users, making it the top GIF search engine available online.
GIFs are available in a variety of formats, so it’s easy to embed them on any online platform.
You can also use Giphy’s GIF maker to create and upload GIFS on your own..
The app offers impressive effects and features like its own camera and Augmented Reality face
tracking accessories to help make your GIF stand out on social media

Giphy is free to install for both iOS and Android smartphones. Sign up using your Facebook
profile or email address to start accessing its GIF library.

Infographic Tools
It’s crucial for businesses to let their audience know how their product or service measures
against competition. Explaining this through infographics instead of text will ensure that the
audience can absorb more of your message. There are plenty of inexpensive and easy-to-use
tools to help you create infographics and add more value to your content without breaking the
bank.

10. Infogram
Infogram offers a huge range of contemporary modern graphics that can easily be modified to
match any branding and message.You can choose from a variety of designer templates or
create a customized one for yourself. Infogram also offers animation and use of interactive
charts and maps that can surely impress your audience.
 Check out this dynamic and interactive infographic on Halloween shopping behavior at the
National Retail Federation’s website where readers get more information in a creative and
unique format

Infogram offers a variety of free and paid plans. You can register with a free account and get
access to 37 interactive chart types and up to ten projects. The paid plan begins at $25 per
month for up to 100 projects, access to premium templates, 550 map types, and high-definition
(HD) images you can use for your infographics.

Managing multiple social media accounts can be challenging and can eventually take up most
of your time. This is why outsourcing social media postings with a service like Hibu is a great
idea because it lets you have more time to pay more attention to your clients. Hibu is one of a
select few officially badged Facebook Marketing Partners in the US that also specializes in
supporting small businesses. It offers social campaign creation, management, and monitoring,
and they’ll even run social advertising campaigns for you. Consider outsourcing your social
media management with Hibu today.
11. Venngage
If you’re new to creating infographics, Venngage is a great platform to help you create
professional looking images. It offers a simple three-step process that eliminates the complexity
of data-driven visual content. You’ll have to choose a template, add your charts and visuals, and
customize the infographic. Venngage has over 100 templates from which to choose.

Venngage regularly updates its collection of images, fonts, and icons to provide more creative
infographic ideas for all topics and purposes.

Pricing for Venngage starts with a free student plan that allows you to create five infographics.
Premium plans for individuals costs $19 a month that gives you access to premium templates
and stock images. A business plan can set you back $49 monthly but gives you all the
platform’s best features, including branding and support. .

12. Visme
Visme is a web app for creating highly professional looking infographics with templates that
sport very modern designs. The program offers hundreds of fonts, thousands of icons, and free
images that can be combined with animated objects, links, pop-ups, and transitions. What’s
great about Visme is that its interface has different levels of usability depending on how
experienced you are.
 Visme infographic templates give you a variety of styles to apply in your design and quickly
copy the formatting so you maximize your time

You can get Visme for free and create up to five projects, gain access to 100mb storage, and
utilized basic templates and images. Its paid plans start at $14 a month, giving you access to
premium features, the ability to create up to 15 projects, and 250mb of storage.

13. Easel.ly
Easel.ly is another tool that features a large volume of free infographic templates and design
objects that are readily customizable to fit any brand. The drag and drop action makes it easy
for beginners to use and navigate. Once you’re done, you can download your project in different
formats, so sharing them on your website and social media pages can be completed in no time.
 This PR Tech Testing using Easel.ly recommends exploring and learning how to use editing
tools like “lock” and “grid” to get the most out of your infographic design.

You can register with Easel.ly now for free using your Facebook account or your email address.
This gives you access to 10 templates, while the paid plan (Easel.ly Pro) is available for a 7-day
free trial and a monthly fee of $4 after it ends.

14. BeFunky
BeFunky is a tool to help non-designers create professional looking designs and edit
photographs like trained pros. The infographic maker is a part of its design package and uses
the same drag and drop interface as the rest of the tool. The program features professional
photo editing capabilities with a free library of images and expert-level vector graphics.
BeFunky uses a drag and drop style of editing that makes it easy for beginners to manage and
learn infographic design on their own.

BeFunky Plus is available at $6.99 per month and would be good for business owners, because
it only offers one free infographic template in its free plan. Its paid plan will give you more
infographic templates that look great and are easy to customize.

Meme Creation Tools

Memes are either GIF or static images that work a familiar theme or a current trend. Marketers
use memes to connect with their target audience on a more personal level. It helps them
become easily relatable and memorable. Meme generators are generally free, so businesses
should take advantage of using this on their social media pages; this will allow them to capitalize
on familiar images to help bring traffic to their website.

15. iMeme
iMeme is digital content creation software for making memes. It includes 50 popular memes that
you can use and add customize text to make it your own. You can also upload your own
branded photos. Save your creations in PC or PNG format and then copy to your clipboard and
print on your ads. You might also want to download your new meme and share it on your social
media.
 Quickly add captions to popular meme images or upload one of your own.

16. ImgFlip
ImgFlip is one of the fastest meme generators around. You have the option to search and
choose among its thousands of images to customize or simply upload your own photos. Aside
from memes, ImgFlip is also a GIF, chart, and motivational poster creation tool.
The software extends support to almost all website fonts, Mac fonts, and Window fonts while
handling italic and bold text as well.
 You can drag and resize text boxes anywhere on the image and edit easily using your smart
phone.

Using ImgFlip is free, and you don’t even have to register; however, you should expect the
meme to have watermarks on the images. You can remove this by switching to its paid plan that
costs $2.95 a month.

17. Imgur
Imgur is considered one of the top-rated meme generator websites. This meme generator tool is
perfect for beginners with its easy-to-use format. Pick any default background from the grid or
upload your own image to create something unique. Once the image is added to the tool, simply
type your text, and Imgur will allow you to share the created meme directly on a website.
 Imgur’s main web page displays the most popular meme of the day to help give you ideas on
trends you can include when creating your own

Imgur is free to use upon registration. Download the app, or use it on your desktop to create an
image today. You can sign up using your social media accounts or an active email address.

Alternatives: Interactive Image Tools

Beyond GIFs and videos, highly engaging visual content is now popular on social media. This
includes images with which people can interact, like those that are used in the design of
quizzes, games, and polls; they not only entertain but are also an effective (although indirect)
way of collecting data about your target audience.

18. PlayBuzz
Playbuzz is a great option for those who want to jump in and have a go at creating quizzes. The
tool is quick and easy to get started, so it’s a good beginner’s option. It’s also easy to share your
quizzes on social media once you’re done, and the images used throughout help make the
quizzes and polls more visually attractive.

PlayBuzz creates quizzes like “Which Harry Potter character hates you?” or “Who said this line
in 13 Reasons Why?” are not only engaging, but a great way to collect information from your
target audience.
 Create your own quizzes and polls using Playbuzz.

You can sign up for Playbuzz using your own Facebook account or email address for free. Its
pricing however, is based on the number of people you want to engage with your content.

19. Opinion Stage

Opinion Stage is an easy to use platform for creating polls and quizzes. It provides top
performing templates to help you get your content up and going faster. No coding or design
resources are needed. With its interactive content, you get to ask users engaging questions that
gather insights rather than extract information in a passive way. The images used in the
platform correlate with the topics being covered; for instance, there’s a picture of Peruvian
mountains in the below, and the poll topic is travel.
Opinion Stage integrates with dozens of platforms including social media and email to maximize
your marketing campaign.

The basic plan for Opinion Stage is free but limits access to its more premium features as well
as the number of responses and leads you can receive. Its starter plan costs $29 a month for
better features and unlimited responses, while its small business plan will set you back $99 a
month.

20. Branded Mini Games

Branded Mini-Games lets you create playable ads. Playable Ads are short mobile web games
containing a branded game which can be played within the banner and mobile ad. They are fully
customisable to any brand and run well on laptop, tablet, mobile devices, or within an app. Its
Branded Mini-Games Studio is a do-it-yourself (DIY) tool that allows brands or individuals to
easily create and launch their own ad games for mobile and social media marketing.

The process starts by selecting your marketing campaign goal before letting you choose from
its list of game templates.

You can use its DIY game creator for free upon sign up. This gives you access to over 80 of its
high quality game templates. Branded Mini Games also has a paid VIP service for creating
playable ads, and the prices are made available upon consultation.

Bottom Line
Visual content is here to stay and is becoming easier to create and share. As a business owner,
it’s important to create images for social media that are high quality. There are numerous free
and paid tools to help you create images that are both engaging and memorable. Help your
business grow by boosting your social media content game, and spread your brand message to
a broader audience than ever before.

Did we miss out on your favorite visual content creation tools? Share them with us in the
comments.