If there is one thing I love more than an image editor + screenshot program, it’s an image editor + screenshot program that is completely portable. That is what got me interested in Image Tools in the first place. For the post part, this is your average screenshot tool with a built-in basic picture editor, but all that it offers can be taken on the go with you since it is portable.

Also be sure to check out dotTech’s review on Best Free Image Editor for Windows and Best Free Screenshot Tool for Windows.

WHAT IS IT AND WHAT DOES IT DO

Main Functionality

Image Tools allows for screen capture, picture editing, and image sharing all in one program. The program gives you access to basic picture editing features: cropping, resizing, converting, flipping, rotating, adding watermarks, decolorizing, and optimizing. On top of that, it allows you to make all of these changes in a batch mode if you wish. You can also take screenshots and share image files to other people right from this program.

Pros

• Take, edit, and share screenshots
• Built-in image editor can be used for screenshots you take other other images you have on your computer
• Works with the following input image types: BMP, GIF, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, and EMF
• Allows for batch editing
• The program is completely portable and extremely small download size
• Program is compatible with MONO (but only for GNOME)
• Multicore processing is supported by this program to help increase its overall performance

Cons

• Does not offer many features that you can’t find with other free screenshot tools. In fact, has basic screenshotting capabilities — doesn’t offer many screen selection tools offered in other screenshot tools
• As far as image editing goes, it is fairly basic. You could even call it an image ‘processor’ instead of an image editor.

Discussion

There are so many things going for Image Tools. The program does not have to install, it is super-fast and it allows you to make all of your basic edits to a wide range of picture types. In short, it is a great photo editor to keep saved on a USB stick and take with you wherever you go. After all, you never know when you will need a decent photo editor.

So what all does this program do? Well first of all, it works with a wide range of photo types including: BMP, GIF, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, and EMF. On top of that, it allows you to edit these pictures in a number of ways. The tools you have access to include cropping, conversion, resizing, flipping, rotating, grayscale, negative, sepia, watermarks, and even basic optimization. To top all of that off, you can batch edit a group of photos if you want. No need to go back and make the same changes to a whole group of pictures.

If that’s not enough for you, the program does take screenshots. I did not notice any special features here. It just takes basic screenshots (which does not include the mouse pointer) of your whole screen or a selection. Oddly enough, the program also comes with the ability to send pictures you have edited to other people. I like programs that allow you to easily share your pictures right from their interface.

The only problem I had with the program, if you can really call it a “problem”, is the fact that it did not offer any special features that I can’t find in most other free photo editors and screenshot tools. That being said, the fact that it is portable and requires no installation puts it ahead of several other free photo editors in my book.

CONCLUSION AND DOWNLOAD LINK

Image Tools Portable does not offer any amazing features, but it offers enough to make it a decent screenshot tool and image editor. The attraction to this program is definitely that is it is completely portable and extremely tiny (roughly 100KB download size), so you can take it with you everywhere. If you are looking for a basic screenshot tool + image editor that you can carry with you, this is definitely worth looking into.

Also be sure to check out dotTech’s review on Best Free Image Editor for Windows and Best Free Screenshot Tool for Windows.

Price: Free

Version reviewed: 3.6

Supported OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7

Download size: 106KB (portable version), 582KB (installer version)

VirusTotal malware scan results: 0/46

Is it portable? Yes

Image Tools homepage