If you’re a Mac user, chances are you’re using online graphic platforms like Canva or downloading costly tools like Adobe Photoshop to edit photos. However, did you know that Mac’s Photos app has built-in photo editing capabilities? It’s pretty capable, actually, and you can use it to render images that you’ll be proud to show off.

Here’s how to edit images in the Photos app on your Mac.

How to Access the Photos Editing Tools

You can find photo editing tools buried inside Photos, Apple’s built-in app. To access them:

  1. Open to Photos.
  2. Double-click on the image you want to edit, then click Edit on the toolbar. Alternatively, select the thumbnail of the photo, then hit Return.
Edit Button on Photos

Photos keeps an original copy of your image and allows you to undo your edits by simply clicking Revert to Original on the leftmost side of the toolbar. Note that if you use iCloud Photos, any changes you make to the image will appear everywhere it is located.

Related: How to Edit Photos on Mac Using the Preview App

If you want to experiment on the photo but want to retain the original image, you can duplicate the original photo and make your edits on the duplicate image. To do this, go to Photos, then Control-click the image, then choose Duplicate 1 Photo. You can also use the shortcut Cmd + D.

Duplicate image on Photos

Remove Unwanted Details With Crop

Trim photos to remove unwanted objects in the periphery or simply find the best framing for the shot. Photos can also crop and straighten the image for you; simply click Auto.

Manually adjust the frame by clicking and dragging on any side of the selection rectangle with Freeform. If you want a specific measurement, click Aspect, choose a preset ratio, or click Custom and input your preferred ratio.

Crop Feature on Photos Editing Tools  on Mac

Click Flip to flip the image horizontally. Option-click if you want to flip it vertically. If the picture is taken at an irregular angle, straighten it by dragging the tilt wheel on the right side of the image. Click Reset if you want to remove the cropping or straightening changes.

Enhance Photos Using Filters

Filters  on Photos Editing Tools  on Mac

Adding filters is an easy way to make your photos more visually appealing. Click Filters to show various filters you can use. Choose from nine available filters and drag or click the slider to adjust how much filter will be applied to your photo.

Find the Best Orientation With Rotate

Certain devices prefer a specific orientation. For example, photos viewed on mobile phones are often in portrait, while those on desktops are often in landscape. This makes the Rotation tool very handy.

Simply click Rotate to turn your image counterclockwise and Option-click to rotate it clockwise. Keep on clicking until you have the orientation you want.

Automatically Enhance Your Images

Even if you’re not an editing pro, you can enhance your photo’s color and contrast by clicking the Auto Enhance button, the magic wand icon on the toolbar. If you don’t like the changes, click the icon again or Revert to Original to undo it.

Use Adjust to Fine Tune Your Photos

Adjust on Photos Editing Tools  on Mac

Aside from basic tools, Apple has equipped Photos with over a dozen sophisticated tools to make more advanced adjustments to your images without the need for expensive third-party apps.

Related: Best Photoshop Alternatives for Mac

This feature covers tools from Light adjustments, Retouch for blemishes, White Balance to remove color cast, to Curves and Levels. Most of these tools have additional options for further fine tuning the photos to your preference.

No Need for Third-Party Editing Tools

Whether you’re a photo-editing newbie or an editing pro, Mac’s built-in photo editing tools offer basic and advanced photo editing capabilities to meet your needs. What’s more, the features in Photos are comparable to paid editing tools, so you no longer have to spend a penny on third-party tools.