It looks like Google has gone on another axe-murdering rampage, and this time Picnik is one of the victims. The browser based photo editing service, which was acquired by Google in March of 2010, will be closing on April 19th 2012.

At first glance, Google’s decision to get rid of Picnik may seem odd. It remains a rather popular service and is one of the better browser-based image editors available. However, many of the service’s features have been gradually incorporated into Google Plus as part of the Creative Kit. Even the interface is nearly identical. It’s likely that management would rather see people looking to edit photos online sign up with Google Plus instead of continuing to use a separate service.

Picnik will remain fully functional until its closure. In fact, it will be a bit more functional than before. All of the premium features are free until the final day and users who have already paid for a membership will be refunded.

If you have any files on the service it would be a good idea to back them up. You can do this by using the new Picnik Takeout feature, which downloads your photos to zip files. The other option is to export your photos to Google Plus, where they can be stored as part of your profile. Make sure to do this before April 19th. You’re out of luck if you don’t export them before the site goes down for good.

Source: The Official Google Blog